Take Action for Accessible Communications

categories: accommodations, Communication, Policy

Published July 09, 2009 @ 04:00PM PT

Especially as auditory processing can be an issue for people on the spectrum (not to mention deaf and blind people on the spectrum, not to mention all people in general!), the 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act of 2009, H.R. 3101, is an important piece of U.S. legislation. This act would require, among other things, video captioning and descriptions for internet video programming and widespread accessibility of text messaging on mobile devices. The focus of the act is on accessibility for Internet protocol based communications and emerging technology. Whoot!

From AAPD, here's the checklist for this bill:

1. Contact your Member of the United States House of Representatives. Ask him or her to cosponsor H.R. 3101. Be sure to telephone, send E-mail, and a letter. Find your Member at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

2. Write your two U.S. Senators and ask them to sponsor and introduce a similar bill to H.R. 3101. Find your Senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

3. Use the bullet points...[on the AAPD site] as appropriate and include any personal stories about lack of access.

4. Thank Rep. Ed Markey for his leadership by using the Email Contact form at http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=124

5. You can find a copy of this legislation on http://www.Thomas.gov soon by typing in the bill number -- H.R. 3101.

6. Pass this Action Alert along to others and encourage them to send letters & E-mails, make phone calls and to complete online contact forms. Be sure to mention "H.R. 3101" in any text or calls made.

7. If possible, please send a copy to AAPD of any letters sent: AAPD, 1629 K Street NW, Suite 950, Washington, DC 20006. Attn. J. Simpson

I've put together a change.org action that covers the letters of support to House Representatives item 1.--please take a moment to personalize the letter and send it out to your legislators!

If anyone reading this would like to convert some of these other points into change.org actions, feel free--remember you can create (respectful and on topic please!) actions here too.

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Author

Dora is committed to improving quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum--including herself! She is Co-director of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education and a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's Board of Directors.