A Search for Innovative Solutions that Inspire

Speaking recently to technologists who are creating new tools for diverse populations of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler urged them to remember: “Accessibility must be a first thought, not an afterthought.” That thought inspired an expanded focus on nominations for technology innovations that specifically address the telecommunications needs of people with cognitive disabilities for 2016’s Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility.

Moreover, we have all seen how advances in accessibility make technology more useable for all people. Television captions, automatic door openers, sidewalk ramps, and adjustable vanity mirrors were designed with accessibility in mind, but are appreciated by all. We are certain that advances in telecommunication accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities will help every user of these technologies. We are encouraging technology designers and developers to share their solutions that focus on the telecommunication needs of people with differing functional requirements, using design principles that are mindful of users’ attention focus, problem-solving and comprehension issues to achieve accessibility in ways that are simple and clear, consistent, multi-modal and error-tolerant. Nominations for all Chairman’s AAA awards, including those for innovations that address people with cognitive disabilities, are due March 31.