Section 504

Programs & Activities

Accessibility 

Handbook 

Federal Communications Commission · Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554 

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) · TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) 

www.fcc.gov/cgb/

Federal Communications Commission 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

I. INTRODUCTION 

1. SECTION 504 HANDBOOK.................................................................................................................. 2

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ACCESS ........................................................................................................ 3

3. SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT ............................................................................... 4

4. DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT.................................................................................................... 5

1. TYPES OF ACCESS REQUESTED....................................................................................................... 8

Access for people with mobility impairments ................................................................................. 8

Access for people who are blind or have low vision ....................................................................... 8

Access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.......................................................................... 9

Access for people with speech disabilities..................................................................................... 10

Access for people with other disabilities ....................................................................................... 11

2. CONSIDERATIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACCESS................................................................................ 12

Buildings / Rooms / Hallways ....................................................................................................... 12

3. CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMATION ACCESS ....................................................................... 12

Forms / Public information / Complaints / Media, etc................................................................... 13

4. CONSIDERATIONS FOR STAFF ACTIVITIES ................................................................................ 15

Office parties / Holiday celebrations / Federally recognized employee organizations / etc. ......... 15

5. CONSIDERATIONS FOR SAFETY .................................................................................................... 16

Building Evacuation ...................................................................................................................... 16

Security Issues ............................................................................................................................... 16

6. CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS ................................................ 18

Contracting / Acquisitions / Services / Equipment, etc. ................................................................ 18

1. INTERNAL FCC MEETINGS.............................................................................................................. 21
 

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If your meeting is open to all FCC staff........................................................................................ 21

AND is scheduled in the Commission Meeting Room... ................................................. 21

If your meeting is open to all FCC staff........................................................................................ 22

AND is scheduled for a location other than the Commission Meeting Room.................. 22

If your meeting is for a limited FCC audience... (division meeting, internal task force, 

committee, etc.)................................................................................................................. 23

AND you know the attendees ........................................................................................... 23

AND you DON’T know the attendees.............................................................................. 23

If your meeting requires pre-registration... ................................................................................... 24

2. MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES ..................................................................................... 25

If your meeting is a Commission Open Meeting... ....................................................................... 25

If your meeting is a public meeting with no pre-registration required... ...................................... 26

If your meeting is open to a limited public audience.................................................................... 27

AND you know the attendees ........................................................................................... 27

AND you DON’T know the attendees.............................................................................. 27

If your meeting focuses on issues you expect to be of interest to people with 

disabilities... ..................................................................................................................... 28

If your meeting requires pre-registration... ................................................................................... 30

3. DISSEMINATING NEWS RELEASES, PUBLIC NOTICES, TEXTS, AND OTHER 

DOCUMENTS............................................................................................................................... 32

4. HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS ...................................................................... 33

Opening announcements................................................................................................................ 33

Meeting moderators ....................................................................................................................... 33

Audio and visual media ................................................................................................................. 35

Presenters with printed handouts or audio/visual media.................................................. 36

AND people with disabilities are expected.......................................................... 36

Presenters with printed handouts or audio/visual media.................................................. 37

AND it is unknown if people with disabilities will attend.................................. 37

If you are invited to speak at a non-FCC event............................................................................. 38

AND have handouts or audio/visual presentations.......................................................... 38

If the hosts HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS for accommodations... ........... 38

If the hosts HAVE NOT MADE ARRANGEMENTS for 

accommodations or do not know if people with disabilities plan 

to attend... .............................................................................................. 38

5. AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA PRODUCED OR OWNED BY THE COMMISSION .............................. 40
 

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Video formats (Videotape, CD, DVD, etc.)................................................................................... 40

Captioning......................................................................................................................... 40

Video description.............................................................................................................. 40

Audio recordings............................................................................................................................ 40

To arrange for captioning or video description or to discuss your media options... ..................... 40

6. TRAINING ............................................................................................................................................ 41

FCC Training ................................................................................................................................. 41

FCC University .............................................................................................................................. 41

FCC Contracted training................................................................................................................ 42

External training ............................................................................................................................ 42

1. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS........................................................................... 45

If you receive a request for reasonable accommodations... .......................................................... 45

2. FCC504@FCC.GOV ............................................................................................................................. 47

Purpose 47

Who checks this mailbox? ............................................................................................................. 47

3. TTY ACCESS........................................................................................................................................ 48

Distribution of TTYs within the Commission – Minimum standards ........................................... 48

TTY Telephone numbers ............................................................................................................... 48

TTY Assistance.............................................................................................................................. 48

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS).................................................................................... 49

TTY calls .......................................................................................................................... 49

VCO (Voice Carry Over).................................................................................................. 49

HCO (Hearing Carry Over) .............................................................................................. 50

STS (Speech to Speech).................................................................................................... 50

IP Relay............................................................................................................................. 50

VRS (Video Relay Service).............................................................................................. 50

Spanish Relay Service ...................................................................................................... 51

4. DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED IN ALTERNATE FORMATS ............................................................. 52

Where should they be sent? ........................................................................................................... 52

5. CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM AUDIO RECORDINGS ....................................... 53

Why transcribe audio recordings? ................................................................................................. 53
 

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Who coordinates the transcription process?................................................................................... 53

What types of audio recordings are accepted for transcription? .................................................... 53

Who should create the transcripts? ................................................................................................ 54

Transcription process..................................................................................................................... 54

Transcript review ........................................................................................................................... 55

Transcript format ........................................................................................................................... 55

Final disposition............................................................................................................................. 55

6. CREATING IN-HOUSE WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTS FROM BRAILLE........................................... 56

Why transcribe braille?.................................................................................................................. 56

Who coordinates the transcription process?................................................................................... 56

What types of braille are accepted for transcription?..................................................................... 56

Who should create the transcripts? ................................................................................................ 56

Transcription process..................................................................................................................... 57

Transcript review ........................................................................................................................... 57

Transcript format ........................................................................................................................... 57

Final disposition............................................................................................................................. 58

7. CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEORECORDINGS.............................................................................................................................. 59

Why transcribe sign language video recordings? .......................................................................... 59

Who coordinates the translation / transcription process?............................................................... 59

What visual presentations will be accepted for translation? .......................................................... 59

Who should create the transcripts? ................................................................................................ 59

Transcription process..................................................................................................................... 60

Translation process ........................................................................................................................ 60

Translation review ......................................................................................................................... 62

Translation format.......................................................................................................................... 62

Final disposition............................................................................................................................. 62
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

1. DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS ............................................................................................................. 64

Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 ..................................................................................................... 64

Rehabilitation Act .......................................................................................................................... 66

Section 501 ....................................................................................................................... 66

Section 503 ....................................................................................................................... 66

Section 508 ....................................................................................................................... 66

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)........................................................................................ 67

ADA Title I: Employment ................................................................................................ 67

ADA Title II: State and Local Government Activities ..................................................... 67

ADA Title II: Public Transportation................................................................................. 68

ADA Title III: Public Accommodations........................................................................... 69

Architectural Barriers Act................................................................................................. 70

Telecommunications Act .................................................................................................. 70

Sections 255 and 251 ........................................................................................................ 70

Section 713 ....................................................................................................................... 71

Television Decoder Circuitry Act..................................................................................... 71

Hearing Aid Compatibility Act......................................................................................... 72

2. DISABILITY STATISTICS................................................................................................................... 73

3. DISABILITY TERMINOLOGY............................................................................................................ 74

4. DISABILITY ETIQUETTE .................................................................................................................. 76

General etiquette ............................................................................................................................ 76

Sensitivity to Blindness and Visual Impairments .......................................................................... 78

Interacting with people who have speech disabilities.................................................................... 80

5. SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS ................................................................................................. 82

When using an interpreter............................................................................................................. 82

Study of fatigue confirms need for working in teams....................................................... 83

Code of Ethics (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf)...................................................... 84

6. ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES.................................................................................................... 86

7. CART (COMMUNICATION ACCESS REALTIME TRANSLATION) ............................................ 88

What is it? ...................................................................................................................................... 88

How it’s done................................................................................................................................. 88

Certification ................................................................................................................................... 88

8. CAPTIONING ....................................................................................................................................... 89

What is Captioning?....................................................................................................................... 89
 

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Caption Styles ................................................................................................................................ 90

How are realtime [live] captions generated?.................................................................................. 90

Methods of captioning ................................................................................................................... 91

9. BRAILLE............................................................................................................................................... 93

What Is Braille? ............................................................................................................................. 93

What Does Braille Look Like? ...................................................................................................... 93

How Was Braille Invented?........................................................................................................... 93

How Is Braille Written?................................................................................................................. 94

10. VIDEO DESCRIPTION,...................................................................................................................... 97

11. DISABILITY ACCESS SYMBOLS ................................................................................................... 99

Access to Low Vision..................................................................................................... 99

Accessibility Symbol ...................................................................................................... 99

Accessible Print.............................................................................................................. 99

Assistive Listening Systems ....................................................................................... 100

Audio Description (Video Description),..................................................................... 101

Braille Symbol............................................................................................................... 101

Closed Captioning........................................................................................................ 101

Sign Language Interpretation..................................................................................... 102

TTY (Teletypewriter).................................................................................................... 102

Volume Control Telephone......................................................................................... 102

APPENDIX A........................................................................................................................................... 105

Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in the Commission’s Programs and 

Activities......................................................................................................................... 105

SEPARATE STATEMENT OF............................................................................................................. 119

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS ........................................................................................... 119

SEPARATE STATEMENT OF............................................................................................................. 120

COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN .............................................................................. 120

APPENDIX B ........................................................................................................................................... 121

Braille Sample Page..................................................................................................................... 121

The segment below is a translation of the braille embossed on the following page. ................... 121

Page of embossed braille included in paper copies...................................................................... 122
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (Pub.L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 394, 29 U.S.C. 794, as amended by the 

Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974, Pub.L. 93-516, 88 Stat. 1617, and the Rehabilitation, 

Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, Pub.L. 95-602, 92 

Stat. 2955, and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986, sec. 103(d), Pub.L. 99-506, 100 Stat. 

1810) creates specific causes of action for persons who are aggrieved by discriminatory treatment as 

defined in the Act. This Handbook is intended to guide implementation of the Federal 

Communications Commission’s responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It is for 

internal staff use and public information only, and is not intended to create any rights, responsibilities, 

or independent cause of action against the Federal Government. 

INDEX ..................................................................................................................................................... 124
I. INTRODUCTION 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

1. SECTION 504 HANDBOOK 

The Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs & Activities Accessibility 

Handbook (Section 504 Handbook) is a collection of guidelines, information, and procedures to 

ensure that the Commission is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The content of this 

handbook is designed to assist Commission personnel in their efforts to provide such 

accessibility. 

The FCC is committed to fostering an attitude of inclusion and a commitment to access that will 

permeate all Commission programs and activities. While certain aspects of providing access for 

people with disabilities can be clearly visible (sign language interpreters, ramps, and braille 

documents), other aspects may easily pass unnoticed (descriptions of humorous decorations on 

birthday cakes to colleagues who are blind so they can join in the fun, or remembering to stand 

facing co-workers who are hard of hearing so that they can speechread/lipread1

 more easily). 

It would be impossible to list all the aspects of the Commission’s work that may require 

reasonable accommodation to assure access, but the following sections can provide general 

guidance and reminders to help keep accessibility in the forefront of our awareness so that the 

Commission’s programs and activities will be accessible to everyone. 

 

1

 While many people still use the word “lipreading,” experts consider it to be inaccurate. Speechreading is 

the more appropriate term for the process of understanding speech through visual perception of spoken 

language. For more information on speechreading see the Gallaudet University Rehabilitation 

Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Hearing Enhancement at 

http://www.hearingresearch.org/Dr.Ross/speechreading.htm (visited 12/3/02). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ACCESS 

The starting point for providing access is simple courtesy and common sense. If an overarching 

goal of the Commission is to ensure that all interested individuals with disabilities have access 

to the Commission’s programs and activities, then the means for providing access is only a 

matter of mechanics – matching the solution to the need. It is when people with disabilities are 

overlooked as potential or actual consumers that barriers are raised. And, ironically, it is these, 

often unconscious, barriers that can be the hardest to overcome. Remembering the following 

principles when planning and implementing Commission activities and programs can help keep 

access in our consciousness: 

 The Commission, its programs, and activities MUST be accessible. This is mandated by 

statute and by FCC rules.2

 When meetings or events are scheduled, the event planner, or person calling the 

meeting, is responsible for assuring accessibility. The Commission’s Section 504 Officer 

is available for consultation and can assist in determining accessibility needs. 

 Individuals attending events or meetings who need reasonable accommodations must 

inform the meeting/event planner of their needs. However, it is the meeting/event 

planner’s obligation to announce events with sufficient lead time to give attendees an 

opportunity to ask for such accommodations. 

 Individuals with disabilities are the best sources of information regarding the 

accommodations they will need. If you are unsure of what to do, ask the person with a 

disability about his or her preferences. 

 

2

 Rehabilitation Act as amended, section 501, 29 U.S.C. § 791; section 503, 29 U.S.C. § 793; section 504, 

29 U.S.C. § 794; section 508, 29 U.S.C. § 794d. Enforcement of Non-discrimination on the Basis of 

Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Federal Communications Commission, 42 U.S.C. 

§§ 12101 et seq.
 

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3. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act3

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended is the legislation that prohibits federal 

agencies, and other program and activities receiving federal financial assistance, from 

discriminating against individuals with disabilities.4 It is therefore this legislation that most 

directly affects the FCC. 

The Rehabilitation Act is sometimes confused with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)5

which was passed in 1990. While there are many parallels between the Rehabilitation Act and 

the ADA, there are some fundamental differences. Both laws are designed to prohibit 

discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Both share many of the same definitions and 

provisions. However, where the Rehabilitation Act pertains to federal agencies and entities 

receiving federal funding, the ADA applies to State and local governments, public 

accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, telecommunications, and the U.S. 

Congress.6, 7

 

3

 The FCC Order implementing Section 504 can be found in the Appendix of this document. It includes 

definitions of terms and rules governing access to the Commission’s programs and activities. 

4 29 U.S.C. § 794. 

5 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. 

6 U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability Rights 

Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 11/1/02). 

7 For more information see “Disability Rights Laws” beginning on page 64 of this Handbook. 
 

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4. DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT 

 

Disability 

The American disability rights movement was a catalyzing factor in the emergence of 

current disability rights legislation. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of 

American History maintains a Virtual Exhibition featuring the history of the disability 

rights movement in the United States. The following text comes from their display, 

“Disability Rights Movement”8

 and provides a concise summary of the movement and 

issues that led to present day legislation.

The Disability Rights Movement 

The ongoing struggle by people with disabilities to gain full citizenship is an 

important part of our American heritage. The disability rights movement shares 

many similarities with other 20th-century civil rights struggles by those who have 

been denied equality, independence, autonomy, and full access to society. 

Self Definition and Autonomy 

Historically, disabled people have been forced into dependency. Others would 

speak for them, label them, and take care of them -- often with the best intentions. 

As a result of 20th-century developments in biotechnical medicine, by the 1950s, 

more and more people survived formerly fatal injuries and diseases. Efforts by this 

growing population of military veterans and young adults to participate fully in 

society gained momentum. 

They were energized by the struggles of African Americans. Both groups have 

confronted numerous stereotypes in their quest for equality, inclusion in public 

affairs, and sometimes the right simply to live. 

 

Parents Organize 

By the 1940s and 1950s, parent activists had organized to fight for education and 

services for children with disabilities. When these children grew up, they demanded 

to be treated as adults, with all the rights and responsibilities granted to other 

citizens. Their new disability rights movement has sought to overcome 

discrimination and, sometimes, their own parents’ fears and overly protective 

attitudes. 

