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

Tue Oct 29 14:36:50 UTC 2013

Scott, 
I know the name, but don't know who she is. I am assuming that she is verse on technology the deafblind use? 
thanks, 

Marsha drenth  
Sent with my IPhone 

On Oct 28, 2013, at 12:25 PM, Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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