Wireless RERC News

Dr. James White, Director of Communications Studies at Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) and Wireless RERC researcher, authored the recently published National Council on Disability (NCD) report: Effective Communication for People with Disabilities Before, During, and After Emergencies Evaluated. Officially released at their May 27^th briefing, the report focuses on the accessibility of emergency communication for people with intellectual, sensory, psychiatric and developmental disabilities. Of note, Dr.

May 2014 – The Wireless RERC filed comments regarding EAS Rules to Support Multilingual EAS and Emergency Information [EB Docket No. 04-296] corroborating the work of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) in their efforts to increase access to emergency information for people whose native language is not English, specifically noting the need for the inclusion of American Sign Language (ASL).  ASL is a distinct language used by individuals of the deaf community and is fundamentally unlike English.

May 2014 – The Wireless RERC filed reply comments to the FCC’s Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications. In accord with Sprint’s comments, the Wireless RERC agreed that, while relay service providers perform a valuable role in providing telecommunications access for people with disabilities, within the context of 911 calls relay services are not ideal.

Wireless RERC researchers John Morris, PhD and Jim Mueller authored a book chapter titled Blind and Deaf Consumer Preferences for Android and iOS Smartphones, to be published by Springer London in Inclusive Designing: Joining Usability, Accessibility, and Inclusion. The abstract for their chapter follows:  Access to and use of mobile wireless technology has become critical to social and economic participation for people with disabilities.

John Morris presented “Smartphone and Tablet Apps for Case Managers and Their Patients,” at the Palmetto chapter of the Case Manager Society of America meeting on March 15, 2014.  He shared information on the distinction between assistive and accessible apps and how to identify accessibility features within apps.  Additionally John highlighted and described specific apps for memory, patient and family education and way finding.  He closed with a discussion of how to evaluate apps. The link to the presentation is below.