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Accessibility:
What You Need to Know Before Purchasing Telecommunication Products
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Communication for All
- Features that can make all the difference
- Telecommunications Access Opportunities
- Equal Access is good for Business
- About TecAccess
- Conclusion
Executive Summary
The issues surrounding accessibility for information technology products and services were brought to widespread attention in 1998 by Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act. This law mandated that all federal agencies developing, procuring, maintaining, or using information technology must ensure that it is fully accessible to employees and the public. Section 508´s primary purpose is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to, and use of, the information technology used by federal agencies. Accessibility means that products are available to and usable by the widest possible audience, including persons with disabilities.
Designing telecommunications products and services that can be used by as many people as possible is now accepted as essential. The concept of ´universal design´ is to simplify life for everyone, including elderly people and persons with disabilities. This will include the 0.5% of the population who are temporarily disabled through illness or accidents.
Disabled and older users are no longer regarded as just a small niche market group. The increasing number of older people with significant purchasing power has led many companies to reconsider their design criteria so as to include features which make their products more attractive to a larger audience. However, most of these features will benefit all users.
The economic justification for universal design should be self evident, but is all too often ignored. The purpose of this white paper is to provide manufacturers and purchasing officials a guide to the features when developing and or purchasing a telecommunication product.
Universal Design is the Solution
The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Access to Telecommunications
Telecommunications policy has become critically important to people with disabilities because of the changes that have propelled us as a society into an Information Age. The telephone as we have known it has been eclipsed by a multitude of devices, services, and options that are difficult to describe, not only because of their complexity but because of the constant changes and new developments in this area.
People with disabilities are more at risk of social and physical isolation than most other groups. Telecommunications technologies are vehicles for preventing, reducing and even eliminating that isolation. Telecommunications are an essential component of how Americans work, do business, socialize, take care of basic needs, and engage in the political process. It is difficult to imagine how one might function in American society, or even survive, without telecommunications.
For many people with disabilities, however, access to basic telephone service is still nothing to take for granted. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired cannot use the voice-based telephone system. Telecommunications relay services are now developing to address some of these needs; yet they are a type of technical band-aid, requiring the user to first acquire an extra device (Text Telephone, or telecommunications display device1) and then communicate through an operator to another party. Many Text Telephones use Baudot code, an extremely slow mode of transmission. Technologies are now emerging that could eventually replace this system.
There are non-technical barriers to telecommunications as well. For example, people who use Text Telephones have little assurance that they can communicate with government offices, even those that are listed as having Text Telephones. Government workers are often untrained in Text Telephone use and hang up the phone because they don´t recognize the sound of a Text Telephone call.
For people who cannot read fine print or manipulate a phone book, the barrier is to information. Accessible forms of print information such as yellow pages directory services need to be made available. The resulting lost opportunities affect not only the person with a disability, who cannot easily find a plumber when the pipes break, for example, but the business that will never receive the call.
New and emerging telecommunications services and products such as voice processing, videotext, and those associated with automatic number identification (A.N.I.) all present potential new barriers as well as the potential to be particularly useful to persons with disabilities. Videotext refers to interactive electronic services that are reached with a computer and a modem or a "dedicated" videotext terminal. Voice processing refers to a range of information services that are reached with a touch-tone phone. A.N.I. is a technology that underlies new telephone services such as caller i.d., call blocking and call trace.
Overview of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a new technology that provides an alternative to traditional telephone systems. Although VoIP has the potential to offer support for people with disabilities far beyond what is possible with a traditional telephone system, this potential is far from being realized. One reason for the lack of progress is that the Federal Communications Commission has exempted VoIP services from the Section 255 rules that require traditional telephone systems to be accessible to people with disabilities. A more fundamental problem is that many traditional assistive devices-- notably TTYs-- rely on the telephone system´s ability to transmit non-voice audio signals reliably and without distortion. This quality of transmission is not always possible in a VoIP network. To understand why this is the case, it is necessary to examine some of the basic differences between traditional telephone systems and VoIP systems.
Traditional telephone networks are "circuit switched." You can envision this by imagining that you have a dedicated set of wires between you and the person you´re talking to.
