BayLines

Winter, 2011

Bay State Council of the Blind

57 Grandview Avenue

Watertown, MA 02472

Phone: 617-923-4519

www.acb.org/baystate

President: Bob Hachey

22 Grant Street

Waltham, MA 02453

Phone: 781-893-6251

e-mail: bhachey@comcast.net

Editor: Steve Dresser

167 Green Street

Reading, MA 01867

Phone: 781-944-3586

e-mail: s.dresser@verizon.net

Assistant Editors: Jerry Berrier, Sharon Strzalkowski, Marcia Dresser, and Judy Savageau

"BayLines" is published four times per year in large print, audio cassette, via e-mail, and on the Web. Please contact the editor if you wish to request a change of format. Deadlines for receiving material are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15.

BSCB E-mail Lists:

BSCB-L is an open and unmoderated e-mail list for discussion of topics of interest to BSCB members and friends. To subscribe, send e-mail to bscb-l-subscribe@acb.org.

BSCB-ANNOUNCE is a moderated one-way e-mail list used to disseminate pertinent announcements to members and friends of the Bay State Council of the Blind. To subscribe, send an e-mail request to: jerry@birdblind.org.

From the Editor 4

President’s Message. 5

Let’s Write a New Chapter of Our BSCB Story. 6

Researchers Find Cure for R.O.P. 7

You Touched Our Lives. 9

Blind Community Leaders Praise ACS Initiative: Alternative Format Pilot Program Also Underway. 11

From the National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) 13

President Obama Signs 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act 15

Full Text of President Obama’s Speech. 17

What the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 Will Do for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. 21

WGBH's Larry Goldberg Named Co-Chair of FCC's Video Programming and Access Advisory Committee (VPAAC) 25

Bruins Play Goal Ball at Perkins School for the Blind. 27

Committee Contacts. 31

Chapter Contacts. 32

From the Editor

The start of a new year presents the opportunity to reflect on last year’s accomplishments, and to take stock of where we go from here. In the last few months, we’ve seen the passage of two significant pieces of legislation: the Pedestrian Safety Act, and the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. It took a lot of hard work to get these bills passed, and we have every right to be proud of what we’ve accomplished.

But passage of a law is just the beginning of the process of turning that law into reality. The Twenty-first Century Communications Act is a case in point. The law explicitly states that audio described programming will be made available, but even though several broadcasters are, in fact, complying with the law, many of us are still unable to receive described content. I’ve heard rumors that audio description is available from Comcast, but since I’m not a Comcast subscriber I can’t verify this. Sadly, I have heard no reports of other cable companies following Comcast’s lead. Possibly there are technical issues, and perhaps other issues as well, but I suspect that our biggest obstacle is that we aren’t making enough noise to convince cable and satellite service providers that audio description is important enough for them to solve whatever problems exist. I know that people in ACB and BSCB have been working hard to move things along, but let’s face it: neither ACB nor BSCB is a paying customer. The bottom line is that despite the efforts of those working on our behalf, described audio will remain a low priority item unless broadcasters and television service providers hear from individual customers. Even then, audio description will not become a reality overnight. Nevertheless, let’s not give up. We may still not get everything we want immediately, but we’ll get absolutely nothing if we remain silent.

--Steve Dresser

President’s Message

Hello everyone,

Is this the winter of our discontent? For those of you who don't like snow and cold, the answer is probably yes! Welcome to the Winter 2011 issue of BayLines.

I have a few updates to share with all of you, as well as some exciting information that just may help us get those annoying snowy sidewalks cleared of snow!

First, I want to say a few words here about the wonderful success achieved by ACB and BSCB last year on the legislative front. As all of you know, the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act was passed on July 26, 2010 in conjunction with the 20^th anniversary of the ADA. On October 8, President Obama signed the bill into law. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act was passed as part of the bipartisan flurry of legislation passed in December of 2010. In early January, President Obama signed that bill into law. I believe that this is the first time in ACB history that a sitting president signed two of our priority bills into law within the same one-year period. This is a major victory for ACB and BSCB, and I want to thank each of you who advocated tirelessly for these issues. Here we have proof that, despite all of its flaws, the democratic process does work. Now we must remain vigilant to be sure that these laws are implemented favorably. In coming months, you will be hearing about notices of proposed rule making and will have opportunities to comment on implementing regulations.

