April 26, 2006

Washington, D.C. - The undersigned organizations representing millions of individuals with disabilities support inclusion of the disability amendment to be introduced by Congressman Jay Inslee before the House Energy & Commerce Committee on April 26, 2006. These groups appreciate the willingness and interest of both the majority and minority side of the committee to ensure full access to our nation’s telecommunications infrastructure. As we have noted in the past, individuals with disabilities can only gain equal access to the exciting and innovative Internet-enabled products and services that are entering the marketplace through affirmative Congressional action.

American Association of People with Disabilities
American Foundation for the Blind
Alliance for Public Technology
California Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Communication Service for the Deaf
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network*
Hearing Loss Association of America
Inclusive Technologies
National Association of the Deaf
National Center for Accessible Media
Northern Virginia Resource Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.

* The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network includes various additional organizations. In all, the member organizations of DHHCAN include the American Association of the Deaf-Blind, the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association, the Association of Late-Deafened Adults, the American Society for Deaf Children, the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, Communication Service for the Deaf, Deaf Seniors of America, Gallaudet University, Gallaudet University Alumni Association, National Association of the Deaf, National Black Deaf Advocates, National Catholic Office of the Deaf.