[nfb-db] CSUN Re: Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons

Mon Oct 28 16:25:09 UTC 2013

Hi Marcha.
I will know next month whether my proposal has been accepted. I would
be presenting with Amy Mason.

Scott

On 10/28/13, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
> Scott,
> When will you hear if you are presenting at CSUn? and if you do present, who
> will you present with from the NFB?
> Very curious I know...
>
> Marsha drenth
> Sent with my IPhone
>
> On Oct 27, 2013, at 6:32 PM, Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>>
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