Now, I'd like to focus on an issue that I know concerns many of us: snowy sidewalks. Last year, BSCB passed a resolution that asks for policies requiring that sidewalks be cleared within a reasonable time after winter storms. It also asks you, our members, to work within your communities to see that sidewalks are cleared. Last July, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided that property owners are not only responsible for clearing snow after a storm, but also for clearing any residual accumulations caused by melting and re-freezing of ice and snow.

This court decision taken together with a very snowy January has brought this issue to the forefront. Local news reports on TV, radio, and in newspapers have featured more stories on snowy sidewalks than I've ever seen before. Boston Mayor Tom Menino has been quoted in some of these stories and he has promised to give greater attention to this issue. There's an old, wise saying that goes, "Strike while the iron is hot." Well, when it comes to snowy sidewalks, the iron is now hotter than it's ever been before. Let us all take advantage of this hot iron and make this issue a top priority. I've had to complain to local officials here in Waltham, but when I did, I noticed sidewalks on the main roads were better than I've ever seen during periods of heavy snow. They even did a nice job clearing crosswalk entrances and spaces surrounding walk buttons.

Finally, I encourage all of you to contact me with any issues that concern you. Stay safe, keep warm and enjoy the rest of BayLines.

--Bob Hachey

Let’s Write a New Chapter of Our BSCB Story
by Marcia Dresser

You may recall that about four years ago, I floated the idea of starting a North Shore chapter of BSCB. Although some interest was generated back then, we did not have the seven people required to form a chapter. However, two very dedicated folks, Jerry Berrier and Phyllis Mitchell, are joining me in resurrecting this venture.

BSCB has more members from the North Shore at this point, and having our own chapter would give us a wonderful opportunity to network and get to know other blind folks in our area whom we might not become acquainted with otherwise. Where and how often we meet, what form our meetings take, and what issues we tackle will depend solely upon what our members decide. We've chosen Saturday, September 17, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. as the date of our first meeting. We'll have some pizza, get acquainted, and decide how we want to proceed. As soon as we know who's coming, we'll find a meeting spot that's as centrally located as possible.

We're really motivated to make this happen, but we can’t do it alone. We need only seven of us to form the North Shore chapter, so what do you say? Are you interested? Please think about it, and contact one of us. You can reach Marcia and Phyllis by phone, or Jerry via email.

Marcia: (781) 944-3586
Phyllis: (781) 289-5453
Jerry: jerry@birdblind.org

We're looking forward to hearing from you.

Researchers Find Cure for R.O.P.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Blindness has long been a feared complication of premature babies. Even with laser treatments, these babies often have vision so limited, they can never drive. But in an extraordinary finding, a Houston team led a national study that discovered a simple shot that can restore a preemie baby's vision.

Vivienne Gonzalez weighed only 1 pound 1 ounce when she was born extremely premature at 23 weeks. Her twin died and Vivienne was going blind. She had retinopathy of prematurity -- a common problem among preemies. Blood vessels grow in the wrong places around the eye and can lead to blindness. A national study led by Dr. Helen Mintz-Hittner found a surprising solution -- a single shot of a cancer drug.

"Within 24 to 48 hours, the diseased, abnormal vessels are gone," said Dr. Hittner. Avastin shrinks blood vessels in the eye, just like it does those that feed a cancer tumor. Healthy vessels grow back, restoring vision. Dr. Hittner explained, "This is a more rapid response than we get with laser and a much better response. It's just really a miracle."

Vivienne's mother Janet Gonzalez said, "She was going to need corrective lenses as time went by. With this medicine, it was perfect."

