Coordinating Industry

D1.  Support Standards Work

Given the range of disabilities, their severity, and the individual interests and needs of people with disabilities, it is unlikely that “accessibility” can ever be rendered completely objective.  However, there are areas in which objective standards could be developed that would simplify the process of design and testing.  This same information delivered to potential consumers would simplify their purchasing decisions.

Some of this work is already underway.  The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has developed a text telephone interoperability standard (v.18 -- see Appendix I) and several other Working Groups are proceeding to guarantee that text communication is included in videotelephone, Internet telephony, and other standards related to emerging technologies (T.120, T.134, T.140).  Other international groups have addressed the access issues of smart cards and keyboard tactile indicators (nibs) from a standards perspective.  IEEE’s C.63.19 Committee is working on hearing aid compatibility for wireless phones, extending the existing standard for hearing aid compatibility developed by EIA, RS-504.  Other areas that could benefit from standards are:

• Key size, spacing, force requirements
• Display and key visibility
• Tones for feedback/control/alerting (especially selection of multifrequency tones with a low frequency component for people with high frequency hearing loss)
• Interconnection with SCPE

D2.  Help Develop Testing Protocols

Corresponding to the standards work in Recommendation D1 would be testing protocols.  Wherever obvious measurements are absent, manufacturers should be given clear directives about how to test for compliance.  These would be especially useful where subjective input is needed from typical or representative individuals with disabilities.  A Draft Test Protocol for TTY access to voice mail and IVR systems was developed by the Industry Forum on TTY Access to Public Voice Mail and IVR Systems.

D3.  Encourage Industry Forums and Industry Participation in Accessibility Research and Awareness Activities

Manufacturers of mainstream telecommunications products have much to offer the world of accessible telecommunications, both in technical know-how and organizational leverage.  Many companies and industry associations already connect with disability-oriented organizations and venues.  The Association of Access Engineering Specialists, the Digital Wireless TTY Forum, the Industry Forum on TTY Access to Voice Mail and IVR Systems, the National Association of State Relay Administrators (NASRA), RESNA, and the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association (TEDPA) all benefit from their ties to industry.

These ties should be strengthened.  The individuals from companies who attend or support these activities have learned the common language of accessible telecommunications.  Now the need is greater for people within industry who understand access issues and can make those issues relevant to the way they and their colleagues do their work.  The handful of energetic champions need to be  supplemented by squads of focused implementers within each company.