Congress Helps People With Disabilities

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."

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