Jenna Schustereit, 22, also has retinopathy of prematurity. Seven surgeries prevented blindness but left her with a visual impairment. "It takes me a little longer to focus, and my peripheral vision is not what most people's is, so I don't drive," she said. "Thinking back from what it could have been to what it is, it's wonderful."

But even better is saving vision with a single shot. Dr. Hittner believes the Avastin shots have fully restored Vivienne's vision. She said, "One injection, properly timed, has made her a normal child."

The treatment is rapidly being adopted by hospitals around the country. Because it's a cancer drug, being used off-label for vision, it's cheap. Dr. Hittner says the cost of saving a baby from going blind is $40. Dr. Hittner adds that the shot is so simple to give, nurses could do it in Third World countries, where she says they're saving more premature babies, but many of those babies are going blind.

You Touched Our Lives
by Karen Crowder

[Editor’s note: The following poem is in memory of BSCB member Donna Fanelle, who passed away on February 13 of this year after a long battle with cancer. We will miss her.]

Donna breezed in to my life like a summer ray of sunshine,

I was to graduate, you sat listening to my new records;

Blood Sweat and Tears echoed upbeat music,

The Beach Boys having us long for summer beaches;

“I like those records,” you and your friend Candice said.

Would I ever see you again after leaving Perkins?

I was pleased to see you at Lions World in 1973.

Graduation over, your life was filled with promise,

Your confident upbeat spirit helped you breeze through college prep.

We would chat at Alumni board meetings,

Your confidence shone through any fears you had.

I admired your gentle assertiveness;

“I speak up now,” you said.

When you joined us in 2004 when you sang on Perkins stage the stealthy spectre of cancer invaded you.

We loved Donna, reassuring her she was a fighter.

She showed us her new wavy hair, so shiny.

“I’m going to beat this,” she declared, full of confidence.

Donna bought a computer,

Learning its quirky ways,

Often browsing the Internet, emailing friends.

Donna and I went to two national ACB conventions,

To Minneapolis and Orlando, Florida.

In 2008 we cruised the sunny Atlantic to the friendly island of Bermuda;

Our group of travelers, sighted and blind, formed memories which will last throughout our lives.

We shared breakfasts on a sunny deck, dinners at fine restaurants.

We loved Donna’s sweet voice when she sang on stage on Karaoke night,

Her sincere friend Rick delighting us with a romantic oldie;

Was he singing it to her?

Amidst the fun and laughter we shared were dark clouds.

Donna had tests; she said, “I think it is back.”

“No this could not happen; hadn’t the stem cell treatments cured you?”

I remember Donna’s laughter, kind words, visiting her home, chatting late into the night at conventions and Alumni weekends.

We all admired her valiant fight to “beat” cancer.

Sitting with her at a dinner this January

I remember her last words to me:

“Glad I could sit with you,” she said, squeezing my hand.

Despite her cough and hoarse voice, wouldn’t I see her at the annual ACB convention?

I would be phoning or emailing Donna this week, chatting about life, exchanging computer tips and recipes.

She would be seeing her dad and uncle,

She would be at work with the Commission for the Blind.

God had unknown plans, mercifully taking Donna to be at peace again.

Cancer had stabbed her; she suffers no more.

We will all miss Donna and her gentle, sweet, kind spirit which forever touched our lives.

Blind Community Leaders Praise ACS Initiative: Alternative Format Pilot Program Also Underway

ATLANTA— February 23, 2011—The American Cancer Society (ACS), in collaboration with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), has taken affirmative steps to make its newly redesigned cancer.org website and other information accessible to people with visual impairments. The American Cancer Society’s new website provides an improved experience for anyone looking for information, help or ways to fight back against cancer. The new cancer.org is divided into four main sections – Stay Healthy, Find Support & Treatment, Explore Research, and Get Involved – that reflect the primary ways the American Cancer Society helps save lives from cancer.

“When the American Cancer Society launched its newly redesigned cancer.org website, we were able to offer an improved experience for anyone looking for on-line cancer information,” said Terry Music, chief mission delivery officer for the American Cancer Society. “We are pleased that we can also make our content easily accessible to people with visual impairments through our collaboration with the American Council of the Blind.”