 

8 Excerpted with compiler edits from Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American 

History, Virtual Exhibitions, “The Disability Rights Movement,” 

http://americanhistory.si.edu/disabilityrights/ (visited 11/1/02).
 

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DISABILITY AND DISABILITY LAWS -- “Disability Rights Movement” (continued) 

The Role of Technology 

Like efforts organized to break [other] barriers...the disability rights movement has 

resulted from people coming together in ways that allow them to compare 

experiences and forge relationships. For the community with disabilities, this has 

taken place primarily in centers for independent living, which started in the 1970s, 

and via the Internet since the 1990s. 

Crucial to the movement’s success is access to information and communication 

through technologies such as telecaptioners, TTY devices for telephones, voicerecognition systems, voice synthesizers, screen readers, and computers. 

Mobility 

The disability civil rights movement had to not only overcome prejudice, but also 

physical barriers that limit access to employment and inclusion in other aspects of 

daily life. 

Activists successfully lobbied for laws that required curb-cuts, ramps, and buses 

with wheelchair lifts. This in turn increased the possibility of economic and social 

mobility. In the 1970s and 1980s, a growing population of consumers with mobility 

impairments fueled demand for wheelchairs and scooters to match their active lives. 

At the same time, barrier-free designs have brought a new aesthetic to public 

spaces. 
II. ACCESSIBILITY 

AND THE FCC 
 

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1. TYPES OF ACCESS REQUESTED 

For purposes of the Section 504 Handbook, accessibility refers to the ability of people with 

disabilities to “participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs or activities conducted by the 

Commission.”9

 For general information on disabilities and access, contact the Commission’s 

Section 504 Officer.10

The accessibility requests we receive, from both the public and FCC staff, tend to fall into the 

following categories: 

Access for people with mobility impairments 

Since the Portals II building is accessible, people with mobility impairments are generally 

able to move throughout the building as they wish. When planning meetings, however, if 

you are expecting participants who use wheelchairs, scooters, canes, crutches, or other 

mobility aids, make sure that the aisles between chairs and/or tables are wide enough to 

allow comfortable passage. 

If your meeting is to take place at a table, make sure that there is room for a wheelchair or 

scooter to pull up. This can be easily accomplished by removing one or two chairs and 

leaving the space open. 

Access for people who are blind or have low vision 

People who are blind or have low vision may request a variety of accommodations. The 

type of accommodation requested depends upon the nature of the material requested, the 

type and severity of the visual impairment, and personal preferences. 

In-house, the Commission is able to produce text documents in large print,11 electronic 

formats,12 braille,13 and some audio formats.14 Requests for other formats, such as 

 

9 47 C.F.R. § 1.1803. 

10 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

11 For more information see page 13 of this Handbook. 

12 The Commission’s Accessible Format Specialist can provide documents in ASCII or MSWord format. 

13 For more information see page 99 of this Handbook. 

14 The Commission’s Accessible Format Specialist can provide documents in RealAudio or MP3 format. 
 

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conversion of graphics into tactilely accessible media or for video description,15 are often 

sent to outside contractors. 

ACCESSIBILITY DEFINED – Types of Access Requested – Access for people who are 

deaf or hard of hearing (continued) 

Access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing 

Generally, people who are deaf or hard of hearing request assistive listening devices,16

captioning,17 CART18 (Communication Access Realtime Translation – similar to captioning 

but confined to a laptop or projection screen), or sign language interpreters.19 

The Commission is equipped with fixed FM assistive listening systems in the Commission 

Meeting Room and in Conference Room 1 on the 8th floor. In addition, there are 2 portable 

FM systems that can be used throughout the building and at remote locations. The systems 

are outfitted with microphones, earphones, and neckloops.20

Captioning, CART, and sign language interpreters are services that are frequently 

contracted from outside vendors. In the DC area, such services are widely used with 

demand often out-stripping supply. As much advance notice as possible is needed to 

assure that appropriate services can be acquired. The Commission also has several sign 

language interpreters on staff who assist in making Commission events accessible. 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may use other accommodations such as oral 

interpreters,21 cued speech transliterators,22 tactile interpreters,23 and notetakers,24 but these 

services are rarely requested at the Commission. 

 

15 For more information see pages 71 & 97 of this Handbook. 

16 For more information see page 86 of this Handbook. 

17 For more information see page 89 of this Handbook. 

18 For more information see page 88 of this Handbook. 

19 For more information see page 82 of this Handbook. 

20 The microphones used with the portable systems transmit only to the assistive listening devices; they 

will not provide amplification to the room. For more information on assistive listening devices, see page 

86. 

21 Some people who are deaf or hard of hearing do not use sign language. They understand speech by 

watching a person’s face, body language, and lips. Oral interpreters are skilled in techniques of mouthing 

words clearly and effectively. For more information on oral interpreting, see the Registry of Interpreters 

for the Deaf at http://www.rid.org/128.pdf (visited 11/27/02). 
 

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ACCESSIBILITY DEFINED – Types of Access Requested (continued) 

Access for people with speech disabilities 

Speech disabilities can be genetically linked or can result from accident, injury, or illness. 

The severity and type of speech disability can vary dramatically as can the communication 

modes individuals choose to use. Some people with speech 

disabilities choose to speak for themselves while others opt for using a re-voicer,25

communication board,26 artificial larynx,27 speech output device,28 or other assistive 

technology to help them be understood. 

 

(...continued from previous page) 

22 Cued Speech is a phonetically based visual communication system; it is not, however, a form of sign 

language. In English, Cued Speech transliterators employ 8 handshapes in 4 different locations near the 

mouth to represent sounds used in spoken language. It is generally used as an adjunct to 

speechreading. For more information, see the National Cued Speech Association at 

http://www.cuedspeech.org/ (visited 12/2/02). 

23 People who are deaf-blind generally receive information tactilely, i.e., through touch. Tactile 

interpreters convey information using various methods, but always in a way that relies on touch. Methods 

employed by tactile interpreters include using sign language (with the person who is deaf-blind resting 

one or both hands on the interpreters hands or wrists), using fingers to trace the letters of words in the 

palm of the person who is deaf-blind, and using the manual alphabet to spell words into the hand of the 

person who is deaf-blind. For more information on deaf-blindness, see the National Information 

Clearinghouse on Children Who are Deaf-Blind at http://www.tr.wou.edu/dblink/biblio.htm (visited 

12/2/02). 

24 Notetakers are people who take notes for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Notetakers may 

be needed because people with significant hearing loss must look at speakers or interpreters to 

understand what is being said. As a result, each time they look down to record a comment, they miss 

information being presented. 

25 A re-voicer is a person who listens to what an individual with a speech disability says, and then repeats 

it in clear speech. 

26 A communication board can be either manual or electronic. It displays letters, pictures, and/or words. 

Individuals communicate by pointing to the images or words. 

27 An artificial larynx is a device designed to allow an individual without a larynx to speak intelligibly. 

While artificial larynx design may vary, the purpose remains the same – to produce the vibrations 

necessary for speech. 

28 Speech output devices produce computer generated speech and vary in appearance and 

design. They are essentially computers with speakers that include a means, such as a 

keyboard or touch screen/pad, for selecting the words or phrases the user would like the 

computer to vocalize. These devices are frequently grouped under the term, augmentative and 

(continued....) 

Section 504 Handbook 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

Regardless of the severity of disability or the method of communication, patience and 

careful listening are of paramount importance. When talking with people who have speech 

disabilities, do not pretend to understand what they are saying. Allow people to complete 

their thoughts; do not presume to end sentences for them. If you 

ACCESSIBILITY DEFINED – Types of Access Requested – Access for people with speech 

disabilities (continued) 

do not understand what has been said, admit it and ask for a repetition. If you are unsure, 

but think you understand part of what has been said, repeat what you thought you heard 

and ask for confirmation. 

Access for people with other disabilities 

Most of the disabilities encountered at the FCC fall into the four categories discussed above. 

However people may have other disabilities or combinations of disabilities. When 

encountering people with any type of disability, but particularly when it is a form of disability 

new to you, remember to focus on the person first, not his or her disability. Use courtesy 

and common sense and ask the person with a disability for his or her advice on how to 

proceed. 

 

(...continued from previous page) 

alternative communication (AAC). For more information on AAC, see the AAC Institute’s 

research paper at 

http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/MethodsandTools/2002rateindex/paper.html (visited 

12/3/02). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

2. CONSIDERATIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACCESS 

Buildings / Rooms / Hallways 

In most cases, federal buildings adhere to the UFAS (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) 

guidelines established by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 

(Access Board).29 The UFAS “sets standards for facility accessibility by physically handicapped 

persons for Federal and federally-funded facilities. These standards are to be applied during 

the design, construction, and alteration of buildings and facilities to the extent required by the 

Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended.”30

Beyond the structural design elements of access, there are practical, everyday decisions that 

Commission staff can make to assure optimal physical access to FCC programs and activities. 

Among the considerations that should be kept in mind are the following: 

▪ Keep aisles and doorways clear. Do not block pathways with boxes, furniture or other 

obstacles. 

 When arranging meeting rooms or seating areas, be sure to allow aisles between tables 

and/or chairs that are wide enough to permit easy passage for wheelchairs, scooters, 

and people using other mobility aids. 

 When placing chairs in pre-arranged seating arrangements, include gaps in the seating 

plan to allow space for people who use wheelchairs or scooters. 

 If accommodations that require user activation are installed in the building -- for 

example, chair lifts that require keys to operate them – make sure that the key or other 

means of activation is easily available for users with disabilities. It does little good to 

have a lift installed if the key that is required to operate it is in an office on the other side 

of the lift! Keep in mind that lifts and other similar aids must be easily accessible in both 

directions, i.e., “coming” and “going.” 

 Do not assume that all people with similar disabilities will want identical 

accommodations. If you are unsure of what to do, ask the person with a disability for 

guidance. 

3. CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMATION ACCESS 

 

29 The Access Board, Accessibility Guidelines and Standards, Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard 

(UFAS), http://www.access-board.gov/ufas/ufas-html/ufas.htm (visited 11/1/02). 

30 Id., Section 1 “Purpose.” 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

Forms / Public information / Complaints / Media, etc. 

When developing forms, publications, press releases, solicitations for consumer input, or other 

information gathering or disseminating tools and processes, be sure to consider the accessibility 

of both the content and the medium you elect to use. 

 Choose a font style and size that is easy to read.31

There are no hard and fast rules guiding the selection of font styles and sizes. In fact, 

publication manuals and guidelines vary dramatically in their rules and preferences. 

There is, however, some general agreement on the following principles: 

• For print documents, serif fonts are easier to read. Serif fonts have little “feet” 

attached to each letter; Times New Roman is an example of a serif font.32 

• For electronic displays, sans serif fonts are easier to read. Sans serif fonts lack the 

little “feet” attached to each letter; Arial is an example of a sans serif font.33

• For large print, the size of type required will vary with the needs of the reader. For 

generically produced large print, a font size of 16 to 18 is preferred.34

 Use high contrast colors when possible. It may be difficult for people with low vision to 

see information that is presented in colors that do not contrast strongly. 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMATION ACCESS (continued) 

 Remember that approximately 7% of all males have some form of red-green 

colorblindness; this condition only affects .4% of women. For many people with 

 

31 For additional guidelines, see, NASA Glenn Research Center: Usability Research Team, Design 

Guidelines, “Text, Fonts and Readability,” http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/usability/textfontcss.html

(visited 11/19/02). 

32 UCSB Linguistics, People, Linguistics faculty, Susanna Cumming: Guides, “Word for Linguists,” 

“Typography,” “Basic Typographical Principles,” 

http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/faculty/cumming/WordForLinguists/Typography.htm (visited 11/19/02). 

33 NASA Glenn Research Center: Usability Research Team, Design Guidelines, “Text, Fonts and 

Readability,” http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/usability/textfontcss.html (visited 11/19/02). 

34 Lighthouse International, Vision Resources, Low Vision, “Making Text Visible: Designing for People with 

Partial Sight.” http://www.lighthouse.org/print_leg.htm (visited 11/18/02). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 14 

Section 504 Handbook 

this disorder, red and green look essentially alike.35 Keep this in mind when designing 

color documents.36

 Remember to include an accessibility statement in any documents you disseminate. For 

further guidance, see the “Disseminating News Releases, Public Notices, Texts, and 

Other Documents” section of this Handbook beginning on page 32. 

 Existing documents that are not in accessible format for either the public (e.g., those 

mentioned above) or staff (e.g., personnel records, Federal forms), must be made 

accessible for people with disabilities upon request. 

If a person with a disability contacts you asking for assistance with Commission 

information or resources, help them to the best of your ability. If you find that you are 

unable to satisfy their need, and the request is not related to web access, ask them to 

send an e-mail to: fcc504@fcc.gov or contact the Commission’s Section 504 Officer.37 

 

For further guidance on web accessibility and information disseminated via the 

internet, contact the Commission’s Section 508 Officer.38

 

 

35 Seeing, Hearing and Smelling the World: A Report from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 

“Breaking the Code of Color: Color Blindness: More Prevalent Among Males,” 

http://www.hhmi.org/senses/b130.html (visited 11/1/02). 

36 Lighthouse International, Vision Resources, Low Vision, “Effective Color Contrast: Designing for People 

with Partial Sight and Color Deficiencies,” (visited 11/18/02). 

37 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

38 Id.
 

Winter 2003 Page 15 

Section 504 Handbook 

4. CONSIDERATIONS FOR STAFF ACTIVITIES 

Office parties / Holiday celebrations / Federally recognized employee organizations39 / 

etc. 

Remember that people with disabilities are also members of the FCC staff.40 All programs or 

activities should be planned with an eye to ensuring access for anyone who would like to attend. 

 When disseminating FCC generated notices, distributing flyers, or making posters, be 

sure to include an accessibility statement. Remember that the “host” of the event 

assumes responsibility for arranging for accommodations for people with disabilities. 

For further guidance, see the “Meetings, Documents, Training” section of this Handbook 

on pages 21-39. 

 When broadcast messages are sent via voice mail system, make sure the information is 

shared with staff members who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

 

39 Federally recognized employee organizations include groups such as BIG (Blacks in Government) and 

FAPAC (Federal Asian Pacific American Council). 

40 Access for federal employees with disabilities is addressed in Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 

U.S.C. § 791, and implementing regulation, 29 C.F.R. §1614.203. The Commission’s Office of Workplace 

Diversity has responsibility for Section 501 issues. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 16 

Section 504 Handbook 

5. CONSIDERATIONS FOR SAFETY 

Building Evacuation 

 Remember that people who are deaf or hard of hearing may not be able to hear broadcasts 

over the public address system or verbal instructions from building monitors or security 

officers. Rumors or instructions passed by word of mouth are also likely to be missed by a 

person who is deaf or hard of hearing. If you know of someone in your area who is deaf or 

hard of hearing, make sure that you pass along information about emergency situations. 

 Remember that people who are blind cannot see you. Before attempting to help people who 

are blind, introduce yourself and ask them if they would like assistance. If they accept your 

offer of help, allow them to take your arm; do not push or drag them along with you. If you 

are uncertain about what to do, ask the person how they would like to proceed. 

 People who have low vision have varying levels of sight -- some may be able to discern 

shapes, others may only be able to identify areas that are light or dark, still others may have 

tunnel vision, or may be able to see only in areas with bright lighting. Before helping 

someone who appears to have vision problems, ask if they would like help. If they accept 

your offer of assistance, ask the person how they would like to proceed. 

