Congress Helps People With Disabilities

[NEPACIL]

The ADA may help with ramps, elevators, and curb cuts but what about
smart phones, the Internet, hand held devices? Hopefully many many
people will be able to benefit.

Rep. Edward Markey, Mass. and Sen. Mark Pryor Ark. are the main
sponsors of an act to make the visual and hearing more accessible to
today's technology.

"The measure sets federal guidelines for the telecommunications
industry assuring that the blind will have access to the Web through
improved user interfaces for smart phones. Also, over time, more than
60 hours a week of video programming must have audio descriptions.

It will also:
- Make TV program guides and selection menus accessible to people with
vision loss.
- Require that video programming devices such as MP3 players and
digital video recorders be capable of closed captioning, video
description and emergency alerts.
- Require that remote controls have buttons to easily access the
closed captioning on broadcast and pay TV.
- Provide funds to help the low-income disabled buy accessible
Internet technology.
- Provide the deaf with the ability to watch new TV programs online
with captions included."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMt_aKo3XfFjkG5Hnlbt74jkNT5AD9IHM0N80?docId=D9IHM0N80