[nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons

Sun Oct 27 22:32:35 UTC 2013

Hi Randy.
It would seem there is not a lot of outreach going on from what I can
tell. I have not done outreach for NFB or ACB, but have gone to a few
places to promote it. I, of course, took an interpreter along, because
I have the signing vocabulary of a 6 month old. I know that HKNC plans
to send someone to the national AFB conference in Feb, and I submitted
a proposal to CSUN to discuss deaf-blindness and some of the
technology used. If accepted, I will be presenting this with a member
of the NFB. It will, of course, make mention of the ICC program.

All the best,
Scott

On 10/27/13, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
> Randy,
> Ok, just so the point is clear, anyone from the NFB who is promoting the ICC
> program, is Deafblind. Of course there are other organizations promoting the
> ICC program. And yes some DB persons are not signing DB folks. Of course
> this by no means that they aren't DB.
>
>
> Marsha drenth
> Sent with my IPhone
>
> On Oct 26, 2013, at 10:06 PM, "Randy Pope" <randy.pope at aadb.org> wrote:
>
>> Marsha,
>>
>> Sorry for overlooking the last part of your message.  I have received a
>> few report that the people who are actually doing the promotion and
>> education are not DeafBlind.  But here is the problem in determining if
>> these report are true.  These people could be Deafblind but cannot sign.
>> In the recent DSA conference, the person sitting in the ICC booth, was
>> assuming hearing blind who did not know  how to sign.
>>
>> There were a few other situation similar to this situation.  See where I’m
>> coming from?
>>
>> Randy
>>
>> From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marsha
>> Drenth
>> Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 8:30 PM
>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons
>>
>> Mr. Pope,
>> I am not a part of the NFB DB board, but the NFB DB division has implement
>> an outreach program to educate state affiliates on Deafblindness,
>> resources, and the Icanconnect program. I do believe that all of those
>> persons who are reaching out to the different states are db themselves. Is
>> this what you mean?
>>
>> Marsha drenth
>> Sent with my IPhone
>>
>> On Oct 26, 2013, at 8:21 PM, "Randy Pope" <randy.pope at aadb.org> wrote:
>>
>> Question:  Are there any DeafBlind people assisting in the NDBEDP outreach
>> program?
>>
>> Randy
>>
>> From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
>> Andrews
>> Sent: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:16 PM
>> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I have been asked to distribute the following.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear David,
>>
>> I have been charged with the outreach program for :I Can Connect" in 5
>> states, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,
>> OKLAHOMA, WASHINGTON and WISCONSIN
>>
>>
>>
>> Changing what it means to be blind,
>> Marcus Simmons, President,
>> Wayne County chapter NFBMI
>> 28179 Brentwood
>> Southfield, MI 48076-3069
>> president at map-n.org
>> (248) 552-8928
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> NDBEDP.pdf
>> Consumer Guide
>> 9
>> National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
>> Background
>> The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of
>> 2010 (CVAA) authorizes the
>> Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide funding for local
>> programs to distribute
>> equipment to low-income individuals who are “deaf-blind” (see definition
>> below.) The FCC may use up
>> to $10 million annually from the interstate Telecommunications Relay
>> Service fund for this purpose.
>> Pilot Program
>> In 2011, the FCC established the National Deaf-Blind Equipment
>> Distribution Program (NDBEDP) as a
>> pilot program. The pilot program has been in effect since July 1, 2012,
>> and the FCC may extend the
>> program another year. The pilot program provides valuable information that
>> the FCC will use to help
>> develop and implement an effective and efficient permanent deaf-blind
>> equipment distribution program.
>> How does the pilot program operate?
>> The FCC selected and certified one entity in each of the 50 states, plus
>> the District of Columbia, Puerto
>> Rico, and the Virgin Islands, to receive FCC support to distribute
>> equipment to low-income individuals
>> who are deaf-blind. The FCC allocated a minimum of $50,000 to each of the
>> 53 certified programs,
>> plus additional funding based on the size of each state's population. As a
>> result, states with large
>> populations were allocated larger amounts of funding than states with
>> small populations.
>> The FCC also set aside $500,000 each year for the Perkins School for the
>> Blind to coordinate outreach
>> to promote this new equipment distribution program nationwide.
