National Association of the Deaf

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Miss Deaf America 2004-2006, Erin Casler, will speak at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless Accessibility Workshop in New Orleans on Monday, March 14, 2005. The CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, dedicated to expanding the wireless frontier. The Wireless Accessibility Workshop is a new half-day program designed to focus on the technical and policy issues involved with continuing to make wireless services accessible to individuals with hearing, mobile and visual disabilities.

Casler plans to speak about the importance of wireless devices in the everyday lives of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. She will challenge the wireless industry to develop a wireless device that translates signed, spoken, or written language into another language—verbal or visual. To achieve this goal, Casler urges each wireless company and service provider to develop relationships with national consumer disability organizations, seek their feedback in the development and testing stages.

“With the explosion of wireless devices as one of the preferred modes of communication in our community, Erin will encourage important decision-makers in the wireless industry to consider deaf and hard of hearing needs during product development and meet the challenge of combining accessibility and design,” said Nancy J.  Bloch, NAD Chief Executive Officer.

For more information about the CTIA Wireless Accessibility Workshop, go to:
http://www.accesswireless.org/wireless2005/index.htm

For more information about the NAD Miss Deaf America, go to:
http://www.nad.org/mda