[Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible Audio Describedprogramming.

[Ashley Bramlett]

Gerald,
I understand your frustration. But, one company is planning to  develop 
accessible boxes; Ray sent the link.
Why don't you put in written complaints to Time Warner for now. I think the 
FCC has a complaint process for not following the newest law, the video 
accessibility and communications act.
True the FCC moves slow and enforcement could be better. But give them some 
credit.
If you don't complain and speak up for needs, that is no way to change 
things.
Sorry to hear about your issues with Time Warner. I recall you live in a 
seniors apartment complex you say.
Many communities have volunteers to help seniors called friendly visitor 
programs. Our lighthouse for the blind also has a visitor program for blind 
people. These people from the lighthouse can read mail, labels, and even run 
short errands with you.
There are nonprofits in my community providing visitors to seniors and 
transportation to essential appointments.
So, I think you should enlist the assistance of a sighted volunteer to 
assist you in setting up the cable stuff you need. Another idea is can you 
ask neighbors or staff in the apartment complex?
You need sighted help for now.

I'm hopeful things will change with new laws.
I also think that if one cable company becomes more accessible, more will 
follow.
We will see what happens.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Gerald Levy
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 8:11 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible Audio 
Describedprogramming.


This seems to be the Holy Grail of home electronic devices for blind
consumers like us.  I have yet to find a flat panel LcD or plasma TV that
has a dedicated button on the remote control for turning the SAP channel on
and off.  They all require navigating through a bunch of onscreen menus to
accomplish this, which, of course, requires sighted help.  And if you have
cable or satellite TV like most of us, it doesn't matter whether the TV
itself has an easy way to turn SAP on and off because the SAP channel is
sent by the provider and controlled by the set-top box, which, again
requires sighted help to navigate its onscreen menus.  The idea that
accessible set-top boxes and TV's are coming soon thanks to FCC rules
adopted a few years ago is sheer fantasy.  It just ain't gonna happen.  When
I ask the customer service reps at Time Warner Cable when they will have a
blind accessible cable box available, they just start muttering huh,and
what's that.  So if accessible boxes ever become available , nobody at the
cable companies will be aware of them anyway.  Such are the travails of
being a blind consumer in the 21st century.

Gerald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Cassell" <ApolloSeven at Earthlink.net>
To: <Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 12:47 AM
Subject: [Electronics-talk] TV with Easily accessible Audio
Describedprogramming.


>I am looking for a new TV.  It must have a very easily accessible SAP 
>(second audio program) feature for being able to easily access audio 
>described programming.
>
> Does such a thing exist?  If so, what is it, and where can I buy it?
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide!
>
> -- George
>
> _______________________________________________
> Electronics-talk mailing list
> Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Electronics-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/bwaylimited%40verizon.net


_______________________________________________
Electronics-talk mailing list
Electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Electronics-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net