“We are thrilled with American Cancer Society’s commitment to make its website accessible to people with visual impairments,” said Mitch Pomerantz, President of ACB. “Today’s announcement is part of the Society’s on-going effort to meet the needs of the visually impaired. The website will provide critical information to those in our community touched by cancer, as well as family and friends.”

Website Accessibility

The American Cancer Society’s new website is designed to meet guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (www.w3.org/wai). The guidelines, which do not affect the content or look and feel of a web site, ensure that sites are accessible to persons with visual and other disabilities. The guidelines are of particular benefit to blind computer users who use screen reader voice output or magnification technology on their computers and who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse for navigation.

“Web site accessibility is of great importance to both the blind community and to people with disabilities generally,” said ACB First Vice President Kim Charlson of Boston, Massachusetts. “Today’s announcement is an important milestone in the blind community’s quest for independent access to health information.”

Alternative Format Pilot Program

The Society’s accessible website is part of a broader initiative to ensure the availability of cancer information to people who are blind and visually impaired. As part of that initiative, the Society has worked with ACB to develop a pilot program that will offer certain ACS materials in braille, large print and audio formats to individuals whose disabilities prevent them from reading standard print.

Details of the information available in alternative formats can be found at www.cancer.org/AboutUs/ACSPolicies/accessibility-at-the-american-cancer-society-policy. Members of the public with visual impairments may call 1-800-227-2345 for more information and to request materials in other formats.

For more information, contact:

Claire Greenwell

American Cancer Society

Phone: (404) 417-5883

e-mail: claire.greenwell@cancer.org

From the National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS)

Dear Students,

It is my pleasure to inform you that our membership information and dues payments are now available online! There are a lot of exciting things going on in NABS that you don't want to miss.

What is so special about being a NABS member? You have....

• the right to vote at conventions;
• the right to serve on committees;
• the right to speak on the convention floor;
• the right to hold office in NABS;
• the right to be appointed to a NABS-appointed position; and
• membership in the American Council of the Blind.

What exactly does NABS do?

1. We coordinate an annual national convention to focus on topics of interest to blind and visually impaired students via formal and informal programs.

2. We build partnerships with disability organizations to realize our common goals of worldwide accessibility.

3. We organize social conference calls to connect students with students.

4. We host an email list to provide a forum for discussion and dissemination of information about employment, scholarships, advocacy efforts, and more.

5. We publish the Student Advocate, a biannual newsletter that features articles of interest to blind and visually impaired students.

6. We serve as a resource for blind/visually impaired students, parents of blind/visually impaired students, DSS offices, and university disability organizations.

Joining NABS is affordable, quick and easy. To join, go to
http://www.acbstudents.org/joinnabs.htm.

There you will see, among other things, a place where you can choose the type of membership that interests you and a place where you can give a donation.

Dues are just $15 for general members, college age and above. (High school and younger are considered junior members at just $8 a year). Yes, just $15 will get you all these great opportunities with NABS.

For more information, go to http://www.acbstudents.org
or e-mail me at president.acbstudents@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Sara Conrad

National Alliance of Blind Students, President

President Obama Signs 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
by Bob Hachey

October 8 dawned bright and beautiful. My guide dog Xane and I arose very early that day. It was to be a very special day. We had to get to Logan Airport for an early flight to Washington, DC. Today would be the day that President Obama would sign the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act into law.

We arrived at the ACB national office around 11 a.m. It was nice to get to check out the offices and have lunch with Melanie Brunson, Eric Bridges and Sharon Lovering.

