Wireless Inclusive RERC| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA - TDPH Monthly Newsletter

Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – Final Issue 2021

Mz22 — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 12:20:38 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 October

In September, the FCC celebrated Lifeline Awareness Week from the 20^th through the 24^th to bring attention to the Lifeline program and increase enrollment of eligible households. While in August, the Senate passed a $550 billion bill entitled the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In the Act, there are specific federal provisions related to broadband. This newsletter highlights the six major provisions that the bill outlines to improve broadband and wireless connectivity in the United States. Of note, many of the provisions aim to decrease the digital divide and offer substantial funding to achieve these goals. In efforts to decrease disparities in emergency response, the House of Representatives saw the introduction of the Information Sharing and Advanced Communication Alerting Act (ISAAC) [H.R. 5208]. This legislation seeks to establish a requirement for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC)’s Technological Advisory Council to produce a report on the feasibility of establishing a 9-1-1 disability alerting system (DAS). H.R. 5208 directs the FCC to explore a process that permits users to create, within DAS, a profile associated with an individual with a disability containing pertinent information such as whether the individual is nonverbal, can be combative under stress or anxiety, or is a wandering risk.

In other regulatory news, the FCC released statements about two new programs related to digital equity. To address affordable communications, in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [CG Docket No. 12-375], the FCC is extending its request for public input on the functionally equivalent access and affordability of telecommunications for incarcerated persons with disabilities. This month also marks the release of the FCC’s broadband map, which demonstrates connectivity and broadband access by the four major wireless carriers across the country.

In Wireless RERC news, the Proceedings of the Wireless RERC 2021 State of Technology Forum is now available online. The Forum Proceedings is an interactive document with papers, presentations, videos, and bios from the two-day event. Further, it opens with a summation of the event and closes with a chapter on key activities to pursue to ensure inclusion is always at the forefront of wireless technology, design, development, and deployment.

Funded by Wireless RERC, the Smart Home Helper (SHH) app, developed by The IDEAL Group, was released on the Google Play Store. SHH is a free Android app that enables individuals who are nonverbal and individuals with speech disabilities such as stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria to issue verbal commands to voice-activated smart home devices using Android’s Text-to-Speech engine. SHH enables users to issue smart home commands in any one of 63 languages/dialects. Smart home voice commands can easily be created, organized, and shared with other app users.

Other items of interest include a study examining the communities served by the BeltLine and whether it can be used as an emergency management asset. (Take the Atlanta BeltLine Survey)

This issue also includes news about the latest Android accessibility updates, assistive technology, Spectrum Innovation Zone, AI, Accessible Kiosks, Evinced, MakerSpace, Voice Commands, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – July 2021

Mz22 — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 15:57:44 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 August

July marked the 31^st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As large gatherings are still approached with great trepidation, many advocates and members of the disability community celebrated virtually. President Biden, a co-sponsor of landmark legislation, released a Proclamation affirming the rights and protections of people with disabilities. Including equitable access to opportunities to increase economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and social inclusion. The National Council on Disability stated in a press release, “As a community, we are far better off today because of those civil rights protections than we were 31 years ago. We do, however, have a considerable amount of work to do to fully realize that promise.”

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released statements about two new programs related to digital equity. The Emergency Connectivity Fund Program provides schools and libraries with grant funding to ensure students and economically vulnerable populations remain connected with digital devices. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program has provided over four million households with discount vouchers to make internet connectivity affordable. Also, in an effort to addressed affordable communications, in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [CG Docket No. 12-375], the FCC is requesting public input on the functionally equivalent access and affordability of telecommunications for incarcerated persons with disabilities.

In Wireless RERC news, we submitted comments related to two matters: NTIA Draft Internet Use Survey and a Review of the CVAA. Both are summarized on pages 7-9 in the newsletter. We are also collecting data on several surveys. The wireless RERC’s first responder network project wants your input. We want to understand the experiences of people with disabilities when they interact with first responders (Take the Survey). We are also interested in first responders' interactions with people with disabilities (Take the First Responder Survey). Finally, Wireless RERC researcher, LaForce, wants to understand which communities are being served by the Atlanta BeltLine and how the BeltLine can be used as a pedestrian evacuation route preceding or in the wake of a disaster event (Take the Atlanta BeltLine Survey).

