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DHHCAN Meeting Minutes
December 1, 2010
Present: Claude Stout (TDI) (Chair); Cheryl Heppner (ALDA) (Vice Chair); Rosaline Crawford (NAD) (Secretary/Treasurer); Art Roehrig (AADB); Catherine Murphy (AG Bell); Barbara Raimondo (CEASD); Sam Sonnenstrahl (GUAA); Lise Hamlin (HLAA); Shane Feldman (NAD); Ronald Sutcliffe (NDBI); Janet Bailey (RID); Mary Lightfoot (RID); Michael Maddix (Sorenson); and Billy Bowman (USADSF). Guests: Bobbie Beth Scoggins (CSD); and Jill Bianco (TDI Intern).
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:08 p.m.
Special Presentation: Bobbie Beth Scoggins (CSD) gave a presentation about “Project Endeavor,” a US Department of Commerce BTOP grant of $14.9 million plus 20% matching funds from CSD. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation will be distributed electronically to DHHCAN member representatives.
Minutes: The minutes of the meetings held on October 6 and November 3, 2010, were approved as read.
Officers’ Reports:
Chair
- Congratulations to Catherine Murphy who will become Director of Public Relations at Gallaudet University.
- Attended the celebration and thanksgiving event on Capitol Hill on November 30, 2010, for the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Accessibility Act).
- The TDI Holiday Party will be on December 9, 2010, from 6-10 pm, at the Washington Court Hotel.
Vice Chair
Secretary/Treasurer
- The balance in the DHHCAN bank account is $35,400. Dues notices will be distributed as soon as possible.
Committee Reports:
Technology & Telecommunications
- November 10 – FCC had its Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) meeting. Lise Hamlin, Chris Soukup, Cheryl Heppner, and Claude Stout are members of the CAC. The CAC reviewed the FCC’s plans for implementation of the Accessibility Act; discussed the Notice of Inquiry on consumer disclosures and bill shock; and heard presentations on the FCC’s Office on Native Affairs and Policy, Lifeline/Link Up Programs, new procedures on handling consumer complaints, and a report on digital TV captioning informal complaints.
- November 16 – The FCC announced that Greg Hlibok is the new Chief of the Disability Rights Office.
- November 17 – AADB filed comments to the FCC’s Public Notice on the distribution of equipment to low income individuals who are deaf-blind. DHHCAN, TDI, NAD, ALDA, HLAA, CCASDHH, DSA, GADB, ODB, and DB Explorers signed on to the AADB comments. Reply comments are due November 24,
- November 18 – Rosaline Crawford, Lise Hamlin, and Claude Stout attended a meeting at TIA to discuss real time text technology with industry representatives. FCC representatives also attended the meeting. Gregg Vanderheiden from the Trace Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison joined us as a technical expert.
- November 22 and 29 – DHHCAN’s TRS consumer subcommittee met to work on the draft TRS roadmap. The subcommittee hopes to meet with Karen Strauss and Greg Hlibok early next week to review the rough draft, which will then be shared with the full DHHCAN membership for feedback and approval. The subcommittee hopes to submit the final plan to the FCC by December 24.
- November 22 – NAD, HLAA, TDI, ALDA, DHHCAN, CCASDHH, and AADB filed comments in response to the FCC Public Notice on the advanced communications provisions of the Accessibility Act. Reply comments are due December 7.
- November 24 – TDI, HLAA, ALDA, DHHCAN, NAD, and AADB filed comments in response to the FCC Public Notice to refresh the record on Notices of Proposed Rulemaking regarding TV closed captioning. Reply comments are due December 9.
Education
- Election results suggest that legislation, such as the ESEA which has been pending for three years now, may lag.
- Two weeks ago, the US Department of Education celebrated the 35th anniversary of the IDEA. It was attended by the Secretary of Education and included a panel of young people who presented about the impact of IDEA on their lives. The event focused on “inclusion” in the mainstream; better graduation rates; and NCLB looking at outcomes. We still have a long way to go.
- IDEA reauthorization may be taken up during the next Congress. CEASD is establishing its position on reauthorization now. Met with Capitol Hill staff to discuss. Andy Imparato is now with Senator Harkin on the HELP Committee.
Rehabilitation
Transportation
- Cheryl Heppner reported that the US Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a meeting on December 7 to discuss surface transportation accessibility issues. Cheryl, Claude Stout, Lise Hamlin, and NAD representatives expect to attend.
- Richard Devylder is the new Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the DOT.
- DOT will host a meeting about the Air Carrier Access Act regulations January 19-20, 2011.
Emergency Preparedness
- Lise Hamlin reported that the CSRIC NG911 transition subcommittee has drafted a report on NG911 access. The report is more than 100 pages long. Carriers are pushing back on proposals to enable SMS text messaging for 911 communication purposes which some Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) want. Carriers may be concerned about possible liability and other issues. A compromise to permit individuals without a voice plan to use SMS to contact 911 or to establish nationwide SMS/911 relay service as an interim solution.
- Members discussed the pros (i.e., to ensure highly qualified and supported interpreter service) and cons (i.e., centers that periodically go offline) of establishing a national relay service center for VRS 911 calls. All agree on the need for redundancy as part of emergency preparedness planning.
- US Department of Homeland Security is hosting a monthly disability meeting on December 3; the same day as the White House monthly disability meeting with federal agencies.
- DHHCAN sent a letter to NOAA National Weather Radio expressing interest in a WeatherText pilot program.
Employment/Presidential Appointments
Health & Human Services
Old Business:
- USADSF – Met with some congressional representatives about pushing the US Olympic Committee to provide funding for Deaflympics. Will need to re-engage in January with the new Congress. Discussed possible strategies, such as focusing on the Commerce committees and possible earmarks.
- DHHCAN Bylaws Special Committee – No new report.
- Nominating Committee – Kelby Brick reported (through Claude Stout) that the following nominations have been received: Claude Stout for Chair; Cheryl Heppner and Shane Feldman for Vice Chair; and Cheryl Heppner for Secretary/Treasurer. Anyone interested in being nominated should contact Kelby.
New Business:
- Cheryl Heppner reported that ALDA filed a lawsuit in California against Cinemark movie theaters to increase captioned movie showings. ALDA is being represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and John Waldo, an attorney in the state of Washington.
- Cheryl Heppner reported that international standards for captioned radio have been drafted. Mike Starling at National Public Radio (NPR) will provide more information about the approval process which requires unanimous agreement. Assistance may be sought from HLAA and NAD to provide international contact information.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
The next meeting will be held in the Ole Jim on Wednesday, January 5, 2010.
Election of new DHHCAN officers and votes on DHHIG and CPADO membership applications will take place at the January 5, 2011 meeting.
Rosaline Crawford
Secretary/Treasurer
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