Shortly after 12 noon, Melanie, Deonne (her administrative assistant), Eric, myself and two guide dogs piled into a taxi for the trip to the White House. At the gates of the White House, the energy in the air was palpable! We met up with members of the COAT (Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology) Steering Committee, and many other ACB colleagues who were all waiting to get into the signing ceremony. Present in this enthusiastic crowd were many colleagues from Massachusetts, including Kim and Brian Charlson, Carl Richardson, Larry Goldberg of WGBH, and Steve Rothstein, President of Perkins School for the Blind. The crowd of around 250 people included advocates for deaf and blind individuals. It took awhile for us to get through the security checkpoint. And there was a good bit of walking involved. The Secret Service and military personnel who escorted us were both professional and courteous. The route from the front gate to the East Room of the White House included entering and exiting what seemed to be makeshift buildings. The experience was a bit disorienting for me and I mistakenly thought we'd entered the White House when we had actually stepped back outside.

Upon entering the White House, we were gathered in a waiting area outside the East Room, where we socialized and took pictures. I noticed that the floor was very smooth, and encountered a marble column. Clearly, the White House is not your average government building!

We were finally ushered into the East Room and escorted to seats. There was a stage at the front of the room and Stevie Wonder was on the stage as we awaited the entrance of President Obama. Those sitting in the front row included Eric Bridges, ACB's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, representative Ed Markey, and a few other members of Congress.

At 2:06 p.m., President Obama entered the East Room. A few of us had been wondering if the familiar "Hail to the Chief" would accompany his entrance. There was applause but no music. Before signing the bill, President Obama delivered a speech which appears in full later in this issue of BayLines.

President Obama then signed the bill and quickly exited the East Room; it was also time for us to leave. Some of us proceeded to Ebbets Grill for a brief celebration of our victory. Mark Bayer, Rep. Markey's chief telecommunications aide, joined us for a while. At this point I enjoyed meeting and getting to know Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta, who had testified in favor of the bill at multiple Congressional hearings on behalf of ACB. Jesse was wounded in Iraq by an improvised explosive device (IED), resulting in blindness and brain injury.

All too quickly, it was time to grab a cab to BWI for the trip back to Boston. It was truly an honor to be there when our top priority bill was signed into law by the President of the United States. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all of you who worked long and hard for a good cause. The passage of this bill proves that if we persist, we will gain full access to all of the opportunities presented to us by American society.

Full Text of President Obama’s Speech

on October 8, 2010

Hello, everybody. Good to see you. Everybody, please have a seat. Well, it is wonderful to see all of you here today, to be with all of you. I want to make some special acknowledgements. We’ve got some legislators here who have been fighting on behalf of the disabilities community for a very long time. We’re so proud of the legislation I’m signing today, as well as legislation we signed earlier this week. So I want to acknowledge all of them.

First of all, responsible in large part for guiding this process through in the Senate — Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Representative Ed Markey, Democrat from Massachusetts. We also have here Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia. Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland. We’ve got Kent Conrad, as well as Byron Dorgan — the Dakota boys from North Dakota. [Laughter.]

We’ve got Representative Henry Waxman, who’s on so many important pieces of legislation this year, and we’re grateful to him. Mr. Julius Genachowski is here, who’s the chairman of the FCC. Where’s Julius? There he is right there — a classmate of mine, somebody who has just been a great friend for a long time.

And finally, we’ve got this guy. [Laughter.] Some of you may know him. I happened to be listening to him this morning when I woke up. He’s what I work out to. [Laughter.] He’s what I sweet-talk Michelle to. [Laughter.] Mr. Stevie Wonder is in the house. [Applause.] I was doing a little rendition of some of his music to him and he was kind enough not to laugh. [Laughter.]

Now, earlier this year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act right here in the White House. Many of you were here. And it was a moment for every American to reflect not just on one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in our history, but what that bill meant to so many people. It was a victory won by countless Americans who refused to accept the world as it is, and against great odds, waged quiet struggles and grassroots crusades until finally change was won.

The story of the disability rights movement is enriched because it’s intertwined with the story of America’s progress. Americans with disabilities are Americans first and foremost, and like all Americans are entitled to not only full participation in our society, but also full opportunity in our society.

So we’ve come a long way. But even today, after all the progress that we’ve made, too many Americans with disabilities are still measured by what folks think they can’t do, instead of what we know they can do.

