Plan to attend the “National Forum on Disability Issues” in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, July 26, 2008, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If you can’t be there in person, watch the webcast which will run simultaneously, with captioning and American Sign Language interpreting.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain has confirmed that he will address the forum by satellite. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama has confirmed that his surrogate, Senator Tom Harkin, will attend in person. During the forum, Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama (through Mr. Harkin) will have an opportunity to present his vision for the future of national disability policy and receive questions from the audience through news anchor and journalist Judy Woodruff (“The News Hour with Jim Lehrer”), who will moderate the event.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is pleased to be a Hosting Sponsor of this event. Hosting sponsorship of this event by the NAD is made possible through the support of Sorenson Communications® (www.sorenson.com). Ohio Association of the Deaf (OAD) representative Robert Underhill and other members of the OAD will participate.

This non-partisan event is expected to attract over a thousand people with disabilities and their families to Columbus, Ohio, with many more watching on the web. Be part of this historic event, held on the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act! Registration is required for live attendance or webcast viewing. Go to http://www.aapd.com/News/election/080423aapd.htm and register today!

The “21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008” was introduced today (June 19, 2008) by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM). The bill would amend the Communications Act to ensure that new Internet-enabled telephone and video services and equipment are accessible to people with disabilities. Click here to read the press release and find links to a summary and full text of the bill.

The NAD is a founding member of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) (www.COATaccess.org). We have been working with Congress to get this legislation introduced. Efforts must now be made to get this legislation passed.

Call your congressional representative NOW to ensure strong support – by Democrats and Republicans – for this legislation.

Sample message: I am calling to ask for your support and sponsorship of the “21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.” The goal of this bill is to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind as we change to digital and Internet technologies. This bill has the support of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), a coalition of more than 200 organizations. Millions of Americans – who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and deaf-blind – do not have equal access to new digital and Internet-enabled telephone and video services and equipment. Your support is critical to ensure passage of this historic legislation.

To find contact information for your congressional representative, click on https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml. This link will take you to a web page that will ask for your state and zip code. (There is also a link on that page to help you find your 4-digit zip code extension. Your 4-digit zip code extension should also be on any of your utility bills.) When you click on “Contact My Representative” you will get your representative’s name and telephone number.

Call your congressional representative NOW.

Take action NOW for more captioners!

Show your support for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD). The purpose of the CRPD is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. RatifyNow, a grassroots effort to promote the ratification of the CRPD, has organized a special press briefing on Capitol Hill. Please join us and show your support.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The U.S. Capitol, Room HC7

ASL interpreters and captioning provided.

If you are unable to attend, please ask your Senators and Representative to attend and learn about this new United Nations disability rights treaty. Find contact information for your elected official online at:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt
Or, call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 / (202) 224-3091 (TTY).

To learn more, visit http://ratifynow.org/.

Summit on Disability Employment Policy – June 3 and 4

The U.S. Department of Labor is sponsoring a two-day Summit on Disability Employment Policy, called “Transforming the American Workplace: A 21st Century Vision.” Learn more and participate in discussions about what needs to happen across employer, workforce, and employment support trends to achieve expanded access to workers with disabilities.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
&
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Reception
Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Smithsonian Institution
Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
Eighth and F Streets, NW (G Street, NW entrance)
Washington, D.C. 20001

Register today at www.ODEPsummit.org
Registration is free. For questions, please e-mail: ODEP@dol.gov

AT&T’s Text Accessibility Plan for iPhone
AT&T announced a new Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone. This new Text Accessibility Plan was developed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have a speech disability. Click here for more information.

Verizon Wireless Introduces Nationwide Messaging Plans
Verizon Wireless announced the availability of three new Nationwide Messaging plans that will allow customers to use unlimited messaging on their wireless handsets. The new plans do not require an accompanying voice plan and are designed to meet the needs of customers who primarily rely on messaging to communicate with others. Click here for more information.

Verizon Center for Customers with Disabilities Adds Videophone Service
Verizon’s Center for Customers with Disabilities celebrated its 15th anniversary by adding videophone service so sign language users can communicate directly with service representatives. Click here for more information.

AOL Instant Messaging Now Supports Real-Time Text
AOL Instant Messaging (AIM) has added a feature long requested by text users: showing each character as soon as it’s typed, rather than waiting for the other person to hit the “Enter” key. This AIM option is more natural, and works the way TTYs do. Click here for more information.