This issue also includes news about the nationwide test of WEA, adapted toys, AAC, eye-tracking tech, accessibility awareness, accessiBe, disability representation, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – June 2021

Mz22 — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 18:09:16 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 July

In June, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce [EO 13985]. Among the directives of EO 13985 is to “develop and issue a Government-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan (Government-wide DEIA Plan).” The hope is that this strategic plan will harmonize inclusive and accessibility efforts across government sectors.

In regulatory news, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks comments on reducing and removing barriers to voting access for people with disabilities. They provided twenty scopes of interests that stakeholders are open to respond to. Due July 16, 2021, public comments will inform NIST’s end-of-year report that provides recommendations on overcoming these barriers. Other upcoming comment deadlines include NTIA’s request for comments on updates to the annual internet use survey, due on or before July 26, 2021; and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) request for stakeholder input on the compensation plan for video relay service, reply comments due by July 15, 2021. Also of interest, the FCC announced that in coordination with FEMA, it will conduct a nationwide test of the emergency alert system (EAS) and wireless emergency alert (WEA) system. They invite stakeholders who are observing this test in their communities to provide feedback.

In Wireless RERC news, our InsightOut Video is now available on YouTube. Debuted at the Wireless RERC’s State of Technology Forum, this video shows Wireless RERC researchers sharing their observations and perspectives regarding remaining challenges to and advances in accessible and assistive wireless technologies towards the goals of inclusion and innovation.

This issue also includes news about smart homes, assistive technology, rural broadband connectivity, accessible virtual museum, voting access, VoiceITT, inclusive design, webinars, conferences, conventions, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – May 2021

Mz22 — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 19:19:20 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 June

Throughout May, the world celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The U.S. Access Board published a press release commemorating the progress of accessibility in the country. They acknowledged their accessibility and inclusion programming over the last few months leading up to GAAD. Individuals or companies looking to improve their accessibility practices can take one of GAAD’s virtual training sessions and learn more about digital accessibility guidelines and standards. Across social media, the hashtags #GAAD2021 and #GAAD circulated, and a host of entities held events, speakers, and tech companies released a plethora of digital devices that center on accessibility. For instance, Google announced the computer mouse panning feature that makes screen content more visible and more accessible to engage with for people with visual disabilities.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Public Notice extending the deadline for stakeholders to submit commentary on whether rules implementing the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) need updating. Essentially, the Commission is open to hearing about new advanced communications accessibility priorities that have come about as a result of technological change and existing CVAA proceedings that need more rapid progression and resolution.

In Wireless RERC news, we submitted reply comments to the FCC in response to their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry in The Matter of Amendment of Part II of the Commission’s Rules Regarding the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts [PS Docket No. 15-94; 15-91]. In our reply comments, we indicated support for expanding the Presidential alert class to allow activation by FEMA. Regarding WEA accessibility, among other things, we recommended that the FCC bring academic research findings to bear on federal policy and regulations concerning the accessibility of the content of emergency messages, specifically as it relates to the use of plain language instead of jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms that diminish accessibility.

This issue also includes news about AskSARA AT Tool, Social Media, Remote Wireless Charging, Brain-to-Text, Eye-gaze Technology, Earswitch, Robotics, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – Spring 2021

Mz22 — Fri, 14 May 2021 14:07:54 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 May

During March, disability advocates and members of the community celebrated Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) coordinated with state and local municipal governments to raise awareness for better inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of human life. Each year a resource guide is curated and includes videos, toolkits, photos, personal stories, promising practices, and more.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) moved forward proceedings concerning (1) whether updates are needed to FCC rules implementing the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), (2) emergency communications, and (3) telehealth. The FCC adopted a Report and Order to provide objective evaluation metrics for healthcare providers’ applications for funding. Regarding emergency communications, the FCC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Notice of Inquiry (NOI) [PS Docket Nos. 15-91 and 15-94], concerning, among other things allowing federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, authority to initiate presidential alerts under a new “national” emergency alert class (NPRM) and whether it is technically feasible to deliver EAS alerts through the internet, including through streaming services (NOI).

In Wireless RERC news, we convened our State of Technology Forum, examining the evolving nature and capacities of wireless technologies and identifying opportunities to meet a range of community needs for access, equity, and inclusion. The program comprised a series of discussion-based sessions focused on the role of research, development, and stakeholder engagement in advancing the full social inclusion of people with disabilities. The discussions were punctuated by Rapid Fire Research Demos, Lightning Development Demos, and selected paper presentations. R&D Showcase Videos included: Augmented Reality as a Design Tool, Socially Assistive Robot for Respite Care, Inclusive Emergency Lifelines, Wearable Technology Designer’s Web Tool, and the Tactile Graphics Helper.

