Netflix Captioning Helper

Anyone know who this blogger is? Kudos to the effort.

What is Netflix response?

http://ncmacasl.blogspot.com/2010/12/nc-mac-asls-blog-netflix-instantwatch_24.html

Social Media: Connections or Aloneness?

Reading about “social media” continues to fascinate many of us, as has all internet communications for many years now.

Here is a report in “Slate” which also mentions a new book by Sherry Turkle, one of the first pioneers in all this study of using the internet and effects of it all:

http://www.slate.com/id/2282620/

Do you agree with the article? We think it raises quite a few good points. Seriously.

At the same time, the internet, social media, and whatever the next popular cyberspace entities are going to be, it’s here to stay. As we say in different places, life is all about communications and relationships, so we’ll continue reading.  AND –

For deaf and people with hearing loss – we suggest a very important exception to the general findings in the research  – how it brings us more information, more communication using TEXT of course – vital for millions of us. Research on this? Comments?

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Social Media: Connections or Aloneness?

Reading about “social media” continues to fascinate many of us, as has all internet communications for many years now.

Here is a report in “Slate” which also mentions a new book by Sherry Turkle, one of the first pioneers in all this study of using the internet and effects of it all:

http://www.slate.com/id/2282620/

Do you agree with the article? We think it raises quite a few good points. Seriously.

At the same time, the internet, social media, and whatever the next popular cyberspace entities are going to be, it’s here to stay. As we say in different places, life is all about communications and relationships, so we’ll continue reading.  AND —

For deaf and people with hearing loss – we suggest a very important exception to the general findings in the research  – how it brings us more information, more communication using TEXT of course – vital for millions of us. Research on this? Comments?

Governments that include captions, hoorah

Government is one of ten CCAC “categories of life” where full communication access is required – all sorts of government meetings, from local to national, to international, so that citizens can be well informed and contribute. Real time captioning is our language.

Entertainment (movies, tv, theater) is another category gets a huge amount of attention. So it’s very nice to find this item today, about good government, less “advocated” for – yet equally deserving….

WATERTOWN —(outside of Boston, MA)

Starting next month, Watertown will pave the way for the rest of Massachusetts’ cities and towns by being one of the first to provide closed captioning of Town Council meetings for at-home viewers.

Stephen Corbett, town councilor and member of Watertown’s Commission on Disability (WCOD), announced on Jan. 25 that Watertown Community Access Center (WCAC) will begin providing closed captioning of Town Council meetings starting on Feb. 8.

Closed captioning allows people with hearing disabilities to access television programs by showing the audio portion of a show as text on the screen, making it easier for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to access news, entertainment and other information.

“Wearing hearing aides myself, I can appreciate how people will benefit from this,” Corbett said. “Watertown can be rightfully proud to take the lead on this important endeavor.”

Watertown Community Access Center Executive Director Tamarah Green said they are extremely excited about captioning the meetings.

“We already provide coverage of municipal meetings for those people who physically cannot be in attendance and now we are providing access to a significant segment of the population who has difficulty hearing the discussion,” Green told the Watertown TAB & Press. “WCAC will truly now be better able to keep our viewers educated on all the issues facing the town.”

Green also said that she hopes WCAC will be able to open caption all of the programs in the future.

“This is an expensive proposition and as a result, WCAC and WCOD will be seeking out community partners to help fund closed captioning in Watertown,” Green said.

Cable access stations have been exempt from providing closed captioning because of the financial costs it would have, but WCAC and WCOD recognizes that as the community ages, more viewers will rely on closed captioning.

Town council meetings are aired on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:15 p.m. and rebroadcasts are aired on Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Comcast channel 10.

For more information, please contact either WCAC at 617-923-8610 or the WCOD at info@wcod.org

From http://www.wickedlocal.com/watertown/news/x1145625688/Watertown-Town-Council-to-be-closed-captioned-starting-in-February

What about your town?  And yours? Ready to advocate? Talk to us in the CCAC.

 

Captioning on the agenda for the EFHOH

You all know what the EFHOH is? European Federation for Hard of Hearing, and they convene this April in Vienna for their annual general meeting and a good conference too.

Check it out here:

Please read more about the EFHOH Conference & AGM at http://www.efhoh.org/agm-annual_general_meeting/ where you also will find the registration form and other information about the AGM in Vienna.

Contact ÖSB: efhoh-vienna2011@oesb-dachverband.at

Who’s going to be there?

 

 

Saying thanks to active advocates

With thanks to Kareem and AAPD folks:

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2011/01/disability-advisor-at-white-house-speaks-to-advocates.html

Lots done, so much more to do too!

ccacaptioning.org

Worth reading: Described and Captioned Media Program

Reminding all about this most informative website, with thanks to Bill Stark and the DCMP teams: http://www.dcmp.org/keystoaccess/

Education is one of the ten CCAC “categories of life.” We all know how important a good or better (!) education is. Like “telecommunications” – education filters into so much of our lives.

CCAC has a document on our website that invites additions and comments also – https://sites.google.com/site/ccacgroup/articles-resources/why-cart-in-education

Question: What is needed for much more accessible education globally?

Answer: Your interest and participation.

 

 

Captioning Communities

The CCAC membership – the group called the Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning –  is a real community online. Check out free membership via our website.

Joining the CCAC benefits all captioning causes nationwide and internationally, as we collaborate more and more during year two of the CCAC, all volunteers.

And what about blogs? Blogs are fun and informative. More or less “editorial newspapers” online. How would you describe a blog? They do not seem like communities, yet are open to interactions in good other ways. Have a look at our blogroll (list of blogs we read and participate in from time to time, to the right side of this page).

Just added this one: http://thecaptionedinternet.blogspot.com/

Yours? We list those who mention the ccacblog on their blogroll, or link to our website via the blue CCAC logo from their website.

You? Get in touch: ccacaptioning@gmail.com

DOJ Comments from CCAC and others

Final day to submit your own comments, short or long, to the DOJ re captioning needed, now! Deadline is evening of Monday, 24th January:

See this site to add your voice:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!searchResults;rpp=10;so=DESC;sb=postedDate;po=0;s=crt-112. Scroll down on the right-hand side, hit the button for filing a comment, then either type in your comments or put them on a separate sheet and attach them.

Email ccacaptioning@gmail.com to see copy of our comments to DOJ (pubic record).

 

Interviewed – so nice! Captions for all :-)

http://ahearingloss.com/2011/01/22/january-2011-edition-of-the-swc-online-voices-newsletter/