Captioned Radio: An Idea Whose Time has Come
Radio broadcasts in a text format for people who are deaf or hard of hearing is finally becoming far more real thanks to the public-private efforts of National Public Radio (NPR), Harris Corporation, and Towson University in Maryland. Plans are to develop home and car radios that will provide captioning on LCD displays. Click here for more information.

Draft legislation, called the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008,” is being considered. This legislative effort is being lead by the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), which was co-founded by the NAD. To learn more about COAT, visit www.COATaccess.org or click on “About COAT” (to view ASL video and transcript).

Visit the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet web page about the hearing on May 1 to find:

• a copy of the captioned video webcast of the hearing;
• a witness list with links to their prepared testimony; and
• a link to the April 25, 2008 draft of the bill.

Read other articles about the hearing:

“Equal Access to Technology for People with Hearing and Vision Loss
COAT Hearing on the Hill”

“Democrat wants to require disability-friendly Internet phones, video”

The afternoon session was kicked off by a panel of consumer advocates: Nancy Bloch, chief executive officer of the NAD; Claude Stout, executive director of TDI; and Sheri Farinha Mutti, chair of TDI’s E911 Stakeholders’ Council. They stated their expectations about moving towards functional equivalency, including the following: real 10-digit phone numbers; security; making and getting calls with any video device on an open, interconnected network; equipment neutrality and interoperability; number portability; number and location registration; prioritizing 911 calls; consumer outreach and education; flexibility to enable one 10-digit number for multiple devices; seamless implementation and transition to the new system; a system with an infrastructure that is able to move ahead and “ride the technology wave” of the future. Questions were raised about the time needed to implement different systems, how numbers would be obtained and distributed, and other issues.

The final panel of the day consisted of technical and other experts. The discussion focused on enhanced 911 (E911) and next generation 911 (NG911), prioritizing 911 calls made through relay services, security, emerging technology, and other issues. In the end, the discussion turned to continuing efforts of the industry groups to reach a consensus, possibly identifying and selecting features from the different proposals, and moving forward with interim implementation processes to test the various features of the different proposals.

The FCC is still committed to completing a final order on a 10-digit numbering plan by July 1, 2008, that will require the plan to be implemented by December 31, 2008.

After reviewing the numbering proposals and other comments filed, we recommended that the FCC seek clarification on certain aspects of the proposals. For example:

• Will a separate 10-digit number be required for each videophone device or can one number serve multiple devices in a person’s home?

• Will a separate 10-digit number be required for each modality of communication (text/IP-relay vs. video/VRS)?

• What will a person need to do to keep the same 10-digit telephone number when changing to a different videophone device, or when they use their videophone device at a different location (i.e., while traveling or visiting family and friends)?

• If a hearing person who can communicate in ASL has a videophone device, will that person be able to obtain a 10-digit number?

Other questions were asked about how the numbering system will function; security and privacy; system/network outages, failures, or overloads; implementation schedules; and transitioning to the new numbering system, along with new equipment, technologies, and standards.

To read the consumer groups’ and other reply comments filed on April 18, 2008:

1. Go to http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi.
2. In the box labeled “1. Proceeding” – type 03-123.
3. In the box labeled “7. Date Received/Adopted: (mm/dd/yyyy)” – type in the column labeled “From” 04/18/2008 and type in the column labeled “To” 04/18/2008.
4. Click on the button marked “Retrieve Document List.”

Next: NAD Participates in FCC Numbering Solutions Stakeholder Workshop

The Consumer Groups said that any 10-digit numbering system adopted by the FCC should be based on certain principles related to the following:

• Third Party Number Administration
• Ease of Obtaining Numbers
• Privacy of Call Data
• Network Security
• Network Interoperability
• Equipment Interoperability
• Backward Compatibility
• Number Portability
• Location and Number Registration
• Prioritization of 911 Calls
• Consumer Outreach and Education

The NAD and other consumer groups urged the FCC to move forward with the adoption of rules to implement a 10-digit numbering system linked to the North American Numbering Plan and automatic 911 emergency call routing for users of IP-based relay services.

The NAD looks forward to reviewing the various numbering proposals and comments recently submitted. To read those comments:

1. Go to http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi.
2. In the box labeled “1. Proceeding” – type 03-123.
3. In the box labeled “7. Date Received/Adopted: (mm/dd/yyyy)” – type in the column labeled “From” 04/08/2008 and type in the column labeled “To” 04/09/2008.
4. Click on the button marked “Retrieve Document List.”

The NAD and consumer groups anticipate filing additional reply comments by the deadline of April 18, 2008.