This issue also includes news about the internet of things, socialbots, assistive technology, brain-computer interfaces, autonomous vehicles, robotic pets, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – February 2021

Mz22 — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 19:09:32 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 March

In February, the annual African American Conference on Disabilities (AACD) was virtual, free, and lasted throughout February. Britney Wilson, a graduate of Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Black woman born with Cerebral Palsy, gave the opening speech. She discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates why disability, and especially at the intersection of race and disability, has always been and always will be a social justice issue that deserves more public attention. The hashtag #BlackDisabledHistoryMonth trended on Twitter as advocates and civil rights organizations, such as the NAACP, celebrated the amazing work that Black Americans with disabilities have contributed to American culture and society. The hashtag produced stories of many famous Black Americans with invisible disabilities and visible disabilities alike. To highlight a few of the mentioned individuals, Halle Berry, an actress with 80% hearing loss in one ear; Harry Belafonte, actor, and civil rights activist, has dyslexia; and Amanda Gorman, the young poet laureate who spoke at Biden’s inauguration, has an audio processing disorder. These few stories highlight the need to continue to honor, acknowledge, and bring awareness to the amazing contributions that Black Americans with disabilities have added to society.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved several regulations aimed at connectivity and equipment access expansion. These included a subsidy for low-income households for broadband services and digital devices via the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, the renewal of the National Deaf-Blind equipment distribution program, and increased 2.5 GHz band licenses for rural Tribal communities. This month, the FCC also acknowledged the 25^th Anniversary of the Telecom Act with a commemorative video, press release statement, and Twitter chat that can be viewed with the hashtag #TelecomActChat.

The Wireless RERC is currently seeking research participants with sensory disabilities from the Metro Atlanta area to participate in a study investigating the accessibility of emergency alerting signals. Also, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology seek people with disabilities and people without disabilities who work in nontraditional jobs to help improve the reliability of a new survey: The Contingent Employment Participation Survey (CEPS). If you are interested in participating in either of these studies, please email salimah@cacp.gatech.edu.

This issue also includes news about accessible COVID-19 testing, home automation, hands-free interfaces, artificial intelligence, mental health, language development, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – January 2021

Mz22 — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 14:28:28 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 February

The Wireless RERC conducted our annual content review of the Technology and Disability Policy Highlights newsletter. The top five most cited words were accessibility, assistive, COVID, broadband, and public. This past year’s hot topics mostly centered around expanding access to broadband amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we also celebrated the 30^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Not long after, 2020 saw movement to codify inclusive access to virtual environments with an ADA amendment, the Online Accessibility Act [H.R. 8478], introduced to Congress on October 1^st. The Act aims to provide a “predictable regulatory environment” for online commerce to ensure equitable access for all customers. Though COVID-19 resulted in many companies and researchers redirecting their attention to creating contact-tracing and social distancing monitoring methods, and accessible smart masks to combat the pandemic, innovation persisted in non-COVID related accessible wireless technologies; a testament to the tenacity of the mobile access and inclusion movement.

To that end, the Wireless RERC is currently seeking research participants with sensory disabilities from the Metro Atlanta area to participate in a study investigating the accessibility of various emergency alerting signals (audible, visual, tactile, and a combination of these) under everyday conditions and in their environments. If you are interested in participating, please email salimah@cacp.gatech.edu.

Finally, the Wireless RERC will convene its State of Technology Forum Tuesday, March 23^rd, from 8:50 am to 1:00 pm through Wednesday, March 24^th, from 9:15 am to 12:00 pm. The Forum will examine the evolving nature and capacities of wireless technologies and identify opportunities to meet a range of community needs for access, equity, and inclusion. To maintain a roundtable-feel, the event is invite-only, and there is limited space. If you would like to be added to the outreach list, please email Salimah@cacp.gatech.edu.

This issue also includes news about broadband mapping, accessible COVID-19 resources, smart devices, wearables, augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, WCAG 3.0, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – Winter Issue

Mz22 — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 17:14:01 +0000

Date of Publication:

2021 January

The third of December was International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), and the United Nations themed the 2020 celebration "Building Back Better: Toward a Disability-Inclusive, Accessible, and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 World." The key messages for IDPD 2020 were health equity-focused and included among others: (1) “The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to build back better our health systems so that they are more inclusive and responsive to the needs and human rights of people experiencing disability in all their diversity.” (2) “Countries need to shift towards a service delivery system rooted in the communities, reaching out and empowering people with disabilities.”