The fight for progress isn’t about sympathy, by the way — it’s about opportunity. And that’s why all of us share a responsibility to keep building on the work of those who came before us — one life, one law, one step at a time.

So today, we’re here to take two more steps on that journey. First of all, on Tuesday, I signed Rosa’s Law. This is named for a nine-year-old girl, right there — Rosa, wave to everybody. [Applause.] That's some good waving there, Rosa. [Laughter.]

Rosa Marcellino — it’s so inspiring to have her here. As one of hundreds of thousands of Americans with Down Syndrome, Rosa worked with her parents and her siblings to have the words “mentally retarded” officially removed from the health and education code in her home state of Maryland.

Now, Rosa’s Law takes her idea a step further. It amends the language in all federal health, education and labor laws to remove that same phrase and instead refer to Americans living with an “intellectual disability.” Now this may seem to some people like a minor change, but I think Rosa’s brother Nick put it best — where’s Nick? You right there, Nick? You can wave, too. Go ahead. [Laughter.]

But I want everybody to hear Nick’s wisdom here. He said, “What you call people is how you treat them. If we change the words, maybe it will be the start of a new attitude towards people with disabilities.” That's a lot of wisdom from Nick. [Applause.]

Nick and Rosa’s parents are all choking up because they're really proud of their kids, and appropriately so.

Now, the bill I’m signing today into law will better ensure full participation in our democracy and our economy for Americans with disabilities. The 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will make it easier for people who are deaf, blind or live with a visual impairment to do what many of us take for granted — from navigating a TV or DVD menu to sending an e-mail on a smart phone. It sets new standards so that Americans with disabilities can take advantage of the technology our economy depends on. And that’s especially important in today’s economy, when every worker needs the necessary skills to compete for the jobs of the future.

So together, these changes are about guaranteeing equal access, equal opportunity, and equal respect for every American. And they build on the progress that we’ve already made as an administration over the last 20 months.

Together, we put in place one of the most important updates to the ADA in 20 years by prohibiting disability-based discrimination by government entities and private businesses and by updating accessibility standards.

I issued an executive order focused on establishing the federal government as a model employer of Americans with disabilities.

We passed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act -- the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at addressing the challenge faced by Americans living with paralysis.

We reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program, covering an additional 2.6 million children in need in 2009, including children with disabilities.

And the Affordable Care Act we passed will give every American more control over their health care — and will do more to give Americans with disabilities control over their own lives than any legislation since the ADA.

So equal access. Equal opportunity. The freedom to make of our lives what we will. Living up to these principles is an obligation we have as Americans — and to one another. Because, in the end, each of us has a role to play in our economy. Each of us has something to contribute to the American story. And each of us must do our part to continue on this never-ending journey towards building a more perfect union.

So I am so proud of the legislators here today. I want to thank all the advocates who helped bring this legislation about. And now I'm very proud to sign the bill. [Applause.]

What the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 Will Do for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Access to advanced communications services and equipment

The legislation, as signed into law by the President:

Requires advanced communications equipment and services to be accessible, if achievable. If not, then equipment and services must be compatible with devices used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if achievable. "Achievable" is defined as reasonable effort or expense, as determined by the FCC.

Improves enforcement. The FCC must file regular reports with Congress and requires an enforcement study by the Comptroller General. It also adds record keeping obligations for equipment manufacturers and service providers.

Requires access to Internet services built into mobile telephone devices, like smart phones, if achievable.

Requires a clearinghouse of information on accessible products and services, and public education and outreach.

Video Description

One year after the bill becomes law, it restores FCC rules requiring 4 hours per week of video description on 9 television channels (top 4 broadcast networks and top 5 cable channels) in the top 25 most populated markets.

Two years after the bill becomes law, the FCC is required to report to Congress on video description.

After four years the bill permits the FCC to increase video description to 7 hours per week on 9 television channels.

After six years, the FCC is required to apply the video description requirements to the top 60 most populated markets (not just the top 25 most populated markets).

After nine years, the FCC is required to report to Congress on the need for additional markets to carry video description.

