WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee hearing today entitled Innovation and Inclusion: The Americans with Disabilities Act At 20. 

Witness List: 

Panel I

The Honorable Edward Markey, U.S. House of Representatives 

Panel II 

Sgt. Brian Pearce (Ret.), U.S. Army

Mr. Thomas Wlodkowski, Accessibility Director, AOL Inc.

Ms. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President, National Association of the Deaf

Mr. Russell Harvard, Actor

Mr. Walter McCormick, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Telecom Association 

Key Quotations from Today’s Hearing:

“I have worked my entire career to bring the power and the promise of new communications technology to every corner of my state. I have seen the opportunity it creates for our communities, for changing education, improving healthcare, and strengthening local businesses. We have a responsibility to make sure that kind of transformative opportunity is available to everyone. It is vitally important that our policies and programs that support access to people with disabilities keep up with the blistering speed of constantly changing technology.”

Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV

“Twenty years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is time to recommit ourselves to ensuring Americans with disabilities are not left behind - online or off. The goal is clear – ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to access and use the communications infrastructure and services just like the rest of us. Doing so is critical to making good on our commitment to an open and inclusive society.”

Senator John F. Kerry, Chairman, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet

“When President Bush signed the ADA into law in 1990, he famously said ‘Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down.’ Now we must take action again to ensure that new walls are not erected – new barriers to inclusion may be virtual, wireless, composed of zeroes and ones, or a result of devices and services designed without accessibility in mind. Regardless of their origin, these 21st century walls are just as exclusionary as the physical barriers that were the focus of the ADA 20 years ago or the analog-era communications hurdles we had to overcome. Now is the time to break down these walls of exclusion of the Digital Era.”

The Honorable Edward Markey, U.S. House of Representatives

“The most difficult challenge that I have faced with technology has been identifying a cell phone that is accessible. I haven't been able to find a phone that suits my needs and is accessible. Not every person who is blind or visually impaired needs or wants to own a PDA. Blind Americans like me want to have options as consumers so that we can identify the most appropriate phone for our needs. Having accessible PDA's is important, but ensuring full accessibility to a wide spectrum of different phones is also vital.”

Sgt. Brian Pearce (Ret.), U.S. Army

“In order to provide consumers a high degree of choice in selecting the options that meet their unique needs, products and services need to be offered in a manner that is technologically compatible with the greatest number of devices and applications, not restricted based on one set of standards. Restrictive standards could result in increased costs, driving up consumer prices, which could in turn limit the number of people who actually benefit from the ‘innovation.’”

Mr. Thomas Wlodkowski, Accessibility Director, AOL Inc.

“We call upon Congress to ensure that people with disabilities – including the rapidly growing population of senior citizens who experience reduced hearing with increasing frequency and our veterans returning with hearing loss – are not left behind as communication technologies move to the Internet and new digital technologies.”

Ms. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President, National Association of the Deaf

“On behalf of millions of Americans who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind, blind, or have low vision, we call upon Congress not to leave us behind as new Internet and digital video programming technologies become available to the general public. I am a big fan of technology: it empowers me to do things I otherwise could not do and allows me to access the information I need to be successful – both in my profession and as a citizen who actively participates in our nation’s civic affairs.”

Mr. Russell Harvard, Actor

“Americans are more reliant than ever on communications devices and networks in their daily lives, but Americans with disabilities can derive particular benefits from these technologies. As these exciting new technologies evolve, that population could become increasingly disadvantaged if they are denied access to them.”

Mr. Walter McCormick, President and Chief Executive Officer, US Telecom Association

 ###