"Captions" Newsletter/Assistive Technology Resource

CAP has been honored with the Best New Ability Communications Award. This recognition is based on CAP’s development and dissemination of a completely accessible CD-ROM, Real Solutions For Real Needs, as a marketing and educational tool for CAP customers and the general public. The New Ability Communications Award is administered by the New Freedom Foundation of Chicago, Illinois on July 31, 2004.

Real Solutions for Real Needs is an innovative outreach mechanism because its design exceeds requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act by requiring no additional assistive technology to access information contained on the CD-ROM. By including features such as open captioning and audio description, users can learn in the mode that is most accommodating to their unique disabilities. This flexibility also empowers CAP customers to utilize the training at their convenience.
The New Freedom Foundation seeks to inspire the creation of new abilities and improve the quality of life for those people who have a disability through educational programs, public awareness campaigns, research grants, and scholarships. The Best New Ability Communications Award highlights the most effective communication vehicle for providing information in the most usable and accessible format.

Leslie Pugh, CAP team member, accepts Best New Ability Communications Award

CAP is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities in the Department of Defense and throughout the Federal government in all stages of the employment lifecycle, said CAP Director Dinah Cohen. The passion for our mission is demonstrated in each step of our accommodation process and reflected in the presentation and accessibility of our message. I thank the New Freedom Foundation for recognizing CAP with this outstanding award and for their cooperation in furthering opportunities for Americans with disabilities.

CAPTEC Corner, Waves of Communication

Paul Singleton, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Team Leader gives pointers on communicating with deaf employees

CAP hosted a Waves of Communication training session on Tuesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 26, 2004 at CAP’s Technology Evaluation Center, (CAPTEC) located at the Pentagon, in Washington, DC. The event provided an opportunity for the Department of Defense and our partner agencies’ managers, supervisors and co-workers to learn communication guidelines, disability etiquette and assistive technology available to utilize while working with their Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees. A guest speaker from

Sprint, representing the Federal Relay Service (FRS), spoke on FRS services and availability.

Attendees participated in a demonstration of the communication tools that are available. An example of a communication tool that was demonstrated at the event was the Video Relay Services (VRS), an internet-based solution that allows a Deaf user to participle in a telephone conversation using sign language and a web camera. Other tools that were demonstrated include the Captel Phone, Conference Captioning and the Personal Computer Teletypewriter.

If you are interested in learning more about Deaf and Hard of Hearing communication tools for you and/or your employee, please feel free to contact CAPTEC to schedule an appointment at (703) 693-5160,(703) 693-5160 TTY, or email Natalie Timmons at Natalie.Timmons@tma.osd.mil. If you and/or your employee are interested in acquiring communication tools from CAP, please e-mail us at cap@tma.osd.mil.

A Celebration to Remember: The 14th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

All around the United States, the 14th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act was observed by various Federal government and private agencies. On July 27, 2004, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Education co-sponsored a program and exhibition titled Assistive Technology Utility and Market Potential, in commemoration of the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. The theme for the event was Technology for All Americans.

The event focused on innovation and integration of new technology for youths and adults with disabilities in their daily lives and throughout their employment lifecycle.
The event featured several panel discussions focusing on new innovations among technology, assistive technology across the lifespan, improving results for children and youth with disabilities, as well as perspectives on market development. Featured speakers included Theodore Kassinger, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Tracy Justesen, White House Office of Domestic Policy, Eugene Hickok, Deputy Secretary of Education and Senator Robert Dole, former senate Majority Leader and many others. Among the 40 organizations that showcased in the exhibit hall were Enhanced Vision, Interagency Committee on Disability Research, and TecAccess.

The Honorable Robert Dole, Former senate Majority Leader gives his remarks

Senator Robert Dole acknowledged that people with disabilities are still faced with many challenges. He added that the desire for people with disabilities to have independence and security to go anywhere remains strong. Senator Dole also shared with everyone his developed disability and a simple, but useful, tool that he utilizes to assist him with buttoning his clothes. He understood the need for new innovations and encouraged the growth and expansion of technology for people with disabilities.

Conference Held in Washington, D.C.

The National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) held its 2004 conference July 24-27, 2004. The NYLN is a cohesive and dynamic group of young leaders with disabilities from across the United States and the American territories. The network seeks to promote youth leadership and education in an effort to ensure that all youth with disabilities have the opportunity to attain their maximum, unique, and personal potential. The NYLN stands

above other youth development trainings because it is designed by youth for youth. This innovative approach allows the network to address issues that truly impact the lives of America’s 54 million people with disabilities.

This year’s conference examined the theme “Living, Learning, Leading: Youth with Disabilities Continuing the Legacy.” The 50 competitively selected participants attended a wide array of sessions centering on education, employment, healthcare, legislation, and disability awareness.

Youth with disabilities interested in gaining tools to become influential leaders on the local, state, or national level in the area of disability are encouraged to apply for the NYLN. Please visit their website at http://www.nyln.org for more information.

Another Successful Summer for WRP Students

2004 summer intern, Lisa Valenti

The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) co-sponsered by Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, continues to promote summer internship and permanent employment opportunities for college students with disabilities. In early Spring 2004, approximately 1,600 college students with disabilities were interviewed by 80 highly trained recruiters. Over 200 colleges and universities participated in the program. Various federal agencies received CD-ROMs containing students’ profiles. Managers, supervisors and employees had the opportunity to welcome the interns in their workplace, and have found them to be an asset in supporting their agency missions.

Over 352 WRP interns were hired this year. During the summer, the WRP arranged Pentagon and Capitol Hill tours and social events for the students, managers, supervisors and former WRP interns to enjoy. The end of summer WRP Reception was the highlight of the WRP program. Everyone recieved the opportunity to talk about their unique experiences and to build a network of federal contacts for potential future employment opportunities.

“As a WRP intern, it was definitely an enriching experience working at CAP where people are knowledgeable about different types of disabilities. One of the biggest projects that I worked on was to assist in organizing and planning a CAP training event on how to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing persons in the Federal workplace. My position was then converted into a full-time position—big thanks to the WRP program for helping me find full-time employment”, shared by Lisa Valenti, a new member of CAP’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Team.

CAP is a significant part of WRP by providing workplace accommodations to assist with the interns’ job duties and responsibilities. If you wish to learn more about the program, visit www.dol.gov/odep/programs/workforc.htm.

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