In legislative news, the EXTEND Act [HR 808] was introduced in Congress in November of 2020. The Act aims to expand how states can utilize federal funding from the CARES Act, specifically, allowing states to invest in rural broadband connectivity. This legislation underscores the need to address accessibility to resources and daily life as the country has become unprecedentedly reliant on digital interactions.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released several Orders and proposed rules on various matters, including gift rule waivers for Rural Health Care (RHC) and E-Rate program members, fully automatic Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS), rural digital opportunity fund, and expansion of marketing opportunities for innovative technologies.

The Wireless RERC is seeking research participants with sensory disabilities from the Metro Atlanta area to participate in a study investigating the accessibility of various emergency alerting signals (audible, visual, tactile, and a combination of these) under everyday conditions and in their environments. If you are interested in participating, please contact Salimah LaForce at salimah@cacp.gatech.edu.

This newsletter also includes news about smart devices, wearables, robotics, augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, digital accessibility guidelines, upcoming assistive technology conferences, and more.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – October 2020

Mz22 — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 14:16:50 +0000

Date of Publication:

2020 November

In October, the federal government acknowledged the 75^th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor commemorated the occasion with various events and activities based on this year’s theme: “Increasing Access and Opportunity.” ODEP also provided employers and companies with 31 Days of NDEAM, a list of ways NDEAM can be celebrated.

In legislative news, the Online Accessibility Act [H.R. 8478] was introduced in Congress. The Act aims to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to include a website accessibility compliance standard and provide a “predictable regulatory environment” for online retailers and commerce to ensure equitable access for all customers. This legislation comes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic underscoring the need to address website accessibility, as the country has become unprecedentedly reliant on digital interactions.

In regulatory news, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) presented the 2020 Biennial Report to Congress as required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) of 2010. In this Report, the FCC recounts biennial data, findings, and recommendations regarding advancements in the accessibility of telecommunication and advanced communications services and equipment. The Report cited the Wireless RERC thirty-three (33) times, and these citations include our comments, filings, and reports over the last two years. See Wireless RERC news for a detailing of our comments’ inclusion in the 2020 Biennial Report to Congress.

Also, in Wireless RERC news, we continue data collection for our 2020 Survey of User Needs. If you haven't already, please take the survey. Georgia Tech's Center for Advanced Communications Policy, and the home of the Wireless RERC, is also seeking any U.S. residents aged 65 or older AND adults with disabilities (any age 18 and up) to take a survey of COVID-19 Information Access.

This issue also included news about broadband, audio description, artificial intelligence, autism, an exosuit, hearables, voting access, wearables, and robotics.

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Technology and Disability Policy Highlights – September 2020

Mz22 — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:22:54 +0000

Date of Publication:

2020 October

In September, National Preparedness Month was celebrated. Many counties, cities, and nonprofits across the country took the opportunity to virtually educate citizens on the importance of being prepared in the event of a local or national emergency. And the celebrations continued with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). They hosted a discussion panel composed of several prominent members, including the Deputy Chief of the FCC, co-chairs of the Disability Advisory Committee, and the Disability Rights Office Chief. The panel highlighted the progress made towards accessibility since the passage of the CVAA. The Recording of the Live Event is available.

In Wireless RERC news, we submitted comments to the Department of Commerce in response to their Public Notice NTIA Internet Use Survey Questionnaire Development [Docket No. 200813-0218]. The comments recommended that NTIA include additional questions related to the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, services, and use cases. We also published our third Biennial Review of Mobile Phone Accessibility, quantifying accessibility levels of mobile phones available in the U.S. market as of February 2020, and a policy brief that summarizes the FCC’s response to COVID-19 and its implications for people with disabilities. Finally, we continue data collection for our 2020 Survey of User Needs. If you have not already, please take the survey.

Our newsletter also highlights upcoming virtual events related to wireless technology and people with disabilities. The 46^th Annual American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity (AAAED) is still hosting bimonthly virtual sessions. Within our newsletter, you can find the topics of October’s virtual conference workshops. Also forthcoming is the Sight Tech Global conference, which is free to attend. Registration is open now.

This issue also includes news about broadband network hardening, a music app, accessible voting, disability awareness, assistive technologies, wearables, and more.

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