After 10 years, the bill permits the FCC to expand video description to 10 new markets annually to achieve 100 percent nationwide coverage.

The legislation requires video programming owners, providers, and distributors to make emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Devices designed to receive or play back video programming, using a picture screen of any size, must be capable of delivering available video description, and making emergency information accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Devices with picture screens less than 13 inches must meet these requirements, if achievable, with reasonable effort or expense.

Devices designed to record video programming (such as DVRs) must enable the rendering or pass through of video description and emergency information, so viewers can turn the video description on/off when played back on a screen of any size.

User Interfaces on Digital Apparatus

The legislation requires devices designed to receive or play back video programming:

To make controls of built-in functions accessible to and usable by individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable;

To provide access to video description features through a mechanism that is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated for activating accessibility features.

Access to Video Programming Guides and Menus Provided on Navigation Devices

Cable/satellite set-top box on-screen text menus and guides must be audibly accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, if achievable.

Devices must provide access to built-in video description features through a mechanism that is reasonably comparable to a button, key, or icon designated for activating the accessibility features.

Other

The bill allocates up to $10 million per year from the Interstate Relay Service Fund for equipment used by individuals who are deaf-blind.

Establishes an Emergency Access Advisory Committee to recommend and for the FCC to adopt rules to achieve reliable and interoperable communications with future Internet-enabled emergency call centers.

Establishes a Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee to make recommendations about video description, accessible emergency information, user interfaces, and video programming guides and menus.

For more information about the Twenty-first Century Communication and Video Accessibility Act, contact Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201, ebridges@acb.org.

House Passes Towns Legislation to Protect Pedestrians from Safety Risks Associated

with Quiet Cars

Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act will set standard for necessary sound emitted by hybrid and electric vehicles

For immediate release: Thursday, December 16, 2010

Contact: Towns Press Office, 202-225-5936

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives today passed S. 841, The Pedestrian Enhancement Safety Act, bipartisan legislation championed by Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY, NY-10) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) that will protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury or death as a result of silent vehicle technology. The bill addresses a longstanding issue regarding the safety risks associated with the low level of sound generated by green vehicles, or the absence of it.

“The silent nature of hybrid and electric vehicles, coupled with their growing popularity, presents a dilemma — how do we protect individuals who depend upon sound for their safety, such as unsuspecting pedestrians and the blind,” said Rep. Towns, who spent many years teaching travel with a white cane to the blind. “The solution lies in the Pedestrian Safety Act. I am proud to have supported this important piece of legislation.”

S. 841 requires the Secretary of Transportation to study the minimum level of sound required for environmentally friendly vehicles. Once this safety standard is determined, it will be applied to all new automobiles manufactured or sold in the United States beginning three years after the standard is issued.

“While it is important to embrace technology that benefits our environment, we must do so with the safety of all citizens in mind,” added Towns. “The legislation is an effective way not only to prevent avoidable injuries to pedestrians, but to do so without impeding innovation.”

Last week, S. 841, sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Arlen Specter (D-PA), successfully passed the Senate. S. 841 is supported by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the National Federation of the Blind, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers and the American Council of the Blind.

The Pedestrian Enhancement Safety Act passed the House by a vote of 379 to 30. The legislation now goes to the President’s desk for signature into law.

WGBH's Larry Goldberg Named Co-Chair of FCC's Video Programming and Access Advisory Committee (VPAAC)

The recently enacted "21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act" promises significant improvements to the accessibility and usability of video distributed via digital television and streamed on the Internet to computers and mobile devices. The law will also improve the accessibility of emergency communications by enabling greater access to next generation 911 systems, and will require accessible user interfaces - for users who are blind - on devices which display video programming, electronic programming guides and on-screen menus.

The law requires the FCC to establish two advisory committees, on video programming accessibility and on next generation 911 emergency communications systems.