By contrast, VoIP telephone networks are "packet switched." You can envision this as being similar to the Postal System. IP telephones break the user´s voice stream into a sequence of individual packages called "packets," each of which contains a small recording (typically 20 milliseconds) of the person´s speech. Each packet is tagged with information, including the address of the other person´s telephone. As is the case with the Postal System, the destination is specified for each packet, but the IP network chooses the routing. For example, for a VoIP call between Denver and DC, some packets may go via Dallas while others go via Chicago. This flexibility in routing-- along with the fact that many different type of data (not just voice) may be handled on IP networks-- is a reason why VoIP tends to be more economical than circuit switched telephone systems. But it can also cause problems-- in fact, the same kinds of problems that that occur in the Postal System! For example, packets that are "mailed" in a specific sequence may arrive out of sequence; packets may be unintentionally routed via inefficient routes, causing them to arrive late; and packets may even be lost entirely and never arrive at the destination.
Most VoIP systems have voice-optimized packet loss concealment algorithms. In essence, these work by tricking the human ear into hearing something that wasn´t there. For voice conversations, packet loss rates as high as 5% are usually tolerable. Unfortunately, if a TTY device does not receive the complete set of tones that comprise a character, it cannot be expected to display that character correctly. Another problem is that VoIP systems often use voice-optimized audio compression techniques in order to squeeze additional conversations onto the same set of wires. Some of these techniques can distort TTY tones so badly that the TTYs become unusable.
The net result is that, although people can be pretty sure that communication will be reliable if they pop the handset of a traditional telephone into the acoustic coupler of a TTY, there is no guarantee of TTY reliability if it´s the handset of an IP telephone.
Although this may appear to be a gloomy picture, it is very important to keep in mind that the problems described above exist only when the voice channel of the VoIP connection is used to transmit non-voice signals, such as TTY tones. In light of these problems, why is VoIP regarded as having tremendous potential for increased accessibility?
A big difference between traditional telephony and VoIP is that, in a traditional analog phone system, all communication is carried on a single channel. This includes people´s voices, as well as touch-tones, modem signals, and TTY tones. By contrast, a VoIP connection may consist of several parallel channels that do not interfere with each other, each carrying a different type of information. For example, there is no technical reason why text information cannot be carried reliably via "text packets" between IP telephones, at the same time that "voice packets" are carrying voice.
Some VoIP system manufacturers have already implemented support for this type of approach, chiefly in order to compete for government contracts. Unfortunately, until the FCC applies the Section 255 rules to VoIP systems, people with disabilities should not assume that VoIP services-- especially residential services-- will be compatible with their traditional assistive technologies.
Technology Innovation
Technology has opened up the workplace and created a more level playing field for the disabled. The disability community has the highest rate of unemployment or underemployment of any constituency, and technology enhances their ability to find meaningful employment. Over half of the fortune 500 companies are deploying VoIP phones and over 10,000 organizations have deployed the technology with millions of IP phones acquired. VoIP is becoming a mainstream technology. Traditionally, voice traffic is carried via circuit-switched networks (private brand exchange [PBX] networks) or networks made up of private lines and time division multiplexers (TDM´s). Data networks have traditionally been separate from these voice networks. VoIP offers the possibility of a converged network which integrates data, voice, and video onto a single IP-based network. This technology offers significant operational and productivity benefits to organizations:
- Reduced operational expenses-- A converged IP network reduces the number of networks to manage.
- Unified messaging capability-- Users can send and receive faxes from their desks and reply to e-mails by phone.
- Mobility-- Home, branch, roaming, and traveling workers can access the same features as those working at corporate offices. Roaming users can even keep the same phone number by using the IP phones.
- Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) applications-- These allow third parties to create value added-applications (e.g., time cards) on the IP phones.
- A standards-based, non-proprietary solution-- Unlike traditional voice solutions, VoIP is based on non-proprietary protocols and is built using industry standards. This open interface means that organizations are not dependent on their PBX vendor to develop needed special applications or features. Instead, they can deploy a third party vendor who has the application that meets their needs today. Organizations with accessibility requirements can then mix and match the best-of-breed applications and use different vendors to suit their end-user needs.
