Policy and Outreach Initiatives (DS1)

In December the President Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation announcing December 3, 2012 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. He noted that there was progress still to be made in “affirming universal human rights” but claimed the U.S as a global leader on disability rights, as the U.S will “redouble our efforts to build new paths to participation, empowerment, and progress around the world.”  The very next day, however, the U.N. Convention...

In November the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (PN) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), seeking public input on accessibility topics. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau asks for comments on the effectiveness of FCC rules regarding hearing aid compatibility (...

In October rules went into effect requiring closed captioning on certain Internet video programming added on or after September 30, 2012 to assist individuals with hearing loss, as part of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted petitions for class waivers of...

In September the U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass the FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2012 [H.R. 2903] which will codify the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) as law.  Once signed into law, H.R. 2903 would strengthen the body of laws related to parity of access to emergency information by people with disabilities.

The Federal Communications...

In July, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act [S. 3187] was enacted which establishes a working group to develop best practices, such as the use of Braille or “talking bottles” to ensure the accessibility of prescription drug labels. July 26^thmarked the 22^nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Organizations and government agencies across...

This month, President Barak Obama issued an Executive Order, “Accelerating Broadband Infrastructure Deployment,” which emphasizes that access to broadband is essential to the United States’. The Order establishes a working group which is tasked to “develop and implement a strategy to facilitate the timely and efficient deployment of broadband facilities” on federal properties. 

Judge Michael Ponsor of the District Court of Massachusetts rejected the motion to dismiss the...

In May, President Barak Obama urged Senate members to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  The Convention was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and signed by the United States in 2009.  Ratification of the Convention would allow the United States to have more influence in the Convention by becoming a State Party to the Convention.

In the regulatory arena, the FCC has...

This month, the TDPH highlights recent legislative actions concerning emergency communications. The Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act of 2012 [P.L. 112-96] was recently signed into law in order to establish a 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office responsible for the coordination of 9-1-1 services as well as the facilitation of grant programs for state, local and tribal entities providing these services....

This month, U.S. Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-MA), introduced new legislation, The Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act of 2012 [H.R. 4087], regarding making information on drug labels accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. The legislation called for a working group to develop best practices, such as the use of Braille or “talking bottles” to ensure the accessibility of prescription drug labels.

In the regulatory arena, ...