Marlee Matlin, NAD, and Purple!

Chevy57

Chevy57

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Go Purple Rocks!

Academy Award winning actress and author Marlee Matlin, a member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), is taking on a new role as an NAD spokesperson for accessible broadband services and Internet media.

Matlin will take part in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hearing addressing the needs of people with disabilities in the development of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, which will be submitted to Congress in February 2010. The hearing, along with innovative technology exhibitions, will be presided over by Commissioner Michael Copps at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., from 9:00 am -1:00 pm, on November 6, 2009. The public is encouraged to attend the event and to share their ideas and comments with the Commission. More information about the hearing is available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-294267A1.pdf.

"Not only is Marlee a phenomenal actress, she understands our experience," said NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins. "The nationwide adoption of broadband and Internet services can only be achieved when those services are available, affordable, and accessible to every American, including Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing. The disability community must not be left behind as our nation’s communication, information, and entertainment services migrate to the Internet."

While in Washington, Matlin will also visit key legislators on Capitol Hill with NAD representatives and other members of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT). Matlin’s meetings will spotlight on the need to enact the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009” (H.R. 3101) introduced by Representative Edward J. Markey (MA).

An outspoken advocate for captioning Internet media, Matlin first testified before Congress in 1990, successfully paving the way for a law requiring most television sets to be capable of displaying closed captions. Presently, Matlin is leading social media advocacy efforts to urge online video content providers, such as Netflix and Blockbuster, to caption their media. Her efforts have captured both providers’ attention in making their online content accessible to 36 million deaf and hard of hearing Americans.

"Internet captioning is very important to me as a deaf person because captions provide access to content that affects my life and my livelihood," said Matlin. "Legislators need to know that captions are necessary to follow the latest news, information, and entertainment available on the Internet. I join millions of other deaf and hard of hearing Americans advocating for Internet access."

Matlin is an acclaimed actress who gained worldwide fame with her role in the film "Children of a Lesser God." Her performance was recognized by the film community with an Academy Award, making Matlin the youngest recipient of the Oscar for Best Actress at age 21. She has also starred in many popular television programs and series, such as “West Wing” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Her autobiography, "I'll Scream Later," published by Simon Spotlight, is available in bookstores nationwide.

The NAD thanks Purple Communications for sponsoring Matlin’s visit to Washington.

About the NAD
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.

About Purple Communications
Purple Communications is a provider of onsite interpreting services, video relay and text relay services, and video remote interpreting, offering a wide array of options designed to meet the varied communication needs of its customers. The Company’s vision is to enable free-flowing communication between people, inclusive of differences in abilities, languages, or locations. For more information on the Company or its services, visit Purple Communications or contact Purple Communications directly by voice
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Purple Communications Blog » Blog Archive » Marlee Matlin, NAD, and Purple!
 
I always wonder why on Earth is Purple sponsoring Marlee Matlin to Washington DC.
 
View here for answer PowerOn. ASL Vlog with captions, everyone can access. (ha - access for everyone is the topic)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwEGx63hj9s&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - MarleeMatlin[/ame]
 
It's not the answer I look for. Only, I can think that it's part of adverting to make more people aware of Purple instead Sorenson. Otherwise, it's great support. It's like Nascar, put the company on the body, in alternative concept as Marlee would wear purple suit
 
Well, I think its kinda the idea, but that Marlee makes a better (purple suit) purple racecar to promote the captioned internet issues. More people pay attention to actors, so maybe they will act on this bill. She had great success with the tv chip caption thing back in 1990. If it benefits Purple it will also benefit all relay services. Explain to me if I am wrong, I just want to explain how I understand it.
 
If it's a good cause for the HoH/deaf community, I'm all for it.

Posted this on my FB page.
 
PowerON said:
It's not the answer I look for. Only, I can think that it's part of adverting to make more people aware of Purple instead Sorenson. Otherwise, it's great support. It's like Nascar, put the company on the body, in alternative concept as Marlee would wear purple suit
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At least Marlee will sign whereas Barney the Purple Dinosaur never did, lol.
 
I see "captioned internet" as being the videos on the internet having captions or the dialog provided. It would be a great benefit to a lot of people including me. I lost my hearing 3 years ago and I am slowly learning ASL, but most ASL videos I can't even follow since I don't know enough. When my son or husband play videos on youtube and want me to see it, they don't understand that I can't follow along. It's just like the captioning for the tv's, only now more people are using the internet, it needs to be captioned like the televison has been done. Now, if only there was some way to get radios in the same boat.:hmm:
 
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