Communication Access

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Ensuring communication access means every person is able to communicate and be communicated with fully and equally. Wherever communication is taking place, all parties must be able to participate--no matter what accommodation is needed to make that happen. 

What constitutes an accessible communication experience? What does it mean to ensure that communication access is provided? These and other related topics are open for discussion in the Communication Access group.

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Group Content

News releases

FCC Announces Domestic Abuse Survivors May Get Discounted Phone Services

On September 10, 2024, the FCC announced that survivors of domestic abuse can get discounted phone, internet, or bundled services through the FCC’s Lifeline program. Survivors can now make a request with their service provider to separate their mobile phone lines from family plans where the abuser is on the account. Impacted survivors experiencing financial hardship can also receive up to six…

Webpages/Websites

#DidYouKnow: The World Hearing Forum at the World Health Organization Promotes Hearing Care Worldwide

The World Hearing Forum at the World Health Organization is a global network of stakeholders promoting ear and hearing care worldwide. Members of this advocacy network are committed to facilitate the implementation of World Health Assembly resolution WHA70.13 on “Prevention of deafness and hearing loss” and support the Member States in this regard. Over 430 million people require rehabilitation to…

Government documents

#DidYouKnow: ADA.Gov Posts Guidance on Effective Communication Requirements

The U.S. Department of Justice publication, ADA Requirements: Effective Communication is designed to help title II ((State and local governments) and title III entities ((businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) understand how ADA rules for effective communication apply to them. These entities must provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with…

Government documents

#DidYouKnow: EEOC and Job Accommodation Network Provide Information on Tech Accommodations in the Workplace

Technology continues to evolve at the speed of human ingenuity, which means that the broad antidiscrimination mandates of the ADA must continually be applied to new situations. Fortunately, technology offers many innovative tools to make life more accessible and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity. Some of these technological tools are described in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's…

Government documents

#DidYouKnow: The FCC Adopted a Closed Captioning Display Settings Order

At its July 18, 2024 Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Third Report and Order requiring manufacturers of covered apparatus and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to make closed captioning display settings readily accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. The Order adopts a “readily accessible” requirement for closed captioning…