 There are established procedures for evacuating people who have significant mobility 

impairments. Evacuation chairs and trained personnel are strategically located throughout 

the building. During an emergency, contact one of the safety monitors stationed in the 

elevator lobbies if such services are needed. Consult the Emergency Evacuation 

Procedures document on the FCC intranet (http://intranet.fcc.gov/) for more detailed 

instructions. 

Security Issues 

 When giving directions in emergency or high stress situations, do not assume that people 

who are non-responsive are being uncooperative. 

• People who are deaf or hard of hearing may be unable to hear spoken instructions. 

Even people who have substantial residual hearing may have difficulty hearing 

instructions coming from behind them or orders given in areas with background noise 

such as fire alarms or the chatter from crowds of people.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SAFETY-- Security issues (continued) 

• People who are blind or have low vision may not see gestures or other visual cues 

indicating where they should go or what they should do. 

▪ When going through standard security screening procedures in the Portals II building, it is 

helpful to inform people who are blind of the process they are about to experience. Give 
 

Winter 2003 Page 17 

Section 504 Handbook 

verbal cues as to where to place items for inspection and how to pass through the metal 

detectors.

▪ Remember that some people with disabilities have assistive devices that are not easily 

removed. Some devices, such as cochlear implants to improve hearing or metal rods to 

strengthen bones, are surgically implanted and cannot be taken off or detached . Be aware 

that such devices may set off metal detectors and be prepared to use courtesy and good 

judgment in dealing with such situations. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 18 

Section 504 Handbook 

6. CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS 

Contracting / Acquisitions / Services / Equipment, etc. 

All of the Commission’s programs and activities must be accessible to people with 

disabilities. This includes programs and activities offered by the Commission through 

contracts or other arrangements.41 Agreements between the Commission and other entities for 

the provision of programs or activities should be carefully written to ensure that access for 

people with disabilities is explicitly required in the statement of work. 

 

41 47 C.F.R. § 1.1830(b)(3)-(6). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 19 

Section 504 Handbook 

This page is intentionally blank.
III. 

MEETINGS 

 DOCUMENTS 

 TRAINING
 

Winter 2003 Page 21 

Section 504 Handbook 

 

1. INTERNAL FCC MEETINGS 

If your meeting is open to all FCC staff... 

 AND is scheduled in the Commission Meeting Room... 

▪ Be sure that you arrange for captioning. Meetings intended for all Commission 

staff, scheduled in the Commission Meeting Room, should be captioned. Contact 

the Commission Audio Visual Center,42 Office of Media Relations, to arrange for 

captioning services. Be sure to allow as much lead time as possible. Captioning 

services are in high demand and may not be available without sufficient notice.43

▪ Include a reasonable accommodation statement in all announcements and 

publicity, including all invitations, flyers, posters, e-mails, advertisements, etc. 

Model statement: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for 

people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the 

accommodation you will need including as much detail as you can. Also include a way 

we can contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as 

possible; please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last minute requests will be 

accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full 

week in advance.

 

42 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

43 If services have already been arranged for a meeting that must be rescheduled, please notify the Audio 

Visual Center staff as soon as possible. The Commission is obligated to pay in full for services canceled 

without appropriate advanced notice. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 22 

Section 504 Handbook 

INTERNAL FCC MEETINGS (continued) 

If your meeting is open to all FCC staff... 

AND is scheduled for a location other than the Commission Meeting Room 

▪ Include a reasonable accommodation statement in all announcements and 

publicity, including all invitations, flyers, posters, e-mails, advertisements, etc. 

Model statement: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. 

Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as 

you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please 

allow at least 5 days advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be 

impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & 

Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full 

week in advance.
 

Winter 2003 Page 23 

Section 504 Handbook 

INTERNAL FCC MEETINGS (continued) 

If your meeting is for a limited FCC audience... (division meeting, internal task force, 

committee, etc.) 

 AND you know the attendees 

Be sure to request accommodations44 (e.g., captioning, accessible formats, sign 

language interpreters, etc.) you know will be needed as far in advance as possible. 

 

 AND you DON’T know the attendees 

▪ Include a reasonable accommodation statement in your invitation or 

announcement. 

Model statement: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. 

Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as 

you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Make 

your request as early as possible; please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last 

minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to 

fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full 

week in advance.

 

44 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 24 

Section 504 Handbook 

INTERNAL FCC MEETINGS (continued) 

If your meeting requires pre-registration... 

▪ Be sure your registration form includes an option for requesting accommodations. 

 

Model accommodation request section: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

 

I need the following reasonable accommodation: 

□ Accessible Format (Please specify below) 

 __ Audiocassette (analog) 

 __ Braille 

 __ Large Print 

 __ Digital Audio Recording 

 Please circle one: 3.5” Floppy Disk, CD, E-mail attachment 

 Please circle one: MP3, RealAudio 

 __ Digital Text 

 Please circle one: 3.5” Floppy Disk, CD, E-mail attachment 

 Please circle one: ASCII, MSWord 

 __ Other (Please specify) 

 □ Sign Language Interpreter 

 □ CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) 

 □ Assistive Listening Device 

 □ Other (please specify) 

▪ As soon as a request for accommodation is received, consult the chart on page 45 of 

this Handbook and forward the request to the appropriate person. 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full week in 

advance.
 

Winter 2003 Page 25 

Section 504 Handbook 

2. MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES 

If your meeting is a Commission Open Meeting... 

▪ Display open captioning on both screens in the Commission Meeting Room, the 

hallway monitors, the internet webcast, and the Commission’s closed circuit television 

broadcast.45 Contact the Commission Audio Visual Center,46 Office of Media Relations, to 

arrange for captioning services.

▪ Provide Sign language interpreters.47 The interpreters will be expected to interpret for the 

duration of the proceedings regardless of whether deaf attendees are readily identified. 

Interpreters are not required to interpret for the Press Conference following the Open 

Meeting UNLESS they are requested to do so by a deaf consumer or by Commission staff. 

▪ Supply agendas in both braille and large print.48

▪ Note in the Sunshine Notice that the above accommodations will be provided and 

indicate how other accommodations can be acquired. 

 Model notice: 

 Reasonable Accommodations 

The meeting site is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. 

Meeting agendas and handouts will be provided in accessible formats; sign language 

interpreters, open captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided on site. The 

meeting will be webcast with open captioning [note web address]. Request other reasonable 

accommodations for people with disabilities as early as possible; please allow at least 5 days 

advance notice. Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much 

detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Last 

minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to: 

fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 

(voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full week in 

advance.

 

45 With advance notice to the Audio Visual Center, FCC staff can request that captioned text of an event 

be saved in MSWord format for use as reference material. Such text files are generally distributed by the 

Audio Visual Center staff within 2 business days of the event and are intended for internal use. 

46 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

47 Id. 

48 Id.
 

Winter 2003 Page 26 

Section 504 Handbook 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES (continued) 

If your meeting is a public meeting with no pre-registration required... 

▪ Be sure that you arrange for captioning. Meetings open to the general public, scheduled 

in the Commission Meeting Room, should be captioned. Meeting planners should contact 

the Audio Visual Center,49 Office of Media Relations, to arrange for captioning services. Be 

sure to allow as much lead time as possible. Captioning services are in high demand and 

may not be available without sufficient notice.50

▪ Include a reasonable accommodation statement in all announcements and publicity, 

including all invitations, flyers, posters, e-mails, advertisements, etc. 

 Model statement: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for 

people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the 

accommodation you will need including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we 

can contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible; 

please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may 

be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & 

Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov

 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full week in 

advance.

▪ Notify the Security Operations Center51 if you expect visitors with disabilities 

Advance notice allows the Operations Center to assign sufficient security staff to screen 

visitors. It also allows security officers to prepare themselves for alternative communication 

modes and reminds them to expect visitors with assistive devices that may require special 

handling when going through metal detectors. 

 

49 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

50 If services have already been arranged for a meeting that must be rescheduled, please notify the Audio 

Visual Center staff as soon as possible. The Commission is obligated to pay in full for services canceled 

with less than 48 hours notice. 

51 For specific Security contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 46 of this 

Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 27 

Section 504 Handbook 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES (continued) 

If your meeting is open to a limited public audience... 

 AND you know the attendees 

Be sure to request accommodations52 (e.g., captioning, accessible formats, sign 

language interpreters, etc.) you know will be needed as far in advance as possible. 

 

 AND you DON’T know the attendees 

▪ Include a reasonable accommodation statement in your invitation or announcement. 

 Model statement: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. 

Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as 

you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Make 

your request as early as possible; please allow at least 5 days advance notice. Last 

minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to 

fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full 

week in advance. 

▪ Notify the Security Operations Center53 if you expect visitors with disabilities. 

Advance notice allows the Operations Center to assign sufficient security staff to 

screen visitors. It also allows security officers to prepare themselves for alternative 

communication modes and reminds them to expect visitors with assistive devices 

that may require special handling when going through metal detectors. 

 

52 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

53 For specific Security contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 46 of this 

Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 28 

Section 504 Handbook 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES (continued) 

If your meeting focuses on issues you expect to be of interest to people with disabilities... 

▪ Display open captioning on both screens in the Commission Meeting Room, the 

hallway monitors, the internet webcast, and the Commission’s closed circuit television 

broadcast.54 Contact the Commission Audio Visual Center,55 Office of Media Relations, to 

arrange for captioning services.

▪ Supply agendas and handouts produced in braille and large print.56

▪ Sign language interpreters.57 At the beginning of the event, if you are unsure whether deaf 

consumers are in attendance, consult with the interpreters to see if they are aware of any 

deaf attendees. If they are also unsure, make an announcement from the podium noting that 

interpreters are available and inquiring if there are any attendees who wish to use their 

services. Naturally, the interpreter will be expected to interpret this announcement. If no 

consumers indicate a need, the interpreter may retire to an agreed upon location to await any 

subsequent request. If a registration desk is used, it is an ideal place for the interpreters to 

sit, identified with a sign reading: Sign Language Interpreters. Late arrivers will then have the 

opportunity to note the availability of interpreters while they are signing in. If there is no 

registration desk, then position the interpreters near the entrance to the meeting room or in 

some other highly visible area. 

Sample wording for announcement of interpreter availability: 

Sign language interpreters are available for this meeting. Although we have had no requests 

for interpreting services, we would like to make sure that we are meeting the needs of all 

attendees. If there is anyone currently in attendance who needs the services of an 

interpreter, please so indicate to the interpreter. [pause for response] 

Thank you. [continue with meeting content] 

▪ The Public Notice should note that the above accommodations will be provided and 

should indicate how other accommodations can be acquired. 

 

54 If services have already been arranged for a meeting that must be rescheduled, please notify the Audio 

Visual Center staff as soon as possible. The Commission is obligated to pay in full for services canceled 

without appropriate advanced notice. 

55 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

56 For more information on media used during presentations, see the section on “Hosting Accessible 

Meetings and Events -- Audio and Visual Media” beginning on page 35 of this Handbook. For specific 

contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

57 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 29 

Section 504 Handbook 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES -- If Your Meeting Focuses on Issues You Expect 

to be of Interest to People With Disabilities (continued) 

 Model notice: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

The meeting site is fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. 

Meeting agendas and handouts will be provided in accessible formats; sign language 

interpreters, open captioning, and assistive listening devices will be provided on site. The 

meeting will be webcast with open captioning [note web address]. Request other 

reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities as early as possible; please allow at 

least 5 days advance notice. Include a description of the accommodation you will need 

including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need 

more information. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. 

Send an e-mail to: fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 

202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full week in 

advance.

▪ Notify the Security Operations Center58 if you expect visitors with disabilities 

Advance notice allows the Operations Center to assign sufficient security staff to screen 

visitors. It also allows security officers to prepare themselves for alternative communication 

modes and reminds them to expect visitors with assistive devices that may require special 

handling when going through metal detectors. 

Don’t know if your issues are of interest to people with disabilities? 

If you are unsure whether your meeting topic is of interest to the disability community, 

consult the Chief of the Disability Rights Office.59 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES (continued) 

 

58 For specific Security contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 46 of this 

Handbook. 

59 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 30 

Section 504 Handbook 

If your meeting requires pre-registration... 

▪ Be sure your registration form includes an option for requesting accommodations. 

Model accommodation request section: 

Reasonable Accommodations 

 

I need the following reasonable accommodation: 

□ Accessible Format (Please specify below) 

 __ Audiocassette (analog) 

 __ Braille 

 __ Large Print 

 __ Digital Audio Recording 

 Please circle one: 3.5” Floppy Disk, CD, E-mail attachment 

 Please circle one: MP3, RealAudio 

 __ Digital Text 

 Please circle one: 3.5” Floppy Disk, CD, E-mail attachment 

 Please circle one: ASCII, MSWord 

 __ Other (Please specify) 

 □ Sign Language Interpreter 

 □ CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) 

 □ Assistive Listening Device 

 □ Other (please specify) 

▪ As soon as a request for accommodation is received, consult the chart on page 45 of 

this Handbook and forward the request to the appropriate person. 

▪ Make sure that your first public announcement is released at least one full week in 

advance.
 

Winter 2003 Page 31 

Section 504 Handbook 

MEETINGS WITH NON-FCC ATTENDEES -- If your meeting requires pre-registration 

(continued) 

▪ Notify the Security Operations Center60 if you expect visitors with disabilities 

Advance notice allows the Operations Center to assign sufficient security staff to screen 

visitors. It also allows security officers to prepare themselves for alternative communication 

modes and reminds them to expect visitors with assistive devices that may require special 

handling when going through metal detectors. 

 

60 For specific Security contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 46 of this 

Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 32 

Section 504 Handbook 

3. DISSEMINATING NEWS RELEASES, PUBLIC NOTICES, TEXTS, AND OTHER 

DOCUMENTS 

▪ Include an accessible format statement in your releases. 

 Model statement: 

Accessible Formats 

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, 

electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov . 

▪ Make sure that you indicate the web address consumers can use to get an electronic 

copy. Follow the Commission’s Section 508 Guidelines to assure appropriate web formats 

for your information. For more details on Section 508, contact the Commission’s Section 

508 Officer.61 

 

61 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 33 

Section 504 Handbook 

4. HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS 

Hosting successful meetings or events62 requires cooperation between event planners, 

chairpersons, emcees, moderators, coordinators, and attendees. The following hosting 

responsibilities and guidelines can help produce accessible events that comply with Section 504 

requirements. 

Opening announcements 

 Announce the availability of any accommodations that are in place. Example: “For the 

[event name] today, we have the following accessibility services available [mention those 

actually in place for the event, e.g., sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices 

(ALDs), CART and/or captioning.] Also, agendas and handouts are available in large print, 

electronic format, and braille. If anyone needs assistance in locating where these services 

are being provided please let [identify any Commission staff who can assist in getting 

attendees the appropriate service(s) or products—ask the Commission staff identified to 

stand] know.” 

 

 Provide verbal directions to accessible restroom facilities. For example, if the meeting 

is being held in the Commission Meeting Room, give directions similar to the following: 

“Accessible restrooms are located on the 12th Street level (this floor) at the following 

location: When exiting the Commission Meeting Room use the exit on the far right (or on 

the left, depending on where the speaker is located). Continue straight forward from the exit 

door for about 40 feet, then turn at the first corridor to the left. Restrooms are located 

immediately on your left, first the Men’s then the Women’s restrooms.” 

 Provide verbal directions to any other amenities attendees may need to know about; 

e.g., area delis/restaurants, payphones, TTYs, ATMs. 

Meeting moderators 

 Introduce all speakers and panelists verbally by name. An alternative method is to ask 

the speakers/panelists to take turns introducing themselves. 

 Make it a practice to recognize individuals who would like to take the floor. 

