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

[Randy Pope]

Scott,

At least we have one DB person doing the NDBEDP promotion which is good,
very good.

Randy

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Scott Davert
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2013 6:33 PM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Telecommunications Equipment for Deaf-Blind Persons

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-p
>> rogram
>> ,
>> 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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