- Architecture-- allows the reliable transportation of TTY services through the network.
Employee retention. Cost savings. Increased productivity. Successfully accomplishing your organization´s mission. These are the ultimate concerns of many executives-- particularly in government-- where performance demands are high and financial resources may be limited. In the face of these challenges, organizations are continually pressed to look for innovative ways to streamline business operations while boosting effectiveness.
Accessibility is one area where you can harness insight into what makes your organization productive, and steer inventions that are essential to meeting standards and enhancing user experience-- to arrive at innovation.
Accessibility Features: VoIP and Related IP-enabled Applications
| Deaf | Hard of Hearing | Blind | Low Vision | Speech Impaired | Dexterity Impaired | Cognitively Impaired | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Integrated, simultaneous voice, text, and video communication, wired and wireless |
Sign language communication Video carryover is easier to set up and use Video relay is easier to set up and use Captioned videoconferencing |
Speech-reading Captioned videoconferencing |
Hearing carryover is easier to set up and use Improved speech-to-speech using video |
Wireless improves ease of use |
Multiple media makes communication more compelling and intelligible |
||
Integration with IP-based TRS (relay) |
|||||||
Wideband audio (better audio quality) |
Improved intelligibility |
Improved intelligibility |
|||||
Full-featured two-way simultaneous text communication (full screen, fonts, emoticons, etc.) |
Easier to use, more expressive than TTY |
Easier to use, more expressive than TTY; easy to prepare utterances in advance, insert into message |
|||||
User profile automatically establishes individual preferences and network services (transcoding, relay, text macros, speech synthesis, etc.) |
Easier to set up |
Easier to set up |
Easier to set up |
Easier to set up |
Easier to set up |
Easier to set up; reduces physical effort |
Easier to set up; reduces mental effort Buddy list simplifies use |
Reliable Transmission of TTY over IP
With the standard analog telephone service that resides in many homes and offices, the communication is via transmissions that are carried on a single audio channel. This would include the caller´s voice, as well as touch-tones and modem signals. Many traditional assistive technologies-- notably TTYs-- rely on the telephone system´s ability to transmit audio information reliably and without distortion. In contrast to an analogue environment, VoIP audio channels (i.e., the mechanisms by which VoIP systems transmit voice) are not required to support reliable TTY communication. A significant problem is that the voice-optimized audio compression commonly employed in VoIP environments can decrease TTY accuracy to the point they become unusable.
Communication for All
The telephone is one of the main tools of our everyday lives. We call our friends, family, doctor, dentist, office, bank, library, help lines, our lawyer, and information directories-- in fact almost everyone is available at the end of a telephone line. In our homes the telephone gives easy access to the outside world. For many people it is their main link with others. This is particularly so for disabled and elderly people. However, the telephone can be a barrier to communication if it is difficult to use.
- According the 2000 Census, there are over 281 million people in the United States and more than 20% have functional disabilities. Over 56 million people with functional disabilities in the US earn 1.2 trillion dollars in income and have over 200 billion dollars in annual discretionary income.
- While there is still a high degree of unemployment among people with disabilities, there is an increase in the number of people with disabilities graduating from major universities and training programs entering the job market.
- 60 million baby boomers are expected to leave the workforce in the next 15 years-- without strategies to attract or retain these workers, companies will have a significant loss in knowledgeable workers.
- By the year 2020, a quarter of the population in Europe will be over the age of 60, and many of them will face some degree of difficulty in using telecommunications equipment if these are not properly designed. The challenge for manufacturers and service providers is to make their products accessible to this significant sector of the market.
Elderly and disabled people form a very significant portion of the telecommunications market, a proportion with increasing disposable income. Americans are staying and are planning to stay in their jobs beyond the age of 65. As the general workforce continues to age, the incidence of disabilities (for example low-vision, arthritis) increases forcing organizations to adapt to their employees ongoing physiological changes occurring in the workplace. Accessible technology allows companies to establish strategies to hire, develop, retain and transition their valuable knowledge workers.