Larry Goldberg, director of WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) and a 25-year pioneering veteran of media access at WGBH Boston, has been appointed co-chair of the Video Programming Access Advisory Committee (VPAAC). Wayne Luplow, Vice President, HDTV Standards and Promotion, Zenith Electronics, is co-chair of the committee. Representatives from the nation's leading technology firms, television and cable networks and from national organizations representing people with disabilities comprise the committee's full, 45-person membership.

VPAAC is organized into four working groups, charged with addressing technical implementation of the law:

Working Group 1: Internet protocol based closed-captioning: Identification of protocols, technical capabilities and procedures needed to distribute and receive closed captioning of media using Internet protocol (user-generated media is exempted from this law);

Working Group 2: Pass-through of closed captioning and video description: Recommendations to ensure proper delivery and reception of closed captioning and video description to devices capable of receiving and displaying video programming;

Working Group 3: Emergency Information: Identification of methods to generate and deliver emergency information provided on video programming in a manner that is accessible; and

Working Group 4: Accessibility of user interfaces, on-screen text menus, video programming guides and menus on navigational devices and identification and recommendation of standards and protocols to enable access to these features and functions.

The VPAAC is required to submit two reports to the Commission with their recommendations, identification of remaining technical challenges and recommended deadlines for compliance.

For more information on the 21st Century Video and Communications Accessibility Act, please visit the website of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology at www.coataccess.org.

For more information on the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee, including a full list of members, visit the FCC's VPAAC Page http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/VPAAC/.

Bruins Play Goal Ball at Perkins School for the Blind
by Laura Paine

WATERTOWN—Boston Bruins players Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder got a taste of what it’s like to rely on the rest of their senses when they “lost” their vision playing “goal ball” at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown.

On Feb. 7, the Bruins’ forwards teamed up against Perkins students to play goal ball, a team sport geared toward blind athletes in which players roll a bell-embedded ball into the opposing team’s goal. Players use the sound of the bell to determine where the ball is and use their bodies, often by lying on their sides on the floor, to prevent the ball from passing them.

Wheeler and Ryder each wore colored goggles that prevented them from seeing, which proved to be a more difficult task than either of them expected. At one point when Ryder went to retrieve the ball after it rolled past him, he peeked out from behind the goggles to find it. Wheeler said it was a challenge “for sure.”

“You find out how much you take your vision for granted when it is taken away from you,” he told the Watertown TAB & Press. “Once you put those goggles on, it was a different world. You don’t think about your hearing, maybe even touch and those different things as much as maybe you should. We rely on our vision so much that when it’s taken from you, it’s a shock to your system for sure.”

Wheeler and Ryder played the game as a part of the National Hockey League’s “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative.

Perkins Lower School Physical Education teacher Tracey Polimeno said it was very exciting to have Boston Bruins players at Perkins.

“It was even more important that Michael Ryder and Blake Wheeler took the time to learn how to play goal ball, a game that really belongs to the students,” said Polimeno. “What good sports. The Bruins made it clear that our students truly matter to them.”

Wheeler said it was a great opportunity for him and Ryder to do something different.

“I don’t know if Mike has done anything like this either,” Ryder said. “It was a unique opportunity and to put yourself in these kids’ shoes for 10 minutes to see what they go through, it kind of gives you a different perspective and you appreciate what you have a lot more.”

The players answered students’ questions about everything from whether they take the elevator to their games or if they take the stairs to how many players make up a hockey team—Ryder and Blake said they take the stairs and, they think that including the goalie, there are 23 players on the team.

Students received goodie bags, autographs and hockey sticks from the players and 12 representatives from the Perkins School for the Blind will attend the Bruins/Sharks game on Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. as the special guests of Patrice Bergeron through his Patrice’s Pals program.

Laura Paine can be reached at lpaine@cnc.com.

BSCB Board of Directors

Bob Hachey, President

Phone: 781-893-6251

e-mail: bhachey@comcast.net

Sharon Strzalkowski, First Vice President

Phone: 508-363-3866

e-mail: strzal@charter.net

Marcia Dresser, Second Vice President

Phone: 781-944-3586

e-mail: mn.dresser@verizon.net

Jerry Berrier, Secretary