• This will avoid situations where several people attempt to speak at the same time. This 

is both good meeting practice and an aid to interpreters, CART writers, and captioners 

who are only able to render the comments of one speaker at a time. 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS – Meeting Moderators: Recognizing 

individuals who would like to take the floor (continued) 

 

62 In this section, the words, “meeting” and “event” will be used interchangeably to indicate assemblies 

under the auspices of the FCC. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 34 

Section 504 Handbook 

• This will identify the speaker for attendees who are blind or have low vision as well as for 

CART writers, captioners, and sign language interpreters. 

• A variation that is often used, particularly for events with attendees who are blind or have 

low vision, is to ask speakers to identify themselves each time they make a comment. 

This also is of benefit to captioners, CART writers, sign language interpreters, and 

members of the audience using these accommodations. 

• Since there is always a time lag between the time captioners, interpreters, and CART 

writers hear a message and are able to translate it, people who depend upon their 

services receive such information at a point slightly behind hearing participants. This 

frequently puts people who are deaf and hard of hearing at a disadvantage when trying 

to make a point or to respond to a question. By the time the question or issue is 

conveyed to them, others have already begun answering. By controlling access to the 

floor, the moderator can provide more equitable opportunities for comment and 

response. 

 Verbally acknowledge any speakers/panelists joining the meeting while in progress, 

or leaving the meeting before it ends. [For example: “We’ve just been joined by Alex Bell 

from FCC Corp....glad to have you with us!” (Give Alex a chance to respond briefly. This 

will orient people who are blind or have low vision to his location and to his voice.) Then 

return to the discussion at hand.] 

 If the public address system is not working properly, interrupt the speaker, reminding 

them to wait until the microphone is working correctly and repeat their comments 

using the working public address system. Participants relying on ALDs, sign language 

interpreters, captioning, and CART text will miss the information if it does not come through 

the PA system. 

 Remember to be patient. It will take extra time for individuals with speech disabilities 

or individuals using sign language interpreters, captioning, or CART to fully 

participate in discussions. Participants with speech disabilities may require additional 

time to complete their comments. And, individuals using sign language interpreters, 

captions, and CART, experience delays in receiving information as well as expressing 

comments. On average, there is a 1-10 second delay between the time a comment is 

uttered and the time the complete sign language interpretation is presented. Similarly, there 

is a 1-15 second delay for the complete captioned or CART text to appear. There is a 

similar delay when a response is expressed in sign language and interpreted into speech. 

Thus, asking a question or soliciting comments and then quickly selecting the first person to 

raise a hand or shout out a response, does not allow those experiencing time delays an 

opportunity to participate. It also discriminates against those who require more time to 

express themselves. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 35 

Section 504 Handbook 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS – Meeting Moderators (continued) 

 If the text of any handout or A/V presentation is not available in accessible formats 

(i.e., Braille, electronic text file, audio recording), announce to the audience how to 

obtain a copy in an accessible format. Example: “We regret that the [document, 

PowerPoint presentation, agenda, etc.] is not available in braille, large print, or electronic 

text. However, anyone in the audience can contact the Commission’s Accessible Format 

Specialist, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, to obtain a copy in the format you 

prefer. You can send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov.” 

 Be aware of any changes to the physical environment. If at any time before, during, or 

after the meeting, pathways or aisles become blocked for wheelchair access, move the 

barrier or designate someone to do so as soon as possible. Also, if the layout of the 

meeting room is changed during the meeting (for example, tables/chairs moved in a different 

configuration, additional equipment brought in, etc.), announce the changes or additions to 

the audience and warn them of hazards associated with the change(s)/addition(s), (e.g., 

power cords, cables, etc.) This will be especially helpful for attendees who are blind or have 

low vision. Example: “Just so that everyone is aware, we’ll need to change the location of 

some of the tables during the break in order to accommodate the equipment coming in for 

the next session. Also, please be aware that in order for the equipment to operate, there will 

be a power cord/cable that will be taped to the carpet that will run across the aisle. So 

please exercise caution when walking in the aisle area or close to the equipment when it is 

set up.” 

 Always describe any changes to preprinted agendas, handouts, or other materials.

 When an acronym that is not commonly known to the general public is first used, be 

sure to pause the discussion momentarily, giving the spelling and/or meaning of the 

acronym. Not only will this be helpful to the audience, but will also be of invaluable 

assistance in providing accurate information to sign language interpreters, captioners, and 

CART writers. Example: “Excuse me. Just to help clarify what ‘Nancy’ is — it’s the acronym 

for the North American Numbering Council, N-A-N-C, which is often pronounced, ‘Nancy.” It 

is ... [provide explanation].” 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS (continued) 

Audio and visual media 
 

Winter 2003 Page 36 

Section 504 Handbook 

Organizers and planners of Commission meetings must make sure that all attendees, 

including individuals with disabilities, are not “excluded from participation in,” or “denied the 

benefits of” meetings and events.63 In order to ensure that everyone can participate in and 

benefit from the meeting or event, it is vital that the organizer know, to the extent possible, 

what audio/visual presentations64 will be used. 

Presenters with printed handouts or audio/visual media... 

AND people with disabilities are expected 

 Inform the presenters of the Commission’s obligation to provide access to people with 

disabilities. Ask the presenters whether printed handouts or audio/visual elements will 

be included in their respective presentations. If such materials will be in use, then... 

In advance of the meeting, request a copy of the media that presenters plan to use -- 

printed handouts, audio/visual elements, etc. If available, an electronic version is 

preferred. 

• For conversion of print and other textual media to braille, large print, electronic text, 

or audio format, contact the Commission’s Accessible Format Specialist, Consumer 

& Governmental Affairs Bureau, fcc504@fcc.gov. 

- When using slides or other graphic displays that do not include textual content 

(for example pictures, drawings, unlabeled charts, etc.), please provide a 

description of the key visual elements; include an explanation of any special 

significance implied by the manner of presentation. For example, if a parody of a 

company logo is displayed, note that it is a satirical depiction of Company X’s 

logo. Then proceed to describe what the image looks like. 

- If possible, submit materials at least 5 business days prior to the date they are 

needed so that the conversion to accessible format can be completed by the day 

of the event. 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS – Audio and visual media – Presenters 

with printed handouts...AND people with disabilities expected (continued) 

 For consultation regarding video or other non-text media that is not captioned, contact 

the Commission’s Section 504 Officer, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, 202-

418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty), fcc504@fcc.gov to determine the arrangements 

needed to assure access. Please allow as much lead time as possible. 

 

63 47 C.F.R. § 1.1830(a). 

64 Audio/visual presentations can include, but are not limited to, the following: video presentations; audio 

clips; slides; overhead transparencies; PowerPoint or similar electronic presentations; diagrams or writing 

displayed on a poster, flipchart, whiteboard, or chalkboard.
 

Winter 2003 Page 37 

Section 504 Handbook 

▪ Remind presenters and event moderators that information contained in working 

documents, flipcharts, posters, and visual aids must be read or described in order for the 

information to be accessible to the entire audience. 

• If, as a group, you are editing or revising a document, be sure to re-read any 

sections or contextual material necessary to convey to the group the full impact of 

the change(s) to be made. 

• If you are exhibiting a diagram or model, be sure to describe the individual parts as 

well as any interactions or changes that are being shown. If animation or special 

effects are being used, be sure to describe those as well. 

Presenters with printed handouts or audio/visual media... 

AND it is unknown if people with disabilities will attend... 

 Inform the presenters of the Commission’s obligation to provide access to people with 

disabilities. Ask the presenters whether printed handouts or audio/visual elements will 

be included in their presentations. If such materials will be in use, then.... 

• Request that presenters have copies of the media they plan to use readily available 

in the event that people with disabilities should request accommodations. Inform the 

presenter that if a request for accommodation is received, they will be asked to 

forward a copy of their presentation materials to the Commission immediately so that 

we may convert them into accessible format. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 38 

Section 504 Handbook 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS (continued) 

If you are invited to speak at a non-FCC event... 

 AND have handouts or audio/visual presentations... 

Check with the event planner to find out whether the sponsoring organization has made 

arrangements for accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 

 If the hosts HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS for accommodations... 

▪ Have copies of handouts and audio/visual media ready for your hosts so that they 

can have them produced in accessible format. 

▪ If interpreters are being provided and you would like some guidelines on how to work 

with them, see the section on sign language interpreters beginning on page 82. 

If the hosts HAVE NOT MADE ARRANGEMENTS for accommodations or do not 

know if people with disabilities plan to attend... 

▪ Be prepared to read or describe any document or A/V presentation you will be 

sharing. 

• If the group is editing or revising a document, be sure to re-read any sections or 

contextual material necessary to convey to the group the full impact of the 

change(s) to be made. 

• If you are exhibiting a diagram or model, be sure to describe the individual parts 

as well as any interactions or changes that are being shown. If animation or 

special effects are being used, be sure to describe those as well. 

▪ If you would like to have copies of your materials in accessible format (braille, large 

print, electronic text, or audio formats) to take with you to your presentation, send the 

document (preferably in electronic format) to the Commission’s Accessible Format 

Specialist, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, fcc504@fcc.gov, at least 5 

business days prior to your departure date. 

When submitting slides or other graphic displays that do not include textual content 

(for example pictures, drawings, unlabeled charts, etc.) for conversion to accessible 

format, please provide a description of the key visual elements; include an 

explanation of any special significance implied by the manner of presentation. For 

example, if a parody of a company logo is displayed, note that it is a satirical 

depiction of Company X’s logo. Then proceed to describe what the image looks like. 

HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS – IF YOU ARE INVITED TO SPEAK AT A NONFCC EVENT AND HAVE HANDOUTS OR AUDIO/VISUAL PRESENTATIONS – If the hosts have NOT 

made arrangements for accommodations (continued)
 

Winter 2003 Page 39 

Section 504 Handbook 

▪ If you do not have accessible copies of your materials with you, state at the 

beginning of your presentation that your materials can be provided in accessible 

format upon request. Ask audience members who need such formats to supply you 

with the following information: 

- Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address 

- Specific materials they would like converted to accessible format 

- Type of accessible format they are requesting 

Forward the consumer’s information along with copies of the document(s) they are 

requesting (preferably in electronic format) to the Commission’s Accessible Format 

Specialist, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, fcc504@fcc.gov. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 40 

Section 504 Handbook 

5. AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA PRODUCED OR OWNED BY THE COMMISSION 

Video formats (Videotape, CD, DVD, etc.) 

Captioning 

▪ Video media owned or produced by the Commission that is intended for use by either 

staff or the public must be captioned. The captioning may be either open or closed. 

▪ When video is offered for sale with captions, the Commission must purchase the 

captioned version. 

▪ For items that are not available for purchase with captions, or for items given to the 

Commission without captions, the Commission must assure that captioning will be 

added at the earliest opportunity. 

▪ Comments for the record on video that are accompanied by a transcript need not be 

captioned. 

Video description 

▪ Video description is encouraged for visual media held or produced by the Commission 

and will be provided upon request. Retention and maintenance of video described 

versions of recordings should parallel that of non-video described versions. 

Audio recordings 

Audio recordings that are owned by the Commission and that are intended for use by either staff 

or the public must have written transcripts available upon request. Transcripts may be 

produced when requested and need not be prepared in advance. Once produced, however, the 

retention and maintenance of transcripts should parallel that of the audio recording. 

To arrange for captioning or video description or to discuss your media options... 

Contact fcc504@fcc.gov or call: 

 Accessible Format Specialist, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

fcc504@fcc.gov

Section 504 Officer, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 
 

Winter 2003 Page 41 

Section 504 Handbook 

6. TRAINING 

FCC Training 

All FCC sponsored training must be accessible to people with disabilities. Training 

announcements should include an accessibility statement. 

Model statement: 

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a 

description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as you can. Also 

include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least 5 days 

advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 

 For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations: 

202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty) 

For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 

fcc504@fcc.gov

FCC University 

To request reasonable accommodations for FCC University courses, contact the Chief of the 

Learning and Development Service Center.65

 

 

65 For specific FCC University contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 46 of this 

Handbook. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 42 

Section 504 Handbook 

TRAINING (continued) 

FCC Contracted training 

Entities contracting with the FCC to provide training are obliged to comply with the requirements 

of the Rehabilitation Act66 and the FCC Section 504 Rules.67 It is expected that trainers will: 

▪ Use only captioned video media whenever possible. 

▪ Comply with reasonable accommodation requests from students including, but not limited 

to: 

• Providing print materials in braille, large print, or electronic format (Materials can be 

submitted to the Commission’s Accessible Format Specialist for transcription.) 

• Reading or describing visual objects, displays, or projections used in class 

• Adjusting the classroom to allow appropriate lines of sight and/or physical access. 

• Provide transcripts of any audio media used in connection with the class. 

• Distribute any oral quizzes or tests in print format. 

• Provide print quizzes or tests in audio format. 

External training 

Commission employees participating in external training are expected to complete FCC Training 

Form 182e. Box 9 allows applicants to indicate the accommodations needed. Generally 

speaking, it is the responsibility of the entity offering the training to provide the accommodations. 

It is the employee’s responsibility to make their reasonable accommodation needs known. 

 

66 29 U.S.C. § 794. 

67 47 C.F.R. § 1.1801-1.1870.
 

Winter 2003 Page 43 

Section 504 Handbook 

This page is intentionally blank. 
IV. REASONABLE 

ACCOMMODATION 

PROCEDURES 
 

Winter 2003 Page 45 

Section 504 Handbook 

1. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS 

If you receive a request for reasonable accommodations... 

That is, a request for services that will allow someone with a disability to access the programs 

and activities of the Commission, IMMEDIATELY forward that information to one of the following 

people. Be sure to note contact information for the requestor (name, telephone number, and/or 

e-mail address) as well as a description of their request. 

If you have questions about: Contact: 

Legal Aspects of Disability Thomas Chandler, Chief, Disability Rights Office 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

202-418-1475 / 202-418-0597 tty y

Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov

Reasonable Accommodations 

 Sign Language Interpreters 

 CART (Communication Access 

Realtime Translation) 

 Physical Access 

Transcribing sign language submitted in 

video format into English 

Helen Chang, Section 504 Officer 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

202-418-0424 / 202-418-0432 tty y

Helen.Chang@fcc.gov

Captioning 

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) 

Daniel Oliver, Audio Visual Production Manager 

Office of Media Relations 

202-418-0460 y Dann.Oliver@fcc.gov

Accessible Format 

Braille / Large Print / Electronic Files / 

Audio Format 

Transcribing documents submitted in 

accessible format into print 

Accessible Format Specialist 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

fcc504@fcc.gov

Section 508 Issues 

 Access to electronic data, resources, 

 and equipment 

Rosalind Singleton, Section 508 Officer 

Office of Managing Director 

202-418-2850 y Rosalind.Singleton@fcc.gov

Section 501 Issues 

 Workplace accommodations for FCC 

staff who have temporary or 

permanent disabilities 

Barbara Douglas, Director 

Office of Workplace Diversity 

202-418-7589 y Barbara.Douglas@fcc.gov 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS (continued) 
 

Winter 2003 Page 46 

Section 504 Handbook 

If you have questions about: Contact: 

Security Issues Eric Botker, Manager 

Security Operations Center 

202-418-7884 y Eric.Botker@fcc.gov

(when sending e-mail, please cc: 

Mary Long, Mary.Long@fcc.gov and 

Richard Blackmon, Richard.Blackmon@fcc.gov) 

FCC University Jerry Liebes, Chief 

Learning and Development Service Center 

Office of Managing Director 

202-418-1582 y Jerry.Liebes@fcc.gov 

Other Disability Issues Helen Chang, Section 504 Officer 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

202-418-0424 / 202-418-0432 tty y

Helen.Chang@fcc.gov 
 

Winter 2003 Page 47 

Section 504 Handbook 

2. FCC504@FCC.GOV 

 

Purpose 

This is the primary e-mail address for non-FCC staff who would like to request accommodations 

or who would like to direct disability related inquiries to the FCC. 