For Many-- Not Such an Easy Tool
Many disabled and elderly people have difficulty using telephones. For example, buttons can be difficult to distinguish and some telephones can be difficult to hold without accidentally pressing the keys. The huge range of telephones in all shapes and sizes that come packed with features can also present problems for even the most able user.
This whitepaper has been created to show how important it is for telephones to be designed so that they can be used by as many people as possible. Our objective is to inform companies and government agencies that are thinking about purchasing telecommunication products about the features that elderly and disabled people would find helpful.
Features That Can Make All the Difference
This section outlines beneficial features that can be added in selected combinations to a telephone terminal to make a real difference to disabled people. The features are matched against disability groups with an explanation of the way the features can improve access.
Essential Telecommunication Features
Most of the features described will be seen as desirable options, but for many disabled and elderly people they will be the essential means to enable telephone access. This group in total is a large employee and customer base so it is important to maintain goodwill by responding to their needs. If legislation drives the provision of telephones which are accessible to disabled people, and the accessibility features have not been built in, replacement of equipment could be expensive and disruptive, particularly for the managers of premises and facilities who are under obligation to comply. For manufacturers, the high cost of retrofits to existing designs will make it wiser to consider accessibility requirements as early as possible.
| Feature | Definition | What Disability Group Benefits |
|---|---|---|
Additional Earphone |
This facility enables a second earphone to be connected, enabling a user to listen with both ears. The additional earphone can also be used by a hearing helper who can repeat the message so that it can be lip read, or use sign language to convey the message. |
|
Coupling to a Computer |
Coupling to a computer is a facility which will allow deaf and deaf blind users to use their personal computers as text terminals. Enables use of dial-out software and personal electronic phonebook database. It would also allow people with very severe physical disabilities to access the telephone through ordinary terminals, and allow severely speech-impaired users to connect their communication aids. |
|
Dial Out Buffer Memory |
A dial-out buffer memory enables users who are slow in dialing to avoid being timed-out. Generally the user taps in a number and when ready presses a send key, as used on many mobile phones. Many elderly people need plenty of time to read a number, press the keys and check that they have entered the correct number. It is recommended that the buffer memory includes a system to remind the user if a process has not been completed. |
|
Enlarged Keys |
Enlarged keys enable persons with poor dexterity to press the correct key. A concave shape to the keys will also help fingers to stay in place. Large clear typefaces should be used to improve legibility for persons with low vision and provide enough space to provide Braille. |
|
Full Video Facility |
Terminals that can display sign language or permit lip-reading will be especially valuable for users with severe hearing difficulties. Sign language has its own grammar and syntax and is regarded as a language in its own right, so those who use it may regard written English (ie. Text) as foreign. This group of users, which includes many of those who were born deaf, will not be well served by the Telephone network until high definition video Telephony is readily available. |
|
Guarded/Recessed Keys |
When a person has difficulty making precise finger movements, large keys that are recessed or guarded can help ensure that the wrong key is not pressed. |
|
Hands Free Operation |
Hands-free operation is valuable for users with severe upper limb impairments, but it must include the call set-up procedures. |
|
Hands Set Easy Grip |
To help people with uncoordinated movement or reduced strength in their hands, it is important that there is enough space for fingers between the handset and the telephone base unit so that it can be picked up and replaced with ease. The way the handset is positioned on the base unit can also make a big difference to how easy it is to pick up. The handset and the way it rests on the base unit should be designed so that the handset falls easily back into place and cannot be positioned incorrectly. |
|
Handset - Light Weight |
People with reduced strength in their arms and hands can find it difficult to lift and hold a handset if it is too heavy or if the balance of weight is uneven. In particular it can be uncomfortable and require extra strength to hold a handset if the earpiece is heavier than the mouthpiece. Balance, weight, shape and size are all important aspects. Keep the balance of weight between the earpiece and mouthpiece even. |
|
Handset - Ergonomic Shape |
The shape and size of the handset are very important factors. People with arthritis, uncoordinated movement or reduced strength may find it difficult to handle and hold the handset if the shape is too rounded and smooth or if it is too wide or too small. Consideration should also be given to the functional shape of the handset when it is being held to the ear by a person with reduced coordination or weak grip. |
|
Handset - Plug Connected |
