TDI
Organization size: n/a
Key product/service items: Advocacy
Accessibility website overview: The website offers comprehensive resource materials on TDI’s advocacy work, the history of accessibility movement and the history of rights advocacy in the United States. TDI maintains a publication program to inform deaf and hard of hearing consumers concerning public policies and issues related to technology access, their rights to telecommunications access as persons with hearing loss, and the ever-increasing new technologies that may be of benefit to deaf and hard of hearing people. TDI also developed the Emergency Access Self Evaluation (EASE) materials through a grant received from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1994.
Key statements on ICT product and services accessibility: TDI (formally known as Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.) was established in 1968 originally to promote further distribution of TTYs in the deaf community and to publish an annual national directory of TTY numbers. Today, it is an active national advocacy organization focusing its energies and resources to address equal access issues in telecommunications and media for four constituencies in deafness and hearing loss, specifically people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind.
TDI provides leadership in achieving equal access to telecommunications, media, and information technologies for deaf and hard of hearing people. We see a world of tomorrow where persons who are deaf or hard of hearing have barrier free access to all forms of information, entertainment and telecommunications, thus enabling them to live independently and to fully participate in society.
Key areas of accessibility work:
• Provide technical assistance and consulting to industry, organizations, and individuals
• Encourage accessible applications of existing and emerging technologies in all sectors of the community
• Promote the uniformity of standards for telecommunications, media, and information technologies
• Network and collaborate with other disability organizations, government, industry and academia
• Develop and advocate for national policies that support accessible technology
• Publish the TDI World quarterly magazine
• Publish the annual TDI National Directory and Resource Guide, also known as The Blue Book.
• Disseminate TDI eNotes to members and friends of TDI with up-to-date news and action alerts.
• Host biennial conferences in different locations throughout the United States in odd-numbered years.
Contact information:
TDI
8630 Fenton Street,
Suite 604,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3822
Tel: +1-301-589-3786|
Video: +1-301-563-9112 or +1-71-166-17451
TTY: +1-301-589-3006|
FAX: +1-301-589-3797