Frustrated, the Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center contacted the NAD.

The NAD contacted the UN and reminded the UN of its 30-year history of promoting human rights for persons with disabilities (the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons was enacted in 1975). As a result of the efforts of the Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center and the NAD, the UN removed their policy from their website and now provides sign language interpreted tours in a convenient, timely fashion.

The group of seniors from Northwest Bergen enjoyed their tour of the UN. The large group was divded into two smaller groups, each with their own interpreter. They learned about the history of the UN and its current efforts, and they had a great time. Marc Charmatz, senior attorney at the NAD said, “These seniors from Northwest Bergen are great clients. The NAD was delighted that we could advocate with them to ensure that the UN is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.”

In 2005, the man applied for a job.  The company called, left a message, and he returned the call using his TTY and a relay service.  The man says that during that relay call, the company invited him to interview for the position.  The man also says that the company agreed to contact him again with the time and place of the interview.  Instead, the company contacted him and told him he would not be hired. 

He filed a complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  In 2006, the EEOC issued a favorable ruling, but did not resolve the case.  He then filed a complaint in a United States District Court.  In 2007, the company asked the court to dismiss the case.  In support of that request, the company said that the alleged offer of an interview was not admissible as evidence because it is “hearsay.”  The court agreed and dismissed the case for lack of admissible evidence showing that the company discriminated against the man because he is deaf. 

The term “hearsay” refers to a statement made outside of the courtroom by a person who is not present in the courtroom.  Generally, statements that are hearsay cannot be admitted as evidence.  There is, however, a rule that says that anything a party (a plaintiff or a defendant) says out of court can be used against that party in court.  This is like the rule that “anything a person says can be used against him in court.” 

The company argued that because the call was made through a relay service, the statement the man read on his TTY was made by the communications assistant (the relay operator), not by the company.  Therefore, the relay operator would need to testify about what she heard the company say.  The United States District Court agreed.

The NAD Law and Advocacy Center joined with the private law firm to appeal the court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals.  In documents filed with the Court of Appeals, the NAD explained relay services, why they were established, how they function, and how they are regulated.  The NAD explained that ADA established relay services to provide functionally equivalent telephone services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have a speech disability.  The NAD stated that if statements made during a voice telephone call are admissible in court, then statements made during a call made through a relay service should also be admissible in court.

The United States Department of Justice and the EEOC also filed briefs supporting the admissibility of statements made through a relay call.

Finally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order that will require Internet-based relay service providers to connect consumers to appropriate 911 emergency call centers.  The Order adopts emergency call handling requirements for Video Relay Service (VRS), Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay), and IP captioned telephone service (IP CTS, also called WebCapTel).  The Order will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which should happen very soon.

This Order requires VRS, IP Relay, and IP CTS providers to accept and handle emergency calls, access a database to determine an appropriate 911 emergency call center for the caller’s location, and relay the call to that entity.  Further, providers will be required to: 

1. implement a system to answer an emergency call before non-emergency calls;
2. request the caller’s name and location information at the beginning of every emergency call;
3. deliver the caller’s name and the location of the emergency to the 911 emergency call center;
4. deliver information about the relay provider to the 911 emergency call center (so the 911 emergency call center can re-establish contact with the CA if the call is disconnected); and
5. if the call is disconnected, immediately re-establish contact with the caller and/or the appropriate 911 emergency call center and resume handling the call, when feasible.

The FCC will require Internet-based relay providers to include an advisory on their websites and in any consumer promotional materials that explains the circumstances under which relay 911 emergency calls may be limited, compared to direct TTY 911 calls.

In addition, the Order includes a commitment by the FCC to adopt a 10-digit numbering system linked to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) (regular telephone numbers).  The FCC will also require a location registration process to enable Internet-based relay providers to obtain and access user location information that will speed the process of identifying, connecting, and transmitting the caller’s location information to the appropriate 911 emergency call center.  This location registration process will be tied to the 10-digit numbering plan.

The FCC issued a Public Notice asking for comments to “refresh” the record on relay service numbering issues quickly.  Comments are due by April 8, 2008, and reply comments are due by April 18, 2008.  The FCC plans to hold a stakeholder workshop immediately after the comment period, and commits to completing a final order on a 10-digit numbering plan by July 1, 2008.  That 10-digit numbering order will require that the plan be implemented by December 31, 2008.