For some people the features that can be included on a telephone will not solve the problems they have in using a telephone. Plug connection of the handset permits the use of alternatives such as a lightweight headset, which may be very convenient for those who have to use head pointing devices to compensate for absence of arm movement. It also allows for extended cords to be fitted, so that the handset can be mounted on a fixed stand. New telephones should be designed to allow connection to a range of additional devices. |
|
Handset - Noise Excluding |
Conventional noise-excluding techniques are probably inappropriate in ordinary consumer terminals, but it is still possible to limit the adverse effects of ambient noise through careful handset design. In particular it is important that the earpiece is large enough and shaped to cover most of the ear. This will help seal the ear to reduce external noise interference for persons with reduced hearing. |
|
Hearing Aid Compatibility |
To be compatible a terminal must be able to work in conjunction with a hearing aid without mutual interference, and with minimal change to the setting of the hearing aid. |
|
High Contrast Display |
Many telephones use small text displays that show dark characters on a mid-tone background. This is very difficult to read for most people with low vision. It is very important to display text and numbers in a way that provides maximum contrast between the characters and the background. Pale colors and colors which are close in tone should be avoided. White or yellow type on black or a dark color is more legible provided that the typeface weight and size are suitable. Small type and very bold type tend to blur for some people, reducing legibility. |
|
Key Feedback - Tactile |
Tactile feedback that confirms a key has been pressed can be very helpful. Keys with a detectable physical change in indentation can provide a tactile signal, as shown above. |
|
Key Feedback - Audible |
For many people some form of audible confirmation that a key has been pressed is very helpful. This will normally take the form of a sound in the telephone earpiece when a key is activated. Audible feedback is particularly helpful to blind and visually impaired people, but also helps people with poor manual dexterity that may not be sure if they successfully activated a keystroke. |
|
Key Feedback - Displayed |
Users with impaired hearing may require a displayed indication of dialing and this will be vital for those with physical difficulties, who miss or inadvertently repeat a digit. |
|
Key Pressure - Selectable |
The operating pressure required to activate a key may be critical for some people. Unsuitable pressure may result in incorrect keying, either through no contact or repeated operation. A means of adjusting the return spring pressure or, alternatively, a range of keypads with differing operating forces, is required to meet the needs of these users. |
|
Large Character Display |
Good standards of legibility help all users, but for many people with low vision the issue is fundamental to being able to read text displays. Displays that enable large characters to be shown are very important to visually impaired persons. |
|
Microphone Amplification |
A telephone with a sensitive microphone will help persons with quiet voices or with restricted neck and chest movement that makes speaking difficult. It is also important for the user to be able to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone so that it can be used by either a person with a weak voice or a normal voice. Amplification of the microphone should be user controlled and should reset on call termination. |
|
Non-slip Base |
For people with uncoordinated movements, it is very important to have a telephone that remains steady when they lift or replace the handset and when buttons are being pressed. To meet this requirement a telephone must have some form of non-slip base or pads. There is also a correlation between the weight of the telephone and the type of non-slip base required. A non-slip base is a desirable feature on any Telephone which is not designed exclusively for fixed mounting. Fixing points which are provided for wall-mounting should, where appropriate, allow for mounting on a horizontal surface for users who require a steady terminal. |
|
Plug-In Keyboard |
For many disabled people it is important to be able to connect an external keyboard. This enables them to set up a range of customized systems such as the facility to use specialized controls. |
|
Plug-In Display |
A socket to permit the connection of an external display with a standard interface would permit users with special needs to connect their own assistive technology. |
|
Receiver Amplification |
Receiver amplification enables the user to increase the volume of sound coming through the telephone earpiece. This is helpful to people who either do not have a hearing aid or who need to remove their hearing aid to use the phone. This facility should allow for increasing the level of the acoustic output by user adjustment. For safety reasons it is recommended that the control should reset to zero on termination of a call. |
|
Ringer Pitch Adjustable |
People with a hearing loss that is significantly frequency dependent may need to be able to shift the dominant tone of the ringer into a region where their hearing acuity is higher. This is particularly important where high-pitched ringers are used, since the most common forms of hearing impairment affect the higher frequencies disproportionately. |
|
Ringer Volume Adjustable |
The maximum output level from the ringer should provide good audibility even in domestic environments where acoustic absorption may be high. A means of controlling this output will then be necessary. Only with the more severe forms of hearing loss should it be necessary to utilize separate high volume ringing devices or visual signalers. |
|
Speech Input Keying |
