Re: Co-sponsor House Bill

Dear Congressperson:

This is to express the support of the National Council for the Support of Disability Issues for House 6320, the “21st Century Communications and Accessibility Act of 2008," as the provisions of this critical piece of legislation will ensure people with sensory disabilities benefit from access to current and emerging technologies and public services relative to telecommunications. Assistive technology typically provides belated access to the same telecommunication devices and programs that able-bodied individuals utilize for daily transactions. This is, of course, if such assistive technology provides such access at all and at a price affordable by the majority of people with sensory disabilities. A subcommittee of the House heard compelling testimony by Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta on 1 May, 2008, regarding the inaccessibility of emergency warnings. The provisions of the bill also address the access of people with sight disabilities to enjoy audio description of television. NCSD urges your support of this important legislation, particularly, as a co-sponsor. This also respectfully encourages your office to employ any available parliamentary faculties at your means to ensure that this legislation quickly moves forth from committee to receive floor debate and prompt passage. Despite any of the specious arguments of industry to the contrary, passage of this legislation will redound to the benefit of the more than 54,000,000 people with disabilities in the United States. Please do not hesitate to telephone me at (410) 241-6745 if I can provide additional assistance.

Sincerely,

Gary C. Norman, Esq., Vice President, Legal Counsel and Spokesperson

National Council for the Support of Disability Issues

CC: Coalition for Accessible Telecommunications

COATaccess@yahoogroups.com