Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (03/22/91)
Index Number: 14126 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] Wayne, these are a few points worthy of comment in the public review draft of ANSI A117 (enroute to you via snailmail, even as we type). 4.32 Auditorium and Assembly areas. Editorial committee had deleted requirement for assistive listening system (ALS) where amplification (PA system) is provided for hearies. Also they have altered wording of 4.32.6 to prohibit locating fixed seats served by ALS more than more than 50 feet from stage. (50 ft. viewing distance is great for speechreading oral presentations, but everything isn't oral, and it may be too close for movies, sports, concerts, etc.) Also the 50' MAXIMUM provision could be interpreted to outlaw whole house ALS in movie theaters, churches, etc. 4.29.5 Telephones, Equipment for HI people. After committee rejected reasonable proposal from AV task force, secretariat and editorial committee went thru cycles of confusion finally reverting to the archaic and inadequate language of the 1986 standard. We don't need A117 for a "magnetic field in the area of the receiver cap". Hearing aid compatibility is now required by federal law for all corded phones, with cordless soon to follow. We DO need amplified phones with minimum of +18dB, and accessible TDDs. The draft standard does not presently require thess, even for "accessible" public phones. 4.10.1.4 Elevators. A minor point perhaps, but shouldn't the visible signals provide all the same information that audible signals give? Wouldn't it be nice to know whether the elevator is going up or down before boarding it? 4.26.3 Visual Alarms. This is a well researched proposal developed by ATBCB based on work done by Applied Concepts. There was opposition in committee from NATO (no not the NATO you thought, this was the National Association of Theater Owners), but the proposal was adopted after a bit of struggle. Opposition may re-surface, so affirmative comments on this item would be most appropriate. A117 standard is open for comments until April 22. Whatever is adopted, we'll be stuck with for the next five years. Remember the disability advocates are outnumbered 3:1 in the voting membership of the committee, so we must depend on comments to make our position known. So everybody speak out - NOW! ... lllegitimii non Carborundum! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (04/17/91)
Index Number: 15018 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] The 60 day public comment period on the revision of the ANSI A117 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities will expire in about one week (April 23). Our blind friends and the folks in wheelchairs have commented profusely. But it sorta looks like hearing impaired folks don't care. If you want goodies like amplified phones, accessible public TDDs, assistive listening systems, visual signals and alarms, etc. to be included in the standard we will live with for the next five years, you better say so. Else you aren't gonna get 'em. Repeating, the place to write is: Secretariat - ANSI Committee A117 Council of American Building Officials 5203 Leesburg Pike, #708 Falls Church, VA 22041 ... Caveat Emptor! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org