With an eye toward enhancing technology access for people with disabilities, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comments on whether any updates are needed to the rules of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The CVAA was enacted more than a decade ago to help ensure that people with…
Read MoreFor the first time in the 93-year history of the Academy Awards, this year’s Oscars broadcast on ABC featured both closed captioning and audio description for the live nationwide telecast. VITAC once again provided closed captioning for the Oscars event, and we’re proud to have worked with our partner Audio Eyes to provide live audio…
Read MoreA federal appeals court earlier this month ruled that grocery chain Winn-Dixie did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by having its website inaccessible by screen readers, a decision that reverses the finding of a lower court. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit vacated a 2017…
Read MoreLooking for ways to make your classrooms accessible for all learners, but aren’t sure where to start or what questions to ask? VITAC, North America’s largest provider of accessible media services, has a new ebook that offers tips and strategies on creating inclusive learning environments. Our free “Accessibility in Education” ebook, available now for download,…
Read MoreHBO Max is now offering audio description on select titles across its platform. The new feature comes after WarnerMedia (HBO’s parent company) reached an agreement with the American Council of the Blind, the Massachusetts-based Bay State Council of the Blind, and other advocates in October 2020 to increase the accessibility on the popular streaming platform.…
Read MoreEarlier this month, advocates from Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., the National Association of the Deaf, Hearing Loss Association of America, the American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, and Gallaudet University’s Technology Access Program met with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leaders to discuss the Commission’s priorities…
Read MoreAs students begin looking forward to the end of this school year, administrators and school officials already are eyeing budgets for 2021-22. And as budget planners decide on next year’s spending plan, it’s crucial that they consider an important component – accessibility. Introducing assistive devices and services, such as classroom captioning or audio description, has…
Read MoreA lot certainly can change in 35 years – fashion, pop culture, technology − but one thing that remains timeless is the need for accessible communications and accurate, synchronous, complete, and readable captions. VITAC was founded on the vision that technology could deliver a new level of accessibility to those in the deaf and hard-of-hearing…
Read MoreAs has become increasingly clear over the past year, it’s possible to connect with people everywhere and anywhere around the globe virtually any time you want. In the education world, remote classrooms, lectures, and conferencing software have become the norm for teachers and students in all grade levels, and colleges, universities, and other higher educational…
Read MoreThere are a few important captioning and hearing awareness initiatives planned over the next few days in the U.S. and around the world. Check out below some of the events happening this week! ● “Read Captions Across America” (RCAA) is held each year in conjunction with the National Education Association’s (NEA) “Read Across America” event…
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