Who checks this mailbox? 

Responsibility for checking the mailbox is as follows: 

 Primary: Section 504 Officer 

 Secondary: Accessible Format Specialist 

 Tertiary: Disability Rights Office Sign Language Interpreter 
 

Winter 2003 Page 48 

Section 504 Handbook 

3. TTY ACCESS 

TTY was originally an acronym for TeleTYpewriter. Today, these devices are sometimes also 

called TDDs (Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf) or TTs (Text Telephones), though the 

preferred term is still TTY. TTYs include a keyboard, text display, and sometimes a printer. 

TTYs allow individuals to make and receive telephone calls in realtime using typed, 2-way 

communication. 

Distribution of TTYs within the Commission – Minimum standards 

▪ Each Division/Office within the Commission should have a working TTY with staff trained 

and available to answer calls. 

▪ TTY answering machines should be programmed with messages similar to those used on 

voice mail systems. 

▪ TTYs should be checked regularly for messages with responses generated promptly. 

Specific individuals should be charged with this task and appropriate back-ups designated. 

▪ The frequency with which TTY answering machines are checked should be comparable to 

checks of the voice mail system. 

 

TTY Telephone numbers 

▪ When contact telephone numbers for the FCC are disseminated, both voice and TTY 

telephone numbers should be included. 

▪ If an individual, branch, or division designated as the Commission’s point of contact does 

not have a TTY number, then the TTY number of their office or division must be used. DO 

NOT use the general 1-800-TELL-FCC TTY number.68 

TTY Assistance 

▪ For technical assistance, contact: 

CRC Help Desk, 202-418-1200 (press 2), 202-418-0124 tty, crchelp@fcc.gov

▪ For help in understanding/translating messages received via TTY,69 contact The 

Commission’s Section 504 Officer.70

TTY ACCESS (continued) 

 

68 If consumers able to use a standard telephone are given contact numbers that are more specific than 

the general 1-888-CALL-FCC, then consumers who are deaf and hard of hearing must be given 

comparably specific contact numbers. 

69 Staff may notice that some messages received via TTY are written in non-standard English. This is 

because English is not a first language for many people who are deaf. 

70 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook.
 

Winter 2003 Page 49 

Section 504 Handbook 

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)71

TRS service (also called Relay, Relay Service, or Relay Center) is mandated by Title IV of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)72 and allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who 

have speech disabilities to use the telephone. TRS service is available 24 hours a day. It 

provides the link between callers who use assistive devices such as TTYs, and callers who do 

not have such equipment. It also serves as an interface between people who have speech 

disabilities and those who have difficulty understanding them. To contact TRS, dial 711 

anywhere in the United States.73 The call will be connected to an operator (also called a 

Communications Assistant or CA). The Relay Service will ask for the destination phone 

number. Once this information has been provided, the call will be placed. When the connection 

is completed, the CA will relay information between the caller and the call recipient. TRS calls 

can be of several types: 

TTY calls 

TTY users can contact the Relay Center to make calls to people who do not have a TTY. 

Likewise, callers who use standard telephones can contact the Relay Center to make calls 

to TTY users. When using the Relay, the TTY user types a message to the CA who then 

reads it to the person using a standard telephone. When the person using a standard 

telephone responds, the CA types the message to the TTY user. 

VCO (Voice Carry Over) 

With VCO, a caller who can speak intelligibly but who cannot hear conversation on the 

telephone (as is often the case, for example, with hard of hearing people), is able to speak 

directly with the person using a standard telephone on the other end of the line. The CA 

then types the standard telephone user’s comments back to the VCO user via TTY. Either 

VCO users or standard telephone users can initiate and receive VCO calls. 

 

71 The Federal government maintains a separate relay service called the Federal Relay Service 

(FRS). FRS was established under Public Law 100-542, the Telecommunications Accessibility 

Act of 1988. It uses the Federal Telecommunication System (FTS2001), rather than 

commercial telephone networks, and may be used by Federal employees or the general public 

attempting to access Federal government resources. [From General Service Administration, 

Federal Relay Service (FRS), 

“What is the FRS?” http://www.fts.gsa.gov/frs/whatisfrs.htm (visited 11/7/02) and 

“Why Use the FRS?” http://www.fts.gsa.gov/frs/whyfrs.htm (visited 11/7/02).] 

72 47 U.S.C. § 225; Implementing Regulations: 47 C.F.R. § 64.601 et seq. (Title IV, FCC). 

73 For calls placed from the FCC, dial 9 first to get an outside line, then dial 711. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 50 

Section 504 Handbook 

TTY ACCESS -- Telecommunications Relay Service (continued) 

HCO (Hearing Carry Over) 

HCO allows people who can hear but who cannot speak clearly (for example, people who 

have had severe strokes) to use their hearing via a standard telephone while using a TTY to 

type their comments. HCO users type their comments to the CA who reads them to the 

person using a standard telephone on the other end of the line. The standard telephone 

user then speaks directly to the HCO user. Either HCO users or standard telephone users 

can initiate and receive HCO. 

STS (Speech to Speech) 

STS services are used by people who have speech disabilities and are neither deaf nor hard 

of hearing (for example, people who have cerebral palsy). With STS, CAs who are trained 

to understand people who have speech disabilities, listen to the caller and then repeat the 

message clearly to the person being called. The person with the speech disability can be 

either the initiator or the recipient of an STS call. 

IP Relay 

IP (Internet Protocol) Relay calls are initiated over the internet. To locate a list of IP Relay 

providers, use a standard internet search engine and search for “IP Relay.” To make an IP 

Relay call, follow the directions on the internet site you select. At this time, IP Relay can 

only be used to make calls from an internet connection to a standard telephone. Calls 

cannot be made in reverse -- voice callers using a standard telephone or callers using VCO, 

HCO or STS cannot initiate an IP Relay call. IP Relay is currently an optional service. 

VRS (Video Relay Service) 

VRS allows sign language users to send and receive messages in American Sign Language 

(ASL). Currently, VRS calls must be initiated by the sign language user who must also have 

the appropriate video equipment and high speed connectivity, e.g., cable modem, DSL 

(Digital Subscriber Line), or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). The sign language 

user signs to a CA who is also a qualified sign language interpreter. The CA interprets the 

message into spoken English for the standard telephone user who then responds in spoken 

English. The CA listens to the spoken message and interprets it into sign language for the 

originating caller. At this time VRS is an optional service. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 51 

Section 504 Handbook 

TTY ACCESS -- Telecommunications Relay Service (continued) 

Spanish Relay Service 

Relay services must be provided in Spanish for all interstate calls. Calls made within states 

are not required to offer their services in Spanish though many TRS Centers voluntarily do 

so. Spanish Relay offers services via TTY, VCO, HCO, and IP Relay. At this time, Spanish 

Relay is not available for STS or Video Relay Service users. Spanish Relay is only required 

to provide relay services from Spanish-to-Spanish; it is not a translation service. Either 

Spanish Relay users or standard telephone users can initiate and receive Spanish Relay 

calls. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 52 

Section 504 Handbook 

4. DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED IN ALTERNATE FORMATS 

Where should they be sent? 

Documents that are submitted in alternate formats; i.e., video recording, audio recording, braille 

and the like, should be forwarded immediately to the appropriate contact person listed on the 

chart below. 

 

For each format below, 

consult the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau contact listed: 

Audio recording Braille Electronic 

documents 

Sign language Other media or 

formats 

Send To Send To Send To Send To Send To 

Accessible 

Format 

Specialist 

fcc504@fcc.gov

Accessible 

Format 

Specialist 

fcc504@fcc.gov

Accessible 

Format 

Specialist 

fcc504@fcc.gov

Section 504 

Officer 

202-418-0530 

202-418-0432 tty 

Section 504 

Officer 

202-418-0530 

202-418-0432 tty 

If you cannot determine what type of media you have received, send it to the Section 504 

Officer. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 53 

Section 504 Handbook 

5. CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM AUDIO RECORDINGS 

Why transcribe audio recordings? 

Transcription of audio recordings into other formats may be necessary to allow access to the 

information contained in the recording. Situations that may require such transcription include, 

but are not limited to, the following: 

▪ Blind consumers who do not know braille and who do not type or use computers may make 

submissions to the Commission in audio format . These must be transcribed into written 

form in order to be placed in the record. (The Commission’s rules concerning nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in the Commission’s programs and activities74 state 

that complaints may be submitted in “audio, braille, electronic, and/or video format.”75)

▪ FCC staff or members of the public who are deaf may need written transcripts of audio 

recordings in order to benefit from the recording’s content. 

▪ FCC staff or members of the public who are deaf-blind may need to have audio recordings 

transcribed into braille in order to benefit from the recording’s content. 

Who coordinates the transcription process? 

The Accessible Format Specialist76 is the coordinator and contact person for transcription of 

audio recordings. 

What types of audio recordings are accepted for transcription? 

▪ Audio recordings that are submitted to the Commission by consumers 

▪ Commission audio recordings 

▪ Audio recordings used in Commission sponsored or approved programs and activities. 

 

74 47 C.F.R. § 1.1801-1.1870. 

75 47 C.F.R. § 1.1803. 

76 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook.
 

Winter 2003 Page 54 

Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM AUDIO RECORDINGS (continued) 

Who should create the transcripts? 

Transcripts should be created by qualified individuals. The Accessible Format Specialist, or 

someone the Accessible Format Specialist has evaluated and deemed qualified, are appropriate 

choices.

Transcription process 

▪ Note the date you receive the audio recording. 

There are often deadlines for submission of comments, complaints, or information; 

therefore, the actual submittal date can be crucial. If you are the first point of contact, rather 

than the office that is the official point of receipt, make sure you inform the proper office that 

you have received information in audio format that must be transcribed for the record. Also 

make sure that you have the full name, address, telephone number (or other contact 

information) for the submitter. 

▪ Find out if there are specific timelines/deadlines that affect the submission in 

question. 

If so, make every effort to complete the transcript as quickly as possible so that the entire 

process will not be unduly delayed. Make sure that the administrator of the procedure in 

question is aware of your role in the process and is aware that some flexibility in timing may 

be necessary. 

▪ Create at least 2 backup copies of the submission in its original format. Contact the Audio 

Visual Center, Office of Media Relations, to schedule this service. Copies must be dubbed, 

so allow ample time for this process. 

▪ Preserve the original as the master. 

During the transcription process, retain the original submission as the master since making 

copies of copies produces poorer and poorer results. Use a copy as your working document. 

▪ Assure that one copy is filed with the appropriate office for the record (if applicable)

while you are working on the transcript. Again, be sure that you retain the master (original 

submission) so that copies can be made if your working copy breaks or if additional copies 

are needed. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 55 

Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM AUDIO RECORDINGS (continued) 

Transcript review 

Whenever possible, the completed transcript should be reviewed by another qualified person to 

assure accuracy and completeness. 

Transcript format 

▪ The completed document should be in MS Word using a font style and size that is generally 

acceptable to the Commission. 

▪ The transcriber’s name, the reviewer’s name, and the date of completion should be noted on 

the transcript. 

Final disposition 

▪ If this is a document submitted for the record... 

When the completed document is ready for filing, submit the transcript (with the proper 

number of copies) including the original audio recording to the appropriate office.

▪ If this document was a request from a person with a disability... 

Deliver the transcript to the requestor using standard Commission methods, i.e., U.S. Postal 

Service, e-mail, etc. 
 

Winter 2003 Page 56 

Section 504 Handbook 

6. CREATING IN-HOUSE WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTS FROM BRAILLE 

Why transcribe braille? 

The Commission rules concerning non-discrimination on the basis of disability in the 

Commission’s programs and activities77 state that complaints may be submitted in “audio, 

braille, electronic, and/or video format.”78 For submissions in braille, transcription is necessary to 

allow access for people who cannot read braille. 

Who coordinates the transcription process? 

The Accessible Format Specialist79 is the coordinator and contact person for transcription of 

braille. 

What types of braille are accepted for transcription? 

▪ English Braille, Grades 1 and 2 80

Who should create the transcripts? 

Braille transcripts should be created by certified braille transcribers81. The Accessible Format 

Specialist is a certified braille transcriber and the primary Commission source for braille 

transcription. The Accessible Format Specialist may also designate other qualified individuals 

or organizations to provide braille transcription services. 

 

77 47 C.F.R. § 1.1801-1.1870. 

78 47 C.F.R. § 1.1803. 

79 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

80 Send ALL braille documents to the Accessible Format Specialist. He will determine if the form of braille 

used can be transcribed. 

81 Individuals may become certified braille transcribers by successfully completing the Library of 

Congress’ certification program. For more information about the Library of Congress Braille Certification 

Program, contact the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Braille Development 

Section, http://www.loc.gov/nls/bds.html (visited 11/1/02). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 57 

Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTS FROM BRAILLE (continued) 

Transcription process 

▪ Note the date you receive the braille document. 

There are often deadlines for submission of comments, complaints, or information; 

therefore, the actual submittal date can be crucial. If you are the first point of contact rather 

than the office that is the official point of receipt, make sure you inform the 

proper office that you have received information in braille that must be transcribed for the 

record. Also make sure that you have the full name, address, telephone number (or other 

contact information) for the submitter. 

▪ Find out if there are specific timelines/deadlines that affect the submission in 

question. 

If so, make every effort to complete the transcript as quickly as possible so that the entire 

process will not be unduly delayed. Make sure that the administrator of the procedure in 

question is aware of your role in the process and is aware that some flexibility in timing may 

be necessary. 

▪ Create at least 2 backup copies of the submission in ink-print format. 

▪ Preserve the original as the master. 

During the transcription process, retain the original submission as the master. For 

transcribers reading braille visually rather than by touch, use an ink-print copy as your 

working document. For transcribers who are reading braille by touch, produce a braille copy 

for your use if possible. Otherwise, use extreme care in handling the document since it will 

be the original of record. 

▪ Assure that one copy is filed with the appropriate office for the record while you are 

working on the transcript. Again, be sure that you retain the original (master). This will 

assure that a master copy is available should your working copy be destroyed or if additional 

copies are needed. 

Transcript review 

Whenever possible, the completed transcript should be reviewed by another qualified person to 

assure accuracy and completeness. 

Transcript format 

▪ The completed document should be in MS Word using a font style and size that is generally 

acceptable to the Commission. 

▪ The transcriber’s name, the reviewer’s name, and the date of completion should be noted on 

the transcript. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTS FROM BRAILLE (continued) 

Final disposition 

When the completed document is ready for filing, submit the transcript (with the proper 

number of copies) including the original braille document to the appropriate office. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

7. CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO-RECORDINGS 

Why transcribe sign language video recordings? 

The Commission rules concerning non-discrimination on the basis of disability in the 

Commission’s programs and activities82 state that complaints may be submitted in “audio, 

braille, electronic, and/or video format.”83 For submissions that take the form of American Sign 

Language recorded in video format, a translation and transcription into written English is 

necessary to allow access for people who do not understand American Sign Language. 

Who coordinates the translation / transcription process? 

The Section 504 Officer84 is the contact person and coordinator for sign language translation / 

transcription. 

What visual presentations will be accepted for translation? 

American Sign Language (ASL) and its cognates will be accepted for translation.85 The 

Commission will not attempt to transcribe foreign sign languages, International Sign, and other 

visual, gestural modes of presentation. 

Who should create the transcripts? 

Translation of ASL to English should be handled by qualified individuals, preferably fully certified 

sign language interpreters.86 When possible, consultation with qualified Deaf sign language 

users is highly desirable. 

