The FCC Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

Chairman Julius Genachowski touted the FCC's work implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pointed to the commission's current efforts to tear down barriers to digital accessibility, at an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the historic legislation.

While Chairman Genachowski recognized the ADA's role in dramatically improving the lives of disabled Americans, he pointed out that the disabled are at a disadvantage in connecting with the digital world that surrounds us.

Genachowski pointed to the FCC's National Broadband Plan as a bold blueprint for expanding digital access and connectivity for disabled Americans and asserted that the FCC is leading the way in making the plan a reality:

Today we're moving forward on implementation of a number of these recommendations. For example, this morning the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking public input on how wireless devices — including smart phones — can be made accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, including those who are both deaf and blind.

The event highlighted how far we have come, and how far we have yet to go in achieving full access for disabled Americans.

To read Speed Matters' Fact Sheet on how broadband Internet can empower Americans with disabilities, click here.

Empowering Americans with Disabilities Through Technology (FCC)

Benefits – Enabling People With Disabilities (Speed Matters)