During deaf-blind awareness week, we want to highlight the story of Roger Poulin, a deaf-blind hiker from Maine who hiked the Appalachian trail. What a tremendous accomplishment! 

The Federal Communications Commission will be discussing on April 23rd a proposal on expanding audio description* requirements for up to 10 additional designated market areas (DMAs) each year, for 4 years, starting on January 1, 2021.

Great news! On May 7, Spectrum launched its Spectrum Access app, a free app available for iPhone to “provide entertainment access to persons with vision or hearing impairments.” The app enables users to play audio description or closed captioning directly from their phone or tablet. 

June 22, 2020, is the comment deadline for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal on expanding audio description requirements. As we mentioned in a previous article, each year for four years the FCC proposes to expand its video description regulations by phasing them in for an additional 10 designated market areas (DMAs), beginning on January 1, 2021.

COVID-19 has undoubtedly impacted the way we all relate and communicate. Due to social distancing, virtual tools have become more prevalent for working, studying, staying informed and communicating with family and friends, just to mention a few areas. For certain people, such as those with deaf-blindness, distancing presents great challenges for communication.

Our dear friend Angela Roth, CEO of ASL Services Holdings, is presented with the Puerto Rican Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award at The 7th Women Who Lead Summit^TM, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This year’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding female entrepreneurship and business leadership in the Puerto Rican Latino community.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) announced on February 18th a "landmark settlement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)" similar to one reached with Harvard University last November.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) announced on November 27th a "landmark settlement with Harvard University that institutes a series of new guidelines to make the university's website and online resources accessible for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Last Thursday, Google released a new version of Google Maps developed by and for People with Visual Impairment. This new version includes detailed audible walking directions for people with visual impairment.