Speech-input keying is a useful means of providing a hands-free call set-up for users with reliable voice, and may be valuable even where full hands-free operation is not necessary (e.g. when hand tremor interferes with manual keying). Useful for dyslexic users who can read aloud and simultaneously dial a number thus avoiding short-term memory problems. Such systems could be limited to just the numerals or a few words such as ´doctor´ or ´Jane´. |
|
Sidetone Reduction |
This is a facility for improving the signal to noise ratio at the earphone by minimizing the effects of ambient noise picked up by the microphone and mixed with the incoming speech. The sidetone level should be user adjustable within the limits set by the network characteristics. |
|
Smart Phone - Auto Adjust |
The technology that is developing around smart cards enables a user to store their own preferences on the memory chip of a smart card. Smart card based telephones would allow a user´s card to instruct the telephone to make specific adjustments. This could be adjustments to sound quality, volume, typeface sizes, language and preferences. |
|
Standard Key Layouts |
Blind people and persons with low vision have difficulty in reading the labeling on keys. It is important that the layouts of keys be kept in a standard arrangement. It is also important to set out the keys in a way that makes it easy to distinguish between the main numerical keys and other function keys. Variation in the size, shape and position of function keys will help differentiation. |
|
Synthetic Speech Display |
A more convenient way of presenting display messages for those people who have difficulty in reading them is to make use of synthetic speech. A means of adjusting volume, and of initiating or repeating the message, will be required. Poor quality synthetic speech can be difficult to understand by those with a mild hearing impairment. |
|
Tactile Display |
Visual displays, such as last number dialed or caller line identification, cannot be read by people who are blind or have severe visual impairment. A line of Braille cells will provide a tactile display of this information and, because only a limited amount of data is ever shown, high proficiency in Braille is not required. It may be convenient to provide for an external Braille device to be connected (see Plug-in display). The Braille display repeats the information on the visual display (e.g. caller line identification). |
|
Tactile Key Markers |
Persons who are blind or have low vision find it useful to be able to feel the keys of a telephone. It is particularly important to have a single raised dot on the number 5 key. |
|
Text Send - Keyboard |
Text send (keyboard) is a facility required by the deaf, the deaf blind and those with severe speech impairment. It must be accompanied by a facility to display the incoming text (and network messages). The facilities may be combined in a dedicated terminal (a Text phone), added to a public payphone or (especially for the deaf blind) associated with a personal computer. The keyboard should have a standard layout and not limit the speed for a good typist. |
|
Text Display - Tactile |
For deaf blind persons the display must be tactile (e.g. Braille). The Braille display is often connected to a computer which can be connected to the telephone. A deaf blind user needs all functions (e.g. line status) available tactually. |
Deaf-blindness |
Text Display - Visual |
Visual displays of text must be legible even under adverse lighting conditions; visual (or tactile) indications of line status are essential. A line by line presentation is often preferable to a single line of scrolling text. Although visual display of text and line status is not automatically required for people with severe speech impairment, it will often be the case that the speech difficulty is associated with deafness. Also, these features are usually associated with text telephones, which provide the keyboard-send feature. |
|
VDU Text Adjustable |
Terminals which offer a full display of text on a visual display unit should allow adjustment of the size of the characters. The characters must also be of good proportions with clear character shapes. There must also be a strong contrast between the characters and the background. For some visual impairment it is also helpful to be able to reverse the text from dark on a light background to light characters on a dark background. The display screen should be capable of positional adjustment to avoid any reflected light. |
|
Visual Contrast Key Legends |
Large clear typefaces should be used to improve legibility for persons with low vision. When choosing typefaces it is important to use characters that have clear ´open´ shapes. Many people with low vision can easily misread such characters as 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 if the tails curl over; this tends to blur or merge the shapes. |
|
Visual Line Status Display |
A visual display of the line status is essential on Text Send terminals for deaf people, and is desirable on any terminal for use by those with a severe hearing impairment. |
|
Visual Ringing Signal |
For persons who are deaf or have a severe hearing impairment it is essential that they can see some form of visual signal for incoming calls. Visual signals incorporated in the terminal are not easily seen and are mainly of use as a reminder of line status. Socket connections should be provided so that external indicator lights can be powered from the terminal, either directly or from the mains supply through a relay. Alternatively, systems which cause the domestic lights to flash can be used. Vibrating pagers are an alternative to flashing lights. |
Telecommunications Access Opportunities
For individuals with limitations in hearing, seeing, moving, speaking, or cognition, the explosion of telecommunications offers opportunities as never before.