Because emergency call handling is important for all Americans, the FCC has adopted these interim emergency call handling requirements for Internet-based TRS providers.  These requirements will be used until a technological solution is in place that enables Internet-based relay providers to automatically determine the location of the consumer and the appropriate 911 emergency call center.  The NAD is pleased that the FCC included a timeline for the implementation of a 10-digit numbering plan.  With out a timeline, interim solutions often become indefinite solutions and, in the case of emergency calls and 10-digit numbering, indefinite is not acceptable.

Click here to read the Report and Order on emergency call handling requirements for Internet-based relay providers.

Click here to read the Public Notice to refresh the record on 10-digit numbering for Internet-based relay service users.

Workshops and other presentations at the National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference covered a range of topics such as deaf adults’ perspectives on early intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children, language and educational outcomes, partnering with families and family support, professional development for early intervention providers, American Sign Language, cued language, educational rights, and civil rights to effective communication.  Workshops were given by presenters from the NAD, Gallaudet University, Maryland School for the Deaf, the American Society for Deaf Children, and other organizations and entities.

Many other topics were covered, too, such as development of spoken language, auditory access, cochlear implants and brain development, hearing aid use, coordination of medical services through the “medical home,” follow-up evaluation after the hearing screen, data tracking, and more.  Presentations were made by representatives from state EHDI programs, hospitals, universities, early intervention providers, a cochlear implant manufacturer, and others.

The NAD is pleased that the views of the deaf and hard of hearing community were included in the conference agenda.  As was pointed out during the opening plenary session, the need to include all stakeholders in EHDI programs is vital to ensure successful outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.  The NAD will continue its efforts to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing individuals and perspectives are included in future national EHDI conferences and in the implementation of EHDI programs in every state.

This year, for the first time, the National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference opened with a plenary session (a main event scheduled so all conference participants can attend) presented by deaf individuals.  The session, called “Through Deaf Eyes,” was based on the documentary movie of the same name.  A small group of people who were involved in that movie was invited to share their life experiences.  The session was moderated by Dr. Harry Lang, Professor of Education at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Senior Advisor to “Through Deaf Eyes.”

The group of people consisted of:

• Dr. Irene Leigh, Professor of Psychology at Gallaudet University;
• Dr. Gina Oliva, Professor of Physical Education and Recreation at Gallaudet University; and
• James Tucker, Superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf and President of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf.

Dr. Lang opened the session by welcoming and asking each person to describe his or her background and experiences growing up.  Each person told a very different story, with one person having deaf parents and a deaf sibling, one having a hard of hearing father who avoided contact with the deaf community, and one with hearing parents who did not know she was deaf until she was two years old.  Each person attended school in a different setting, with one being the only deaf person in the schools she attended, one attending a school for hearing children for many years then switching to a school for deaf children, and another attending a school for hearing children that had a special program for deaf children.  Each person learned about the deaf community at a different age.

Dr. Lang also asked each person how the professionals in the audience can use the information in the movie and the information they shared to better serve deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.  They encouraged the attendees to pay attention to the views and experiences of deaf and hard of hearing adults and to learn from them.  The backgrounds, views, and life experiences of deaf people are extremely varied.  Professionals should recognize that every child and family is very different and should strive to serve them in ways that acknowledge and respect their uniqueness.  They emphasized the importance of collaborating with all stakeholders, including the deaf community, to ensure that EHDI programs meet the needs of the children and families they serve.  Then they answered questions from the audience.

Dr. Lang closed the session by emphasizing the diversity of the deaf community in life experiences and regarding identity, language, and communication.  However, deaf and hard of hearing individuals are united in valuing self-determination and the protection of civil rights.  Dr. Lang emphasized the importance of everyone involved in EHDI programs to work together for the benefit of deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.

Watch for more conference highlights coming soon in Part Three:  Workshops and Wrap Up

The NAD participated in the National Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference which was held in New Orleans on February 25-26, 2008.  The conference was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management.  About 600 people from all 50 states attended, including medical professionals such as pediatricians, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, geneticists, and health program directors, as well as educators, researchers, parents, and advocates.  The NAD also served on the planning committee of the 2008 conference.

“The conference was visibly different this year,” said Barbara Raimondo, staff attorney at the NAD Law and Advocacy Center.  “You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing people signing.  Interestingly, even though there were relatively few deaf people attending the conference, all of the hearing people who could sign, signed, too.  So the number of people signing greatly increases.”  One participant said, “The first thing that ‘struck’ me was seeing many signing hands in the lobby when I arrived.  It was an awesome sight.”