 

82 47 C.F.R. § 1.1801-1.1870. 

83 47 C.F.R. § 1.1803. 

84 For specific contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, see page 45 of this Handbook. 

85 Throughout this document, the term American Sign Language or ASL should be understood to include 

all ASL cognates that are generally recognized in the United States. 

86 “Fully certified sign language interpreters” is intended to mean interpreters holding the Registry of 

Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certificate of Interpretation (CI), the RID Certificate of Transliteration (CT), 

the RID Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC), or the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Level IV 

or V Certification.
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO RECORDINGS 

(continued) 

Transcription process 

▪ Note the date you receive the video recording. 

There are often deadlines for submission of comments, complaints, or information; 

therefore, the actual submittal date can be crucial. If you are the first point of contact rather 

than the office that is the official point of receipt, make sure you inform the proper office that 

you have received information in audio format that must be transcribed for the record. Also 

make sure that you have the full name, address, telephone number (or other contact 

information) for the submitter. 

▪ Find out if there are specific timelines/deadlines that affect the submission in 

question. 

If so, make every effort to complete the transcript as quickly as possible so that the entire 

process will not be unduly delayed. Make sure that the administrator of the procedure in 

question is aware of your role in the process and is aware that some flexibility in timing may 

be necessary. 

▪ Create at least 2 backup copies of the submission in its original format. Contact the Audio 

Visual Center to schedule this service. Copies are run in “real time” so allow ample time for 

this process. 

▪ Preserve the original as the master. 

During the transcription process, retain the original submission as the master since making 

copies of copies produces poorer and poorer results. Use a copy as your working document. 

Assure that one copy is filed with the appropriate office for the record while you are 

working on the translation. Always retain the original submission as the master since 

making copies of copies produces poorer and poorer results. Use a copy as your working 

document. 

Translation process 

▪ Strike as much balance as possible between: 

• Being accurate and complete

- Remember that this is a transcript. 

- Include false starts if signs are actually formed. Pauses or handshapes that begin 

but never finish need not be recorded. 

- Ellipses (...) can be used to indicate abrupt changes and pauses like those in false 

starts. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO RECORDINGS 

(continued) 

and 

• Trying to convey the message as the person who is deaf intends it without undue 

embellishment. 

If there is an obvious slip on the part of the speaker, a word mis-spoken, left out, etc., an 

editorial comment in brackets may be used. 

For example: My reason for coming to the [Federal] Communications Commission is to 

let you know about my experiences with TRS. 

▪ Use judgment when dealing with fingerspelling 

Fingerspelling that is incidentally incorrect [equivalent to typos] need not be noted, but 

fingerspelling that is intentionally presented but does not clearly match the context of the 

statement should be noted. Possible interpretations should be noted in [brackets]. If 

fingerspelling is completely unreadable, note in the document, [unintelligible]. 

▪ Try to match register and language level as much as possible while still retaining 

meaning. 

EXAMPLE: 

- RECENT. FCC GROUP CHANGE. SWITCH-SWITCH-SWITCH. OFFICE MOVE 4th

FLOOR ME. 

Possible renderings: 

- Recently, the FCC’s organizational structure was revamped. One of the many changes 

included the relocation of my office to the 4th floor. 

- With the recent change in FCC structure, my office moved to the 4th floor. 

- FCC just reorganized. My office is now on the 4th floor. 

- FCC’s changed a lot. I’m on the 4th floor now. 

▪ Note unrecognizable signs that interrupt the flow of discourse.

Use the notation, [unknown sign], in the document to clearly differentiate it from the actual 

text. If signs are recognizable, but meaning is not discernable, gloss as much of the 

comment as possible enclosing the glosses in {curly braces}. At the beginning of the 

transcript include a note explaining the use of [braces] and {curly braces} as well as any 

other conventions employed in the document. 

CREATING IN-HOUSE TRANSCRIPTS FROM SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO RECORDINGS 

(continued) 
 

Winter 2003 Page 62 

Section 504 Handbook 

Translation review 

Whenever possible, the completed translation should be reviewed by another qualified person 

to assure accuracy and completeness. 

Translation format 

▪ The completed document should be in MS Word using a font that is generally acceptable to 

the Commission. 

▪ The translator’s name, the reviewer’s name, and the date of completion should be noted on 

the transcript. 

Final disposition 

When the completed document is ready for filing, submit the translation (with the number of 

copies required) along with the original video recording to the appropriate office. 
V. DISABILITY 

PRIMER 
 

Winter 2003 Page 64 

Section 504 Handbook 

1. DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS 

Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-112, September 26, 1973)87 and its subsequent 

amendments are precursors to the more well-known Americans with Disabilities Act that was 

passed in 1990. Originally, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was intended to eliminate 

discrimination against people with disabilities in programs or activities receiving Federal 

funding. Section 504 provided the following: 

Sec. 504. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States, as 

defined in Section 7 (6), shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from 

the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination 

under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

In 1978, the “Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities 

Amendments of 1978” (PL 95-602, November 6, 1978)88 was passed broadening the scope 

of Section 504 to include the Executive Branch Agencies of the Federal Government. As 

amended, Section 504 reads as follows (the language added in the amendment is 

underlined): 

Sec. 504. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States, as 

defined in Section 7 (6), shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from 

the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination 

under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any 

program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States 

Postal Service. The head of each such agency shall promulgate such regulations 

as may be necessary to carry out the amendments to this section made by the 

Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Act of 

1978. Copies of any proposed regulation shall be submitted to appropriate 

authorizing committees of Congress, and such regulation may take effect no earlier 

than the thirtieth day after the date on which such regulation is so submitted to such 

committees.

 

87 29 U.S.C. § 701-797. 

88 29 U.S.C. § 794. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS – Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 (continued) 

As a result, each Federal agency has its own set of section 504 regulations that apply to its 

own programs and activities. Agencies that provide Federal financial assistance also have 

Section 504 regulations covering entities that receive such funding. 

Requirements common to Federal agency Section 504 regulations include reasonable 

accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective 

communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities; and accessible new 

construction and alterations. Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations. 

Section 504 may also be enforced through private lawsuits.89

On April 15, 1987 the Federal Communications Commission released its Report and Order90

(R&O), Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules to Implement Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794. In the R&O, the Commission 

adopted with minor modifications the Department of Justice’s prototype regulations for 

implementing and enforcing Section 504. 

In 2003, the Commission released an Order amending its Section 504 regulations.91 The 

amendment updated the language in the Commission’s rules and added the Section 504 

Handbook to its implementation of the Section 504 requirements. 

In addition to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there are other Federal laws that 

address disability issues. The following is a brief description of some of the laws that 

are frequently mentioned in connection with topics of interest to the FCC. 

 

89 Excerpted and summarized from U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights 

Section, “A Guide to Disability Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

90 FCC 87-108, General Docket No. 84-533. 

91 Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission's Rules Concerning Non-discrimination on the 

Basis of Disability in the Commission's Programs and Activities, Order, FCC 03-48 (2003). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 66 

Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS (continued) 

Rehabilitation Act 

 Section 50192

“Section 501 requires affirmative action and nondiscrimination in employment by 

Federal agencies of the executive branch.” 93 

 

Section 50394

“Section 503 requires affirmative action and prohibits employment discrimination by 

Federal government contractors and subcontractors with contracts of more than 

$10,000.” 95 

 Section 50896

“Section 508 establishes requirements for electronic and information technology 

developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Section 508 

requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with 

disabilities, including employees and members of the public. 

An accessible information technology system is one that can be operated in a 

variety of ways and does not rely on a single sense or ability of the user. For 

example, a system that provides output only in visual format may not be accessible 

to people with visual impairments, and a system that provides output only in audio 

format may not be accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some 

individuals with disabilities may need accessibility-related software or peripheral 

devices in order to use systems that comply with Section 508.”97

 

92 29 U.S.C. § 791; Implementing Regulations: 29 C.F.R. § 1613.203. 

93 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

94 29 U.S.C. § 793; Implementing Regulations: 41 C.F.R. Part 60-741. 

95 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

96 29 U.S.C. § 794d. 

97 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 67 

Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS (continued) 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)98

“The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local 

government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and 

telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress. 

To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association 

with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a 

person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major 

life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who 

is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name 

all of the impairments that are covered.”99

 

ADA Title I: Employment100

“Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals 

with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related 

opportunities available to others. For example, it prohibits discrimination in recruitment, 

hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. It 

restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant’s disability before a job offer is 

made, and it requires that employers make reasonable accommodation to the known 

physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, unless it 

results in undue hardship.”101

 

 ADA Title II: State and Local Government Activities102

“Title II covers all activities of State and local governments regardless of the government 

entity’s size or receipt of Federal funding. Title II requires that State and local 

governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their 

programs, services, and activities (e.g. public education, 

 

98 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. 

99 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

100 Implementing regulation: 29 C.F.R. Parts 1630, 1602 (Title I, EEOC). 

101 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

102 Implementing Regulations: 28 C.F.R. Part 35 (Title II, Department of Justice); 49 C.F.R. Parts 27, 37, 

38 (Title II, III, Department of Transportation). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 68 

Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS– ADA Title II: State & Local Government Activities 

(continued)

employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting, and 

town meetings). 

State and local governments are required to follow specific architectural standards in the 

new construction and alteration of their buildings. They also must relocate programs or 

otherwise provide access in inaccessible older buildings, and communicate effectively 

with people who have hearing, vision, or speech disabilities. Public entities are not 

required to take actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. 

They are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and 

procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination, unless they can demonstrate that 

doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity being 

provided.”103

 

 ADA Title II: Public Transportation104

“The transportation provisions of title II cover public transportation services, such as city 

buses and public rail transit (e.g. subways, commuter rails, Amtrak). Public 

transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the 

provision of their services. They must comply with requirements for accessibility in newly 

purchased vehicles, make good faith efforts to purchase or lease accessible used buses, 

remanufacture buses in an accessible manner, 

and, unless it would result in an undue burden, provide paratransit where they operate 

fixed-route bus or rail systems. Paratransit is a service where individuals who are unable 

to use the regular transit system independently (because of a physical or mental 

impairment) are picked up and dropped off at their destinations.”105 

 

103 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

104 Implementing Regulations: 28 C.F.R. Part 35 (Title II, Department of Justice); 49 C.F.R. Parts 27, 37, 

38 (Title II, III, Department of Transportation). 

105 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 69 

Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS– ADA (continued)

ADA Title III: Public Accommodations106

“Title III covers businesses and nonprofit service providers that are public 

accommodations, privately operated entities offering certain types of courses and 

examinations, privately operated transportation, and commercial facilities. Public 

accommodations are private entities who own, lease, lease to, or operate facilities such 

as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, movie theaters, private schools, convention centers, 

doctors’ offices, homeless shelters, transportation depots, zoos, funeral homes, day care 

centers, and recreation facilities including sports stadiums and fitness clubs. 

Transportation services provided by private entities are also covered by [T]itle III. 

Public accommodations must comply with basic nondiscrimination requirements that 

prohibit exclusion, segregation, and unequal treatment. They also must comply with 

specific requirements related to architectural standards for new and altered buildings; 

reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures; effective communication 

with people with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities; and other access requirements. 

Additionally, public accommodations must remove barriers in existing buildings where it 

is easy to do so without much difficulty or expense, given the public accommodation’s 

resources. 

Courses and examinations related to professional, educational, or trade-related 

applications, licensing, certifications, or credentialing must be provided in a place and 

manner accessible to people with disabilities, or alternative accessible arrangements 

must be offered. 

Commercial facilities, such as factories and warehouses, must comply with the ADA’s 

architectural standards for new construction and alterations.”107

ADA Title IV: Telecommunications Relay Services108

“Title IV addresses telephone and television access for people with hearing and speech 

disabilities. It requires common carriers (telephone companies) to establish interstate 

and intrastate telecommunications relay services (TRS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

TRS enables callers with hearing and speech disabilities who use telecommunications 

devices for the deaf (TDDs), which are 

 

106 Implementing Regulations:49 C.F.R. Parts 27, 37, 38 (Title II, III, Department of Transportation); 28 

C.F.R. Part 36 (Title III, Department of Justice). 

107 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

108 Implementing Regulations: 47 C.F.R. §§ 64.601 et seq. (Title IV, FCC). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS– ADA Title IV: Telecommunications Relay Service (continued)

also known as teletypewriters (TTYs), and callers who use voice telephones to 

communicate with each other through a third party communications assistant. The 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set minimum standards for TRS 

services. Title IV also requires closed captioning of Federally funded public service 

announcements.”109, 110 

Architectural Barriers Act111

“The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires that buildings and facilities that are designed, 

constructed, or altered with Federal funds, or leased by a Federal agency, comply with 

Federal standards for physical accessibility. ABA requirements are limited to architectural 

standards in new and altered buildings and in newly leased facilities. They do not address 

the activities conducted in those buildings and facilities. Facilities of the U.S. Postal Service 

are covered by the ABA.”112 

Telecommunications Act 

Sections 255 and 251113

“Section 255 and Section 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by 

the Telecommunications Act of 1996, require manufacturers of telecommunications 

equipment and providers of telecommunications services to ensure that such equipment 

and services are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily 

achievable. These amendments ensure that people with disabilities will have access to a 

broad range of products and services such as telephones, cell phones, pagers, callwaiting, and operator services, that were often inaccessible to many users with 

disabilities.” 114, 115 

 

109 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

 

110 See also “Telecommunications Act, Section 225” on page 70 of this Handbook. 

111 42 U.S.C. §§ 4151 et seq.; Implementing Regulations: 41 C.F.R. Subpart 101-19.6. 

112 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 

113 47 U.S.C. § 255, 251(a)(2). 

114 From U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, “A Guide to Disability 

Rights Laws,” http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm (visited 10/31/02). 
 

Winter 2003 Page 71 

Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS -- Telecommunications Act (continued) 

Section 713116

Section 713 empowered the FCC to develop rules that would regulate the provision of 

television closed captioning services. It also charged the Commission to examine issues 

surrounding the provision of television video description services so as to “ensure the 

accessibility of video programming to persons with visual impairments, and to report to 

Congress on its findings.”117

As a result, the Commission issued rules requiring captioning of television programs118

as well as rules requiring that certain major broadcast and cable television stations 

provide video description for 50 hours of programming per calendar quarter.119 

However, in a decision released November 8, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 

District of Columbia held that Section 713 did not give the FCC authority to enact video 

description rules. In its conclusion, the Court decided to “reverse and vacate the 

Commission’s Order insofar as it requires broadcasters to implement video 

description.”120

Television Decoder Circuitry Act121

The Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 requires that beginning July 1, 1993, all 

television sets with screens 13 inches or larger, either made or imported for use in the 

United States, have built-in decoder circuitry that allows it to display closed captioning. 

 

(...continued from previous page) 

115 See also “ADA Title IV: Telecommunications Relay Services on page 69 of this Handbook. 116 47 U.S.C. § 613. 

117 47 U.S.C. § 613(f). 

118 47 C.F.R. § 79.1. 

119 47 C.F.R. § 79.3. 

120 Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. v. FCC, 309 F.3d 796 (D.C. Cir. 2002). 

121 47 U.S.C. § 303, 330. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

Hearing Aid Compatibility Act122

The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act requires that all telephones, including cordless 

telephones, manufactured or imported for use in the U.S. be hearing aid compatible. 

Secure telephones are exempt, as are telephones used with public mobile services or 

private radio services. A telephone is hearing aid compatible if it provides internal means 

(i.e., without the use of external devices) for effective use with hearing aids that are 

designed to be compatible with telephones that meet established technical standards for 

hearing aid compatibility.123

 

122 47 U.S.C. § 610. 

