Video: New AFB Video Portrays Difficulties Faced by Cell Phone Users with Vision Loss
Posted on: Thursday, 2 April 2009, 09:00 CDT
AFB Urges Action by Wireless Industry to Ensure People with Vision Loss Have Access to Cell Phones
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/afb/37722/
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090402/NY93416 )
To improve the accessibility of cell phones for the more than 20 million Americans with vision loss, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is urging cell phone manufacturers and providers to focus on cell phone accessibility as they gather at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) conference in
As part of its cell phone accessibility efforts, AFB has launched a new video illustrating the challenges people with vision loss face when trying to purchase a usable and affordable cell phone. The video, which is available on YouTube and AFB's web site, is audio described and captioned to make it accessible to all people with disabilities. AFB is also urging the Obama administration and the new leadership at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take immediate action to ensure that cell phones and phone services are made accessible for people with disabilities, as required by Section 255 of the Communications Act (http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&TopicID=327&DocumentID=3574).
"While we applaud the leadership shown by AT&T and Verizon, who are providing software at a discount to make some of their phones accessible for consumers with vision loss, the reality is that the majority of cell phones still do not incorporate key features like speech output and magnification of information displayed on the screen," said
For more information on cell phone accessibility, visit www.afb.org/cellphones.
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than forty years that
SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind
Source: PR Newswire
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