Overall, the conference seemed to be much more inclusive this year.  More deaf and hard of hearing people participated and presented at this conference than ever before.  Conference networking events were also well attended by people who signed, providing additional opportunities to socialize and to meet with other participants informally.

Watch for more conference highlights coming soon in Part Two:  “Through Deaf Eyes”

Have you received a message from a “deaf charity” that offered you prize money for your donation?  Have you received a message from a “deaf lottery” that said you are a winner, but you must first pay taxes or a processing fee?  Did the message mention the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)?  Beware.

The NAD does not participate in “deaf charity” or “deaf lottery” programs.

Sample Scam – You receive a message from a “deaf lottery” saying you won money.  They may say you must pay taxes or pay a fee before you can get your lottery money.  They may try to make you feel foolish for not sending your money to get more money.  Other people may send you a message claiming they have already won the lottery money, and now you can win, too.  They cannot prove they are a true organization.  This is a scam.

Do not become a victim.  Protect yourself.  Protect your money. 

Take Action:  If you think that you have been scammed, or if you think someone has tried to scam you, please file an Internet scam complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.  Immediately take action to protect yourself and your money.  Visit your bank as soon as possible and explain what happened.  Your bank may be able to help you protect your money. You may need to close your bank account and open a new one.  Your bank may also be able to tell you how to protect your identity, Social Security number and your credit.

For more information, visit www.nad.org/ScamAlert.

Used sign language interpreter or real-time captioning services
Watched a television program with closed captions
Made a call through a relay service (TTY relay, video relay, etc.)

You probably know that there are federal laws that protect your rights to this communication access.  These laws and rights grew out of the efforts of the NAD and other advocacy organizations – combined with the support of elected officials. 

On November 4, 2008, people in the United States will vote for a new president.  In addition, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election and about one-third of the seats in the Senate are up for election. 

Washington DC may seem far away, but what happens there can make a big difference in your day-to-day life.  The NAD urges you to register to vote, learn about candidates’ positions on issues that concern you, and vote on November 4, 2008.  

Visit the NAD VOTE 2008 website at www.nad.org/Vote2008:
Learn more about:

• Advocacy Activities
• Online Voter Information Resources
• Identification Required (for voting)
• Voting Access for People with Disabilities

Link to NAD information about:

• Be a Prepared Voter
• Making Polls Accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Voters
• NAD Tells Presidential Candidates:  “Caption your videos”

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote — a very different thing.”  – Walter H. Judd

(1) to screen babies for hearing by age one month (a simple hearing screen usually is done before a newborn baby leaves the hospital);
(2) to provide confirmation of hearing status by age three months for babies suspected to be deaf or hard of hearing; and
(3) to ensure that families with babies who are deaf or hard of hearing are enrolled in appropriate early intervention programs by the time the child is six months old. 

Here is a summary of some recent NAD activities related to EHDI.  In all of these activities, the NAD educates professionals, policymakers, and other people about the importance of providing parents with information about language and communication choices, including and especially American Sign Language (ASL).  Further, the NAD works to ensure that any publication about early intervention reflects a positive attitude towards ASL.

Click here to learn more about how you can support deaf and hard of hearing children in your community.

Recent NAD activities related to EHDI:

EHDI Conference Planning Committee 
Every year there is a national conference for professionals, parents, and other people interested in EHDI.  This year, the NAD is serving on the planning committee for the 2008 national EHDI conference, which will be held in New Orleans next February and is expected to attract over 500 participants. 

The NAD is working to ensure that all perspectives are included on the conference agenda.  The NAD also will be submitting workshop proposals.  Past presentation topics at EHDI conferences have included audism, advocacy, deaf-hearing partnerships, ASL/English bilingualism, the involvement of deaf professionals in EHDI programs, and the legal right to language and communication, as well as many medically-oriented presentations.

 The NAD encourages professionals, parents, and others interested in EHDI to submit proposals to conduct workshops, too (deadline is October 15, 2007). 

For more information about the 2008 EHDI conference, see http://www.infanthearing.org/meeting/ehdi2008/index.html.

EHDI Bill
The NAD participated in the crafting of a bill to reauthorize the federal Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act.  When passed, this new EHDI law, like its predecessor, will authorize funding for state EHDI programs.  Among other things, the law will require EHDI programs to collaborate and consult with consumers when carrying out these programs, require policymakers to include consumers in developing EHDI policy, and require EHDI systems to offer parents a range of communication choices and program options.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance, of which the NAD is a co-chair, recently arranged a briefing for members of Congress about this bill.  Among the presenters were two members of Congress, an audiologist, an otolaryngologist, a parent, and an early interventionist (who is deaf), who stressed the importance of communication choices and opportunities for families and children. 