123 47 C.F.R. §§ 68.316, 68.317.
 

Winter 2003 Page 73 

Section 504 Handbook 

2. Disability Statistics 

The following chart, based on U.S. Census statistics from 1997, indicates the prevalence of 

selected disabilities in the United States among individuals age 15 and older. The information 

reflected in this chart is based on the Census Bureau’s SIPP (Survey of Income and Program 

Participation). 

“The [SIPP] survey design is a continuous series of national panels, with sample size ranging 

from approximately 14,000 to 36,700 interviewed households. The duration of each panel 

ranges from 2 1/2 years to 4 years. The SIPP sample is a multistage-stratified sample of the 

U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. For the 1984-1993 panels, a panel of households 

was introduced each year in February. A 4-year panel was introduced in April 1996. A 2000 

panel was introduced in February 2000 for 2 waves. A 3-year 2001 panel was introduced in 

February 2001.”124

Categories of individuals # in thousands % 

distribution 

Individuals with a disability 47,935 23.0

Individuals with: 

 Difficulty seeing words/letters 7,673 3.7

 Difficulty hearing conversation 7,966 3.8

 Difficulty with speech 2,270 1.1

 Difficulty walking/using stairs 25,138 12.1

 Used a wheelchair 2,155 1.0

 Used a cane/crutches/walker 6,372 3.1

 Mental disability 14,267 6.9

 Learning disability 3,451 1.7

 Mental retardation 1,366 0.7

 Alzheimer’s/senility/dementia 1,873 0.9

 Other mental/emotional condition 3,418 1.6

August-November 1997 data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation125 

 

124 U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation, “Introduction to SIPP,” 

http://www.sipp.census.gov/sipp/overview.html (visited 11/1/02). 

125 Data in this chart was gathered from: U.S. Census Bureau, “Disability,” Americans with Disabilities: 

1997 (P70-73), http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/disable/sipp/disab97/ds97t2.html (visited 11/1/02). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

3. Disability Terminology126

The disability community generally emphasizes the individuality of people with disabilities, not 

their disability. The term “handicapped” has fallen into disuse and should be avoided. The terms 

“able-bodied,” “physically challenged” and “differently abled” are also discouraged. The following 

are some recommendations: 

Never use the article “THE” with an adjective to describe people with disabilities. 

The preferred usage, “people with disabilities,” stresses the essential humanity of individuals 

and avoids objectification. Alternatively, the term “disabled people” is acceptable, but still 

defines individuals as disabled, first, and people second.” The term “hearing impaired” should 

also be used with caution as it is perceived by many to be a term that implies that the individual 

is in some way “broken” and needs to be “fixed.” Instead, the term, “deaf or hard of hearing,” 

can be used. 

Use: 

People who are deaf 

People who are hard of hearing 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing 

Not: 

the deaf 

deaf-mutes 

deaf and dumb 

Use: 

People who are blind 

People with low vision 

People who are visually impaired 

Not: the visually impaired 

Use: People with disabilities 

Not: the disabled 

To refer to a person’s disability, choose the correct terminology for the specific disability. The 

following terms are examples of appropriate terms to describe people with disabilities. 

People who are: blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, mentally retarded. People with, 

or who have: Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, mental illness, paraplegia, quadriplegia, partial 

hearing loss, seizure disorder, specific learning disability, speech impairment, speech disability. 

 

126 Extracted, with compiler additions, from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Disability 

Services, “Disability Terminology,” http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/SDS/disterm.html (visited 11/1/02). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY TERMINOLOGY (continued) 

Be careful not to imply that people with disabilities are to be pitied, feared or ignored, or that 

they are somehow more heroic, courageous, patient, or “special” than others. Never use the 

term “normal” in contrast. 

Use: Trina qualified for her “Swimmer” certificate. 

Not: Trina held her own while swimming with normal 

children. 

A person in a wheelchair is a “wheelchair user” or “uses a wheelchair.” Avoid terms that define 

the disability as a limitation such as “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair-bound.” A 

wheelchair liberates; it doesn’t confine. 

Never use the terms “victim” or “sufferer” to refer to a person who has had a disease or 

disability. This term dehumanizes the person and emphasizes powerlessness. 

Use: person with HIV/AIDS 

Not: victim of AIDS or AIDS sufferer. 

Use: had polio 

Not: polio victim 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

4. DISABILITY ETIQUETTE127

General etiquette 

▪ When talking with a person with a disability, speak directly to that person rather than to a 

companion or sign language interpreter who may be present. 

▪ When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. 

People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb can usually shake hands. 

Shaking hands with the left hand is an acceptable greeting. 

▪ When meeting a person with a visual impairment, always identify yourself and others who 

may be with you. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you 

are speaking. 

▪ If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen to or ask for instructions. 

▪ Treat adults as adults. Address people who have disabilities by their first names only when 

extending that same familiarity to all others present. Never patronize people who use 

wheelchairs by patting them on the head or shoulder. 

▪ Leaning or hanging on a person’s wheelchair is similar to leaning or hanging on a person 

and is generally considered annoying. The chair is part of the personal body space of the 

person who uses it. 

▪ Listen attentively when you’re talking with a person who has difficulty speaking. Be patient 

and wait for the person to finish, rather than correcting or speaking for that person. If 

necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, a nod, or a shake of the head. 

Never pretend to understand if you are having difficulty doing so. Instead, repeat what you 

have understood and allow the person to respond. The response will clue you in and guide 

your understanding. 

▪ When speaking with a person in a wheelchair or a person who uses crutches, place yourself 

at eye level in front of the person to facilitate the conversation. 

▪ To get the attention of a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, tap the person on the 

shoulder or wave your hand. Look directly at the person and speak clearly. Not all 

 

127 Excerpted, with compiler revisions, from a list compiled from many sources by Karen Meyer 

of the National Center for Access Unlimited, a joint venture of the United Cerebral Palsy 

Association, Inc. and Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. 

http://www2.ucsc.edu/ada/ADAhints.html (visited 10/31/02).
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY ETIQUETTE -- General etiquette (continued) 

people who are deaf or hard of hearing can speechread. For those who do speechread, be 

sensitive to their needs by placing yourself facing the light source and keeping hands, 

cigarettes, and food away from your mouth when speaking. 

▪ Relax. It’s okay if you happen to use accepted, common expressions, such as “See you 

later” or “Did you hear about this,” that seem to relate to the person’s disability. 
 

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DISABILITY ETIQUETTE (continued) 

Sensitivity to Blindness and Visual Impairments128

The following points of etiquette are helpful to keep in mind when interacting with a person who 

is blind or visually impaired. 

• Introduce yourself to people who are blind or visually impaired using your name and/or 

position, especially if you are wearing a name badge containing this information. 

• Speak directly to people who are blind or visually impaired, not through a companion, 

guide, or other individual. 

• Speak to people who are blind or visually impaired using a natural conversational tone 

and speed. 

• Address people who are totally blind or severely visually impaired by name when 

possible. This is especially important in crowded areas. 

• Immediately greet people who are blind or visually impaired when they enter a room or a 

service area. This allows you to let them know you are present and ready to assist. It 

also eliminates uncomfortable silences. 

• Indicate the end of a conversation with a person who is totally blind or severely visually 

impaired to avoid the embarrassment of having them continue speaking when no one is 

actually there. 

• Feel free to use words that refer to vision during the course of conversations with people 

who are blind or visually impaired. Vision-oriented words such as look, see, and 

watching TV are a part of everyday verbal communication. The words blind and visually 

impaired are also acceptable in conversation. 

• Be precise and thorough when you describe individuals, places, or things to people who 

are totally blind. Don’t leave things out or change a description because you think it is 

unimportant or unpleasant. It is also important to refer to specific people or items by 

name or title instead of general terms like “you”, or “they” or “this.” 

 

128 Excerpted with compiler edits from American Foundation for the Blind, Information Center, “Sensitivity 

to Blindness and Visual Impairments,” http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?documentid=911

(visited 11/1/02). 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

DISABILITY ETIQUETTE (continued) -- Sensitivity to Blindness and Visual Impairments 

(continued) 

• Feel free to use visually descriptive language. Making reference to colors, patterns, 

designs, and shapes is perfectly acceptable. 

• Speak about a person with a disability by first referring to the person and then to the 

disability. Refer to “people who are blind” rather than to “blind people.” 

• Offer to guide people who are blind or visually impaired by asking if they would like 

assistance. Offer them your arm. It is not always necessary to provide guided 

assistance; in some instances it can be disorienting and disruptive. Respect the desires 

of the person you are with. 

• Guide people who request assistance by allowing them to take your arm just above the 

elbow when your arm is bent. Walk ahead of the person you are guiding. Never grab a 

person who is blind or visually impaired by the arm and push him/her forward. 

• Guide dogs are working mobility tools. Do not pet them, feed them, or distract them 

while they are working. 

• Do not leave a person who is blind or visually impaired standing in “free space” when 

you serve as a guide. Always be sure that the person you guide has a firm grasp on your 

arm, or is leaning against a chair or a wall if you have to be separated momentarily. 

• Be calm and clear about what to do if you see a person who is blind or visually impaired 

about to encounter a dangerous situation. For example, if a person who is blind is about 

to bump into a stanchion in a hotel lobby, calmly and firmly call out, “Wait there for a 

moment; there is a pole in front of you.” 
 

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DISABILITY ETIQUETTE (continued) 

Interacting with people who have speech disabilities129

There are a variety of disabilities, such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and deafness that may involve 

speech impairments. People with speech disabilities communicate in many different ways. 

• People who have speech disabilities may use a variety of ways to communicate. The 

individual may choose to use American Sign Language, write, speak, use a 

communication device, or a combination of methods. Find out the person’s preferred 

method and use it. 

• Be appropriate when speaking with a person with a speech disability. Never assume that 

the person has a cognitive disability just because he or she has difficulty speaking. 

• Move away from a noisy source and try to find a quiet environment for communicating 

with the person. 

• If the person with a speech disability has a companion or attendant, talk directly to the 

person. Do not ask the companion about the person. 

• Listen attentively when you are talking with a person who has difficulty speaking. Be 

patient and wait for the person to finish, rather than correcting or speaking for the 

person. If necessary, ask short questions that require short answers, a nod, or shake of 

the head. 

• If you do not understand what the person has said, do not pretend that you did. Ask the 

person to repeat it. Smiling and nodding when you have no idea what the person said is 

embarrassing to both parties. Instead, repeat what you have understood and allow the 

person to respond. 

• When you have difficulty conversing on the telephone with the person, suggest the use 

of a speech-to-speech relay service so that a trained professional can help you 

communicate with the person. Either you or the person can initiate the call free of charge 

via the relay service. 

 

129 Excerpted with compiler edits from University of Kentucky, Engaging Differences Project, “Etiquette: 

Someone who has a Speech Impairment,” http://www.uky.edu/TLC/grants/uk_ed/interactiontips6.html

(visited 11/1/02). 
 

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DISABILITY ETIQUETTE -- Interacting with people who have speech disabilities 

(continued) 

• If the person uses a communication device, make sure it is within his or her reach. If 

there are instructions visible for communicating with the person, take a moment to read 

them. 

• Do not make assumptions about what a person can or cannot do based on his disability. 

All people with disabilities are different and have a wide variety of skills and 

personalities. 
 

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5. SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS 

When using an interpreter... 

▪ Speak clearly in a normal tone and at a natural pace; do not exaggerate lip movements (if 

the person who is deaf or hard of hearing has speechreading skills, exaggerated mouth 

movements will distort rather than enhance understanding). 

▪ Make sure there is adequate lighting. Avoid lighting that places a shadow on the interpreter 

or that makes it difficult to see the interpreter’s hands and face – for example, in front of a 

window or with bright or glaring light placed behind the interpreter. 

▪ If possible, position the interpreter so that the person who is deaf or hard of hearing can see 

both the interpreter and the speaker. 

▪ If speakers during your event are likely to use acronyms, jargon, or vocabulary peculiar to 

your field, it is helpful to provide the interpreter with a list of such terms and their definitions. 

▪ Speak directly to the person who is deaf or hard of hearing and avoid phrases like, “tell him” 

or “ask her.” 

▪ Maintain eye contact with the person who is deaf or hard of hearing, not with the interpreter. 

It may help to remind yourself that your conversation is with the person who is deaf or hard 

of hearing, not with the interpreter. This may seem difficult at first because you will hear the 

interpreter’s voice and will see the person who is deaf or hard of hearing shifting his gaze 

between you and the interpreter. Keep in mind that the person who is deaf or hard of 

hearing must look at the interpreter in order to understand what you are saying. 

▪ Realize that the interpreter is speaking for the person who is deaf or hard of hearing. When 

the interpreter says, “I” or “me,” she is speaking as the person who is deaf or hard of 

hearing, not as herself. 

▪ Do not attempt to have private conversations with a working interpreter. It is the job of the 

interpreter to convey everything that is said or heard, including your efforts at engaging her 

attention. 
 

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SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS-- When using an interpreter (continued) 

▪ In large gatherings where microphones are used, make sure that the interpreters providing 

sign to voice interpretation have a microphone and are placed with a clear line of sight, in 

front of the speaker who is deaf or hard of hearing. 

▪ Situations requiring one or more hours of interpreting may call for more than one interpreter. 

A team of two interpreters helps reduce the possibility of errors and lessens the likelihood of 

injury due to the stressful repetitive motions required by interpreting. When interpreters 

work as a team, they will generally switch roles every twenty to thirty minutes. 

▪ If you are in doubt as to the best arrangements for your situation, ask the interpreters and 

the people who are deaf and hard of hearing. They are the experts on what will work best 

for them. 

Study of fatigue confirms need for working in teams130

“[M]ost people do not realize that an interpreter uses at least 22 cognitive skills when 

interpreting,’ states Patricia Michelsen in an article published in The Court Management and 

Administration Report. Other studies of simultaneous interpretation have shown that fatigue is 

exacerbated by environmental factors that interfere with various aspects of the cognitive 

process... 

While these studies make an important contribution to the body of scientific data needed for a 

better understanding of the interpreting process and its complexities, they merely corroborate 

what practicing interpreters have known and argued all along: that work quality – i.e., accuracy 

and coherence – begins to deteriorate after approximately 30 minutes of sustained 

simultaneous interpreting, and that the only way to ensure a 

faithful rendition of legal proceedings is to provide interpreters with adequate relief at 

approximately half-hour intervals. 

Conscientious administrators in several federal courts, the United Nations and the U.S. State 

Department recognized the need for tandem interpreting adopted the practice early on. Team 

interpreting, in fact, dates back to the Nuremberg trials. At the State Department, which 

according to Harry Obst, Director of the Office of Language Services, handles 200 to 300 

interpreting missions in 100 different locations per day, it is considered an inviolable policy. In 

response to a request from Ed Baca of the 

 

130 Excerpted from Marta Vidal, “New Study On Fatigue Confirms Need for Working In Teams,” Views, 

Volume 14, Issue 6, June 1997, pages 1, 43-45. 
 

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SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS-- Study of fatigue confirms need for working in teams 

(continued) 

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Obst pointed out that ‘The policy on simultaneous 

interpreters is simple and corresponds to that of all other responsible 

interpreting services in the entire world (United Nations, European Commission, International 

Red Cross, International Court of Justice, foreign ministries in other nations.) No individual 

simultaneous interpreter is allowed to work for more than 30 minutes at a time.’ The letter 

continues, ‘This is also done for the protection of the users. After 30 minutes the accuracy and 

completeness of simultaneous interpreters decrease precipitously, falling off by about 10% 

every 5 minutes after holding a satisfactory plateau for half an hour.’ The reason, Obst 

explains, is that ‘The human mind cannot hold the needed level of focused concentration any 

longer than that. This fact has been demonstrated in millions of hours of simultaneous 

interpretation around the world since 1948. It is not a question of opinion. It is simply the result 

of empirical observation.’”131

Code of Ethics (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf)132

The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. [RID] is the national professional association for 

sign language interpreters in the United States. RID maintains and administers the certifying 

examination system for interpreters nationwide. RID has set forth the following principles of 

ethical behavior to protect and guide interpreters, transliterators, and hearing and deaf 

consumers of interpreting services. Underlying these principles is the desire to ensure the right 

to communicate for all. 

