Self-Advocate Speaks on Technology Access and Barriers

By AAPD's Jenifer Simpson (10/20/09)

SABE’s Elizabeth Weintraub Speaks on Technology before FCC

At a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Workshop on October 20 that focused on broadband access for people with disabilities, Elizabeth Weintraub, former Vice President of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), spoke on employment and outreach issues. Her panel, entitled “Accessibility and Affordability Barriers to Broadband and Internet use Faced by People with Disabilities,” also included representatives from the American Council of the Blind, National Association of the Deaf, American Association of Deaf-Blind, Spinal Cord Advocates, Speech Communications Assistance by Telephone Inc, and Inclusive Technologies. The purpose of the FCC workshop was to gather more information for development of the National Broadband Plan, due to the U.S. Congress in February 2009.  Ms. Weintraub’s statement follows:

“Thank you for inviting me to speak. My name is Elizabeth Weintraub and I’m from Maryland. I work at the Council on Quality & Leadership part time and also I consult for the National Children’s Center in Washington, DC. At both of these organizations, I work to help people with disabilities get good quality of life.  I work from home.

I have been using a computer since the mid nineties, and yes sometimes I hit the wrong key by mistake, however if I was told by people I needed to stop using a computer, just because of my disabilities, that would not be fair at all! How would I keep up with the world?   The Internet is essential to knowing what is going on. If technology wasn't accessible to people with disabilities, then it might be impossible for people to lead a life that they would like.

At the Council on Quality & Leadership, all of my colleagues live everywhere in the country, and if I couldn't email, or fax them, or cut & paste in documents & communicate with then, then I would probably get fired.  I wouldn't get fired because of discrimination, but because the technology is inaccessible.  The way my work is set up is such that if I couldn't use technology, I wouldn't be useful. That's why it's important that everyone, including people with disabilities should be trained in using technology. Not being trained in technology and how to use it is a big barrier for people with disabilities.

Also, not having technical supports from the companies that provide Internet and computers and technology is a problem. We need technical supports so we don’t get stuck. Another barrier is the cost of Internet access.  Not everyone can afford it and if you are in a rural area, the cost is often more. We don’t earn as much as people without disabilities so this is a barrier.

The FCC should do more outreach to people and not just through electronic means since not everyone has computers and internet access. We need more public meetings in lots of cities and towns that are advertised a lot longer ahead of time. Like a month in advance. It takes time for us to find out about FCC meetings. We learn about things like this from disability groups at the national and state and local level. And it takes time for us to arrange car or bus rides. We also often have to arrange childcare. Some of us need to arrange for personal assistants if we need them.

I would like to see the Internet available just about anywhere in the country. So all of us have a chance to find the information, resources, and materials. There is a lot of information available that helps us get jobs and do our jobs. Also for when we take care of our families. I would like to see the Internet easy to use. Cheaper to us, such as in every home. Dial up might be cheaper(?) than DSL, but it means that you can't be on the phone at the same time, and also when I had dial up, I would get frustrated because there were times that it wouldn't connect, and I would be concerned whether it was me or the technology that was the problem

Thank you. ”

After her statement, FCC staff inquired of Ms. Weintraub about the number of Americans with intellectual disabilities and she stated “8-10 million, according to the President’s Committee on Intellectual Disabilities.”

 

Item provided by Jenifer Simpson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) For more information on the FCC boadband national plan development and people with disabiliteis, send Email to jsimpson@aapd.com

Comments

[Stephanie Fryer]

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Hope this is helpful
Stephanie Fryer