>> Who is eligible to receive equipment?
>> Under the CVAA, only low-income individuals who are deaf-blind are
>> eligible to receive equipment.
>> Applicants must provide verification of their status as low-income and
>> deaf-blind.
>> The CVAA requires that the term "deaf-blind" has the same meaning given in
>> the Helen Keller National
>> Center Act. In general, the individual must have a certain vision loss and
>> a hearing loss that,
>> combined, cause extreme difficulty in attaining independence in daily life
>> activities, achieving
>> psychosocial adjustment, or obtaining a vocation (working).
>> The FCC defines "low income" to mean not more than 400% of the Federal
>> Poverty Guidelines, as
>> indicated in the following chart:
>>
>> table with 4 columns and 11 rows
>> 2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines
>> Number of persons in family/household
>> 400% for everywhere, except Alaska and Hawaii
>> 400% for Alaska
>> 400% for Hawaii
>> 1
>> $45,960
>> $57,400
>> $52,920
>> 2
>> 62,040
>> 77,520
>> 71,400
>> 3
>> 78,120
>> 97,640
>> 89,880
>> 4
>> 94,200
>> 117,760
>> 108,360
>> 5
>> 110,280
>> 137,880
>> 126,840
>> 6
>> 126,360
>> 158,000
>> 145,320
>> 7
>> 142,440
>> 178,120
>> 163,800
>> 8
>> 158,520
>> 198,240
>> 182,280
>> For each additional person, add
>> $16,080
>> $20,120
>> $18,480
>> table end
>>
>> Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
>> (aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm)
>> What kind of equipment can be distributed?
>> The equipment distributed must be designed to make telecommunications
>> (such as wireline and
>> wireless telephone communication), advanced communications (such as
>> Internet-based voice
>> communication, e-mail, instant messaging and interoperable video
>> conferencing services), and access
>> to the Internet (including information services) accessible. The equipment
>> distributed may be
>> hardware, software or applications, separate or in combination, mainstream
>> or specialized. The
>> equipment must meet the needs of the deaf-blind individual to achieve
>> access. Certified programs may
>> also provide equipment warranties, maintenance, and repairs for such
>> equipment depending on
>> available funding.
>> Besides distributing equipment, what will the NDBEDP certified programs
>> do?
>> Certified programs will inform their communities about this new program to
>> distribute equipment to low-
>> income residents in their states who are deaf-blind. They will verify that
>> applicants are eligible to
>> receive equipment. They will assess each applicant's communications
>> equipment needs to select
>> appropriate equipment to meet those needs. They may also help install and
>> provide training for the
>> equipment distributed.
>> How do I find the certified program that serves my state?
>> Information about how to find the NDBEDP certified program in your state
>> is available during the on the
>> FCC website at
>> www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/national-deaf-blind-equipment-distribution-program
>> ,
>> by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC
>> (1-888-835-5322) TTY, or by
>> sending an email to
>> dro at fcc.gov.
>> How can I help the NDBEDP be successful?
>> list of 4 items
>> Tell people about the program.
>> Tell the FCC how the NDBEDP helped you or someone you know.
>> Tell the FCC how the program can be improved.
>> Tell the FCC about new types of technologies that should be included for
>> distribution.
>> list end
>> You may also file an informal complaint with the FCC if you think someone
>> has violated the NDBEDP
>> rules. Informal complaints may be filed by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC
>> (1-888-225-5322) voice or
>> 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232, or by writing
>> to:
>> Federal Communications Commission
>> Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
>> Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
>> 445 12th Street, S.W.
>> Washington, DC 20554
>> For More Information
>> For inf
>> ormation about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer
>> website at
>> www.fcc.gov/consumer-governmental-affairs-bureau,
>> or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by
>> calling 1-888-CALL-FCC voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232;
>> or writing to the
>> address listed above.
>> ###
>> For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
>> (electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print
>> or audio), please write or call us at the address or phone number below,
>> or send an email to
>> FCC504 at fcc.gov.
>> This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended
>> to affect any proceedings or
>> cases involving this subject matter or related issues.
>> Last Reviewed 5/2/13
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