1. Videoconferencing Accessibility Michelle Swaney Heidi Lefebure mswaney@utk.edu halefebure@ualr.edu mswaney@utk.eduhalefebure@ualr.edu mswaney@utk.eduhalefebure@ualr.edu ViDe Conference Indianapolis, IN March 24, 2004

2. Accessibility for People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

3. BEGINNINGS! 1999 - The Center on Deafness through the Postsecondary Education Consortium and its national organization the Postsecondary Education Programs Network – PEPNet (funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs) began exploring the use of technology to enhance classroom instruction, meeting accessibility, and the provision of outreach technical assistance. 1999 - The Center on Deafness through the Postsecondary Education Consortium and its national organization the Postsecondary Education Programs Network – PEPNet (funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs) began exploring the use of technology to enhance classroom instruction, meeting accessibility, and the provision of outreach technical assistance.

4. VC Issues and Barriers VC is not currently 100% accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Why? VC is not currently 100% accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. Why? Network Connections – inadequate or nonexistent at certain sites Network Connections – inadequate or nonexistent at certain sites Captioning Captioning Interpreter(s) (placement and # of) Interpreter(s) (placement and # of) Lack of technical expertise in the area of deafness at some sites (CURRENTLY) Lack of technical expertise in the area of deafness at some sites (CURRENTLY)

5. VC Challenges Network connectivity to guarantee minimum of 384k rate Network connectivity to guarantee minimum of 384k rate Chair control or video switching within the MCU Chair control or video switching within the MCU Placement of interpreter in a continuous presence multi-point conference Placement of interpreter in a continuous presence multi-point conference Rate of signing in correlation with VC system and network connections Rate of signing in correlation with VC system and network connections Need for technical expertise Need for technical expertise Room environment (lighting, set-up, audio) Room environment (lighting, set-up, audio)

6. VC Successes MCU, Gatekeeper, Room and desktop systems in place. MCU, Gatekeeper, Room and desktop systems in place. Successful conferences (point-to-point and multi-point) Successful conferences (point-to-point and multi-point) Continuous learning process of the capabilities Continuous learning process of the capabilities PEPNet has made a commitment to continue onward to resolve access solutions in relation to captioning and interpreter placement in continuous presence. Work is ongoing with the Technology Evaluation group at The University of Tennessee. PEPNet has made a commitment to continue onward to resolve access solutions in relation to captioning and interpreter placement in continuous presence. Work is ongoing with the Technology Evaluation group at The University of Tennessee.

7. VC Uses for the Center on Deafness PEPNet Directors & Coordinators (Postsecondary Education Programs Network – 4 Regional Centers) PEPNet Directors & Coordinators (Postsecondary Education Programs Network – 4 Regional Centers) Demand-Control Course – Practicum supervision Demand-Control Course – Practicum supervision Sign Communication Proficiency Interviews within RSA Region IV Sign Communication Proficiency Interviews within RSA Region IV Meetings and trainings Meetings and trainings Collaboration with vendors regarding communications access Collaboration with vendors regarding communications access

8. Accessibility for People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

9. VC Issues and Barriers VC is not currently 100% accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision. Why? VC is not currently 100% accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision. Why? Software incompatibility (VC and Accessibility) Software incompatibility (VC and Accessibility) Most chat clients are inaccessible Most chat clients are inaccessible Inadequate or nonexistent network connections Inadequate or nonexistent network connections Captioning Captioning Lack of technical expertise Lack of technical expertise

10. VC Challenges Network connectivity to guarantee minimum of 384k rate Network connectivity to guarantee minimum of 384k rate Resistance to change and a fear of the unknown Resistance to change and a fear of the unknown Need for technical expertise Need for technical expertise Room environment (lighting, set-up, audio) Room environment (lighting, set-up, audio)

11. Impact on Awareness

12. Needed Enhancement of Accessibility Features

13. Multi-point videoconference 5/22/03 *Highlighted box denotes speaker 4 Site Connection 4 th site audio & video is muted for chair control 2 sites connected on an OC12 pipe, I2 institution 1 site connected on a T1 1 site connected on OC3 pipe

14. Impact of Accessibility Who gets the bigger piece of the pie? Who gets the bigger piece of the pie? Companies already getting into the business of video over IP within the Deaf Community Companies already getting into the business of video over IP within the Deaf Community Sprint Relay http://www.sprintvrs.com Sprint Relay http://www.sprintvrs.comhttp://www.sprintvrs.com Sorenson VRS http://www.sorensonvrs.com Sorenson VRS http://www.sorensonvrs.comhttp://www.sorensonvrs.com Sorenson videophone http://www.sorenson.com http://www.sorenson.com Communication Srvcs for the Deaf http://www.c-s-d.org Communication Srvcs for the Deaf http://www.c-s-d.orghttp://www.c-s-d.org How big is the audience anyway? How big is the audience anyway? Secondary, postsecondary, businesses, etc. Secondary, postsecondary, businesses, etc.