| |
Abstract |
People with sensory disabilities, like anyone else, need access to timely emergency and weather warnings information. Primary information sources, radio and television broadcasts, do not consistently serve the needs of the 28 million people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, or the 11 million people who are blind or have low vision. Alert systems, services and products are developing text and audio alert capabilities to serve these populations but many inconsistently support appropriate modalities and accessible interfaces. Funded by the US Department of Commerce, WGBH is uniting emergency alert providers, local information resources, telecommunications industry and public broadcasting representatives, and consumers to research and disseminate replicable approaches to make emergency warnings and community-based information accessible. Through research with consumers and the public warning community, and delivery and device testing, an information model is being developed with recommended accessibility extensions to emergency system protocols, technologies and services for cross-platform delivery. © 2006 WGBH Educational Foundation. |
|