Gallaudet Leadership Institute
The NAD helped lead a new program at the Gallaudet Leadership Institute at Gallaudet University.  The Early Intervention Institute is a new certificate program designed for individuals who have current or prospective employment in early intervention, educational programming, or a related position.  The program was offered for the first time during the summer of 2007 and 12 professionals from around the United States participated. 

For more information about the Early Intervention Institute, see http://gli.gallaudet.edu/Flyers/2008/early_intervention2.pdf.

Infant and Toddler Program Comments
The NAD, through the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alliance, submitted comments to the U.S. Department Education on the Infant and Toddler Program of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  The comments included recommendations about the use of ASL with deaf and hard of hearing children as well as support that should be provided to families learning ASL.

Congress – The NAD is actively engaged in the new Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (see www.COATaccess.org). NAD representatives Rosaline Crawford and Barbara Raimondo, along with other COAT affiliate representatives, met with congressional staff to outline the need for legislative action to ensure accessible telecommunications and information services. Existing laws need to be updated to ensure that technologies and information services are accessible.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) –

• Closed Captioning – Crawford met with FCC Commissioners and/or their staff to inform them about the actions taken by the NAD and other consumer groups and by hundreds of consumers who filed comments and oppositions to 497 requests for exemption from the requirement to close caption their television programs. The NAD urged the FCC to evaluate each request individually and on the merits of each petition. The NAD, along with other consumer groups, also filed comments and oppositions to 36 new petitions filed recently with the FCC.
• IP Relay Misuse – The NAD participated in the development of FCC outreach and education information for businesses about preventing commercial fraud and scams, along with the importance, benefits, and legal obligations of business to accept calls made through to conduct business by relay. A copy of the Public Notice issued can be seen at FCC Public Notice (PDF). In the Public Notice, the FCC says:

The Commission also reminds merchants who accept telephone orders that they must not “hang up” on calls made through a Relay Service. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires merchants to ensure that people with disabilities have access to their services. Therefore, if a merchant accepts telephone orders from the general public, the merchant cannot refuse to accept calls from people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have a speech disability who call through a Relay Service. Calls made through a Relay Service can and must be handled in the same way as any telephone call.

• DTV and HDTV Closed Captioning Issues – The NAD has expressed concerns about the transition to digital television (DTV) in February 2009. The NAD wants to ensure that the analog-to-digital converter boxes will pass through and display closed captions. These concerns, along with reports of current problems with DTV and high definition television (HDTV) pass through, reception, and display of closed captions are being raised in meetings with the FCC, the DTV Coalition, and on Capitol Hill. The FCC issued a “Consumer Advisory” about closed captioning for digital television which can be seen at FCC Consumer Advisory (Word doc).

If you have an interest in deaf and hard of hearing babies, please send your thoughts to the Department on appropriate programming for these babies and their families.

Comments on the NPRM must be received by July 23 and can be sent in the following ways:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Department of Education’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select ED–2007–OSERS–131 to add or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for submitting comments, accessing documents, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’ link.

• Postal Mail: If you mail your comments about these proposed regulations, address them to Alexa Posny, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4109, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–2600. Please allow plenty of time for your comments to arrive.

Here are some points you may wish to make in your comments:

1. Introduce yourself and your program or interest in Part C. Name any deafness-related organizations you are a member of. Describe the successes and challenges you have seen in your early intervention program. The Department will benefit from learning more about deaf and hard of hearing children and the best ways to serve them, especially since more deaf and hard of hearing children are being identified early and enrolling in early intervention.

2. Thank the Department for specifically mentioning the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children, especially in relation to:

• the listing of early intervention services, where sign language is included.

• the definition of special educators, where teachers of deaf and hard of hearing children are included.

3. However, note that some clarification is needed in describing how to provide sign language services to children and families. It must be clarified that sign language services are not speech-language pathology services, and speech-language pathologists are not qualified to provide them. Speech-language pathologists have no training or expertise in this area. Sign language services must be provided by teachers of the deaf and/or other qualified personnel with the requisite knowledge and experience.

4. Part C should include “special factors” provisions similar to those in Part B of IDEA that address the language and communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children as well as specific needs of children in other disability categories.

5. Add any further comments of your own, and thank the Department for the opportunity to comment.