Before anything else - please review this: http://www.ada.gov/comprob.htm

Your local, state or national government needs to include you - 

For one example, a few CCAC members are asking for captioning inclusion for town meetings - very important. Not easy to find access. And then, with captioning streamed online too - can be done! Some towns are already doing this, and we say thanks. 

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1.      Good government leads the way for all its citizens by setting best standards for equality and inclusion.

2.      To reduce discriminatory gaps which now still exclude many able citizens (who happen to be deaf, deafened, or have a hearing loss, or who need quality text for many other good reasons) from regular and important government meetings, workshops, rallies, advisory committees, and public input to city, state, or federal bodies.

3.      To set the standard high, so all sectors can share the benefits as well as the responsibilities that come with full citizenship participation. To participate means to contribute and give back.

5.      To recruit and involve volunteers in local, state and national initiatives among people with different hearing needs. If these many able citizens have the tools, they will be able to contribute more than currently where resources are missing or irregular.

6.      To teach about citizenship and voting responsibilities – a most essential part of government. CART and quality captioning helps all, not only people with hearing differences, but also new citizens learning a new language.

7.      To establish an effective communication channel with all communities and constituencies, and reduce the mass media digital divide. CART and captions universally!

8.      To educate elected and non-elected government representatives about the challenges and contributions of individuals with so many forms of hearing loss and deafness. Most do not use sign language, contrary to popular understanding. When “hearing” members of government are aware of resources for inclusion of all, they become better public servants also.

9.      To lobby for further legislation and reduction of barriers to make access a truly achievable goal.

10.   BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE (please send the CCAC your examples to add here soon – email to ccacaptioning@gmail.com)

Nice inclusion on Jury in Syracuse, NY: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/after_deaf_oswego_man_dismisse.html

CART included, July 2010, on the lawn of the White House for the 20^th Anniversary celebrations of the ADA – laws for inclusion of all able citizens. Included on the video online when President Obama signed the 21^st Century Telecommunications Act recently.

Examples from your state legislature?

Your town meetings?  (We know that the small town of Stonington, Maine provided CART for a town meeting at one time, for inclusion of a valued community citizen.)

Candidates for elections?

And Internationally - good examples: In Ireland: CART to the Wicklow County Council (chamber and also streamed online); also CART for some committee meetings in the Houses of Parliament.

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Sections of above "Why CART..." prepared for the CCAC by Martha Galindo and:

Galindo Publicidad Inc., 6844 West Sample Road,

Coral Springs, Florida 33067, U.S.A.

Blog:  Translations And More