New technology has the capability of "speaking" for people with speech disabilities and "hearing" for people who are deaf. It can bring information and education into homes and workplaces for people who have mobility limitations. It can provide added cues and reminders for people with memory or cognitive loss. Overall, it can help support a web of communication that makes it easier for people with disabilities to stay integrated in society.
Equal Access is good for Business
Whether you are a manufacturer of telecommunication products or a procurement official in government or a private corporation, accessible design maximizes the number of potential customers and employees who can readily use a product. Making products easy to use can increase market share by enabling people with disabilities and functional limitations to enjoy consumer electronic products.
To maximize the number of users for each product, companies should consider the needs of consumers with visual impairment, including those who are blind; hearing impairment, include those who are deaf, mobility and speech impairment.
Providing equal access through communications to these special users provides opportunities for enterprises to enable:
- A large, loyal, and talented labor pool from which they can draw.
- An untapped customer base with tremendous discretionary income they can address in effective new ways.
This solution also helps enterprises comply with the following recent Equal Access laws, regulations and standards that impact organizations in the U.S.:
- Titles II, III and IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Sections 251 and 255 of the Telecommunications Act
- Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act amendments
This level of standards compliancy delivers equal access to all employees, business partners and customers, regardless of physical limitations and non-discriminatory hiring practices, and reduces the risk of litigation from organizations that represent people with disabilities.
About TecAccess
TecAccess provides comprehensive solutions for your Section 508 Compliance and E&IT Accessibility needs. We take the compliance issue one step further. We not only help you become Section 508 compliant, but we also assist companies in making products, services, and websites accessible and usable.
TecAccess is totally committed to removing accessibility barriers for all people with disabilities including, but not limited to, those who are mobility impaired, hearing impaired, deaf, visually impaired, blind, physically challenged, and cognitively impaired.
TecAccess associates with disabilities live the challenges that Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998, addresses. Our associates are not just following guidelines to help create websites, software, and products that are accessible. Our associates have experienced technological barriers and, as a result, they know if the product or information is truly and fully accessible.
Section 508 requirements are here to stay and E&IT accessibility will play a major role in the procurement process. The software industry went through a similar evolution when the world switched to Microsoft Windows®. New standards and techniques had to be developed and designed to incorporate a Windows environment into new applications. The same will happen with Section 508. Once developers become accustomed to developing with Section 508 compliance in mind, it will become an industry standard and business as usual.
Conclusion
TecAccess does not recognize disability as something separate, outside, or beyond the normal human experience-- each and every individual manages a unique set of capabilities and constraints in everything they do. We try to ensure that our customers and employees have the tools that they need to succeed. The idea of universal product design is at the heart of TecAccess´s approach to accessibility, and is based on the awareness of what people want and need.
Access to telecommunications is a cross-disability issue that affects everyone in our community. You should not have to be blind to be concerned about what Graphic User Interfaces will do to reduce job opportunities for blind people. We need to inform each other about what true accessibility is. We do not want one person´s access solution to create a new barrier for someone else.