This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. and 

to all certified non-members. 

1. Interpreters/transliterators shall keep all assignment-related information strictly 

confidential. 

2. Interpreters/transliterators shall render the message faithfully, always conveying the 

content and spirit of the speaker using language most readily understood by the 

person(s) whom they serve. 

 

131 References: 

Michelsen, Patricia. “Court Interpreting,” The Court Management & Administration Report, 

3:10-16, 1992. 

Obst, Harry. Letter to Mr. Edward Bava, District Court Administration Division, Administrative 

Office of the U.S. Courts, Washington, DC. June 11, 1996. 

132 Excerpted, with compiler additions, from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), “RID’s Code of 

Ethics,” http://www.rid.org/coe.html (visited 11/2/02).
 

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SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS—Code of Ethics (continued) 

3. Interpreters/transliterators shall not counsel, advise or interject personal opinions. 

4. Interpreters/transliterators shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill, 

setting, and the consumers involved. 

5. Interpreters/transliterators shall request compensation for services in a professional and 

judicious manner. 

6. Interpreters/transliterators shall function in a manner appropriate to the situation. 

7. Interpreters/transliterators shall strive to further knowledge and skills through 

participation in work-shops, professional meetings, interaction with professional 

colleagues, and reading of current literature in the field. 

Interpreters/transliterators, by virtue of membership or certification by the RID, Inc., shall strive 

to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Code of Ethics. 
 

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6. Assistive Listening Devices133

Assistive listening devices (ALDs) increase the volume of a desired sound, such as the 

soundtrack of a movie or the voice of a tour guide, without increasing the loudness of 

background noises. Some assistive listening devices are also used to convey audio descriptions 

to visitors with visual impairments 

It is estimated that one out of every 10 people in the U.S. has a significant hearing loss, ranging 

from 25 dB (mild) to 90 dB (severe). About half of them are older adults. Among people with 

hearing loss, some wear hearing aids or use other devices to enhance what hearing they have, 

and some read lips. 

ALDs are made up of two parts: the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitter picks up the 

sound and converts it to a signal, which it then sends out. The receiver picks up a signal and 

transmits it to the user. Several receivers can pick up the signal from a single transmitter. 

There are several types of ALD systems: 

Infrared systems transmit sounds via light waves to users wearing receivers. The receiver must 

be in the transmitter’s line of sight to function properly. This limits where listeners with receivers 

can be located, but it also prevents spillover of sound into other areas. Sunlight and bright 

incandescent light interfere with the transmitter signal, so an IR system may not be a good 

choice for outdoors. IR systems are often used in movies, conferences, and live performances. 

FM systems transmit sounds via radio waves. With this system, the speaker wears a compact 

microphone and transmitter while the listener has a portable receiver with headphones or 

earphones. FM systems are commonly used when the speaker is required to move around. This 

system is not affected by light, but may experience radio interference. The same system can 

serve multiple uses (e.g. translations, audio descriptions, etc.) because it can transmit and 

receive multiple frequencies. 134

 

133 Excerpted with compiler edits from Association of Science-Technology Centers, Accessible 

Practices, Best Practices, “Live and Recorded Media: Assistive Listening Devices,” 

http://www.astc.org/resource/access/medald.htm (visited 11/1/02). 

134 The Commission is equipped with fixed FM assistive listening systems in the Commission Meeting 

Room and in Conference Room 1 on the 8th floor. In addition, there are 2 portable FM systems that can 

be used throughout the building and at remote locations. The systems are outfitted with microphones, 

earphones, and neckloops. (The microphones used with the portable systems transmit only to the 

assistive listening devices; they will not provide amplification to the room.) 
 

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ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (continued) 

Inductive or audio loop systems transmit sounds using an electromagnetic field. A special amplifier 

and microphone used by the speaker send signals through a loop of wire installed around the 

listening area. Hearing aids equipped with telecoil circuits receive these signals and transmit 

them as sound to the listener. Listeners who do not have hearing aids or telecoil circuits can use 

receivers that pick up the signal. 
 

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7. CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation)135

What is it? 

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a word-for-word speech-to-text 

interpreting service for people who need communication access. Unlike computerized 

notetaking or abbreviation systems, which summarize information for consumers, CART 

provides a complete translation of all spoken words and environmental sounds, empowering 

consumers to decide for themselves what information is important to them. CART consumers 

include people with hearing loss; individuals with cognitive or motor challenges; anyone desiring 

to improve reading/language skills; and those with other communication barriers. The 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifically recognizes CART as an assistive technology 

that affords effective communication access. 

How it’s done 

A CART provider uses a steno machine, notebook computer, and realtime software to render 

instant speech-to-text translation on a computer monitor or other display for the benefit of an 

individual consumer or larger group in a number of settings: classrooms; business, government, 

and educational functions; courtrooms; religious, civic, cultural, recreation, or entertainment 

events. A CART provider is sensitive to the varying needs of consumers and has had training in 

conveying a speaker’s message, complete with environmental cues. This expertise 

distinguishes a CART provider from a court reporter in a traditional litigation setting. 

Certification 

NCRA’s Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) designation is nationally recognized and at 

this time is considered a requisite for CART providers. Attainment of the Certified Realtime 

Reporter (CRR) designation is recommended. 

 

135 Excerpted with compiler additions from the National Court Reporters Association, CART Provider’s 

Manual, http://cart.ncraonline.org/manual/index.html (visited 11/1/02).
 

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8. CAPTIONING 

What is Captioning?

Captioning is the transcription and subsequent text display of dialog and other auditory 

information, such as on- and off-screen sound effects, music, and laughter. Captioning is used 

in many places including videos and films, live performances and demonstrations, lectures, web 

sites, and television.

Captioning benefits are not limited to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. In loud, crowded 

venues as well as hushed, quite settings, captioned video allows sighted visitors to read what 

they cannot hear. Captions also benefit new readers and people who are learning English as a 

second language.136

There are two categories of captions: 

CLOSED captions are captions that are hidden in the video signal and are invisible without 

a special decoder. They are hidden in an area that is called line 21 of the vertical blanking 

interval (VBI).

OPEN captions are captions that have been decoded, so they have become an integral 

part of the television picture, like subtitles in a movie. Open captions cannot be turned off. 

The term “open captions” is also used to refer to subtitles created with a character 

generator.137

 

136 First and second paragraphs excerpted with compiler additions from Association of ScienceTechnology Centers, Accessible Practices, Best Practices, “Live and Recorded Media: Captioning,” 

http://www.astc.org/resource/access/medcaption.htm (visited 11/2/02). 

A. 137 Third and fourth paragraphs excerpted with compiler additions from Closed Captioning FAQ, 

“Captioning Overview: What Are Captions?” http://www.robson.org/capfaq/overview.html

(visited 11/2/02).
 

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CAPTIONING (continued) 

Caption Styles138

There are three ways that captions can be presented to a viewer: 

Roll-up captions are used almost exclusively for live events. The words appear one at a 

time at the end of the line, and when a line is filled, it rolls up to make room for a new 

line. Older decoders can only display roll-up captions at the bottom of the screen. Newer 

ones can place captions wherever the captioner wants them. 

Pop-on captions are the standard for pre-taped material. The entire caption appears, all 

at once, anywhere on the screen. When a pop-on caption appears, all captions 

previously on the screen are erased. 

Paint-on captions are free-form in their positioning, like pop-on captions, but they don’t 

erase what was already on the screen. The name comes from the way they are drawn 

on the screen a letter at a time, so you can see them “paint on” to the screen. They are 

not used much yet, except for commercials and special effects. 

How are realtime [live] captions generated?139

Realtime [live] captions are performed by stenocaptioners, who are court reporters with special 

training. They use a special keyboard (called a “steno keyboard” or “shorthand machine”) to 

write what they hear as they hear it. Unlike a traditional “QWERTY” keyboard, a steno keyboard 

allows more than one key to be pressed at a time. The basic concept behind machine shorthand 

is phonetic, where combinations of keys represent sounds, but the actual theory used is much 

more complex than straight phonics. 

Stenocaptioners are capable of writing at speeds of up to 250 words per minute, or even faster 

in short bursts. 

The steno keyboard is connected to a computer system where the captioning software formats 

the stream of steno characters into captions and sends it to a caption encoder. This can be 

done either directly or through telephone modems. 

 

138 Excerpted with compiler additions from Closed Captioning FAQ, “Closed Captioning FAQs: Caption 

Styles,” http://www.robson.org/capfaq/look.html (visited 11/2/02). 

139 Excerpted with compiler additions from Closed Captioning FAQ, “Online (Live) Captioning: How Are 

Realtime Captions Generated,” http://www.robson.org/capfaq/online.html (visited 11/1/02).
 

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CAPTIONING (continued) 

Methods of captioning140

▪ Stenocaptioning 

Live captions are usually displayed in three lines rolling up from the bottom of the screen 

and are produced by “stenocaptioners” who listen to the show as it airs, typing the words in 

code on a shorthand keyboard. With live captioning, a few errors are unavoidable. 

Stenocaptioners prepare for live programs ahead of time by updating their “dictionaries” with 

phonetic symbols or “briefs” for anticipated names and places. The symbols are converted 

into English words by translation software, formatted into caption data, and sent over 

telephone lines to be mixed with the video signal. The closed-captioned video signal is then 

sent to your home via satellite, airwaves, or cable. Your decoder changes the data into 

captions displayed on your screen. All this happens one to three seconds after a speaker’s 

words are spoken. This allows no time to make any corrections. One wrong keystroke can 

produce a strange combination of letters or syllables. A poorly prepared dictionary can also 

produce errors. 

You can recognize stenocaptioning because there are pauses as the words and phrases 

paint onto the screen. Some news programs are captioned with a combination of 

stenocaptioning and “prescripted” captions. The prescripted captions paint on smoothly one 

row at a time. Since these captions were typed ahead of time, there should be no errors. 

When you see pauses within rows, you know that a stenocaptioner has taken over. 

Stenocaption errors usually result when the computer combines phonetic information to 

create a wrong (but similar-sounding) word or phrase; for example: “okay you pant” instead 

of “occupant.” 

Most responsible captioning agencies require a 99% accuracy rate for real-time captioning, 

but at 250 words per minute, even the best and most experienced stenocaptioner can 

produce up to two errors every minute. Watch the network evening news for examples of 

experienced stenocaptioning. If you are watching garbled real-time captions and you are 

sure that poor reception is not creating the problem, the captioning agency may have put an 

inexperienced person on the air. 

▪ Electronic Newsroom Captioning

Some local newscasts are closed captioned using an electronic newsroom system. Such 

systems provide automatic captioning based on material typed ahead of time into the 

teleprompter. Late-breaking news, ad libs, and live segments (field reports 

 

140 Excerpted with compiler additions from Media Access Group (The Caption Center), Resources, 

“Solving Caption Problems,” 

http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/resources/guides/mag_guide_vol9.html (visited 11/1/02). 
 

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CAPTIONING -- Live Captioning – Electronic Newsroom Captioning (continued) 

or weather forecasts) usually go uncaptioned. These systems occasionally put the wrong 

captions on a story or roll the captioning too fast. 

▪ Off-line Captioning

You should expect virtually error-free captioning when a program is taped and captions can 

be prepared “off-line.” Captions should be thoroughly checked and reviewed before 

broadcast or duplication. It is the captioning agency’s responsibility to review its work and 

ensure high-quality captioning. It is the responsibility of the producers and networks to 

monitor the work of their captioning agencies. 

Please note that a common symptom of poor reception (or technical problems at the TV station) 

is pairs of missing letters; for example “Good night” might appear as “Good nht”. While this may 

look like a misspelling, it is probably not a problem of sloppy captioning. Rather, poor reception 

or a technical glitch at the TV station could be the problem. 

 
 

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9. Braille141

What Is Braille? 

Braille is a series of raised dots that can be read 

with the fingers by people who are blind or whose eyesight is not sufficient for reading printed 

material. Teachers, parents, and others who are not visually impaired ordinarily read braille with 

their eyes. Braille is not a language. Rather, it is a code by which languages such as English or 

Spanish may be written and read. 

What Does Braille Look Like? 

Braille symbols are formed within units of space known as braille cells. A full braille cell consists 

of six raised dots arranged in two parallel columns each having three dots. The dot positions are 

identified by numbers from one through six. Sixty-four combinations are possible using one or 

more of these six dots. A single cell can be used to represent an alphabet letter, number, 

punctuation mark, or even a whole word. 

How Was Braille Invented? 

Louis Braille was born in Coupvray, France, on January 4, 1809. He attended the National 

Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, France, as a student. While attending the Institute, Braille 

yearned for more books to read. He experimented with ways to make an alphabet that was easy 

to read with the fingertips. The writing system he invented, at age fifteen, evolved from the 

tactile “Ecriture Nocturne” (night writing) code invented by Charles Barbier for sending military 

messages that could be read on the battlefield at night, without light. 

 

141 Excerpted with compiler edits from American Foundation for the Blind, Information Center, 

“What is Braille,” http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?documentid=1248 (visited 

11/1/02).
 

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How Is Braille Written? 

When every letter of every word is expressed in braille, it is referred to as Grade 1 braille. Very 

few books or other reading material are transcribed in Grade 1 braille. However, many newly 

blinded adults find this useful for labeling personal or kitchen items. 

The system used for reproducing most textbooks and publications is known as Grade 2 braille. 

In this system cells are used individually or in combination with others to form a 
 

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BRAILLE – How is braille written (continued) 

variety of contractions or whole words. For example, in Grade 1 braille the phrase you like him

requires twelve cell spaces. It would look like this: 

 you like him 

If written in Grade 2 braille, this same phrase would take only six cell spaces to write. This is 

because the letters y and l are also used for the whole words you and like respectively. 

Likewise, the word him is formed by combining the letters h and m. It would look like this: 

 you like him 

There are 189 different letter contractions and 76 short-form words used in Grade 2 braille. 

These “short cuts” are used to reduce the volume of paper needed for reproducing books in 

braille and to make the reading process easier. 

Grade 1 (or uncontracted) braille has nothing to do with first grade. Most children learn grade 2 

(contracted) braille from kindergarten on. In recent years, some teachers have chosen to begin 

teaching grade 1 braille first, transitioning to grade 2 braille by the mid-elementary years. There 

is currently no research that supports the superiority of one approach over the other. 

Just as printed matter can be produced with a paper and pencil, typewriter, or printer, braille can 

also be written in several ways. The braille equivalent of paper and pencil is the slate and stylus. 

This consists of a slate or template with evenly spaced depressions for the dots of braille cells, 

and a stylus for creating the individual braille dots. With paper placed in the slate, tactile dots 

are made by pushing the pointed end of the stylus into the paper over the depressions. The 

paper bulges on its reverse side forming “dots.” Because of their portability, the slate and stylus 

are especially helpful for taking notes during lectures and for labeling such things as file folders. 

Braille is also produced by a machine known as a braillewriter. Unlike a typewriter which has 

more than fifty keys, the braillewriter has only six keys and a space bar. These keys are 

numbered to correspond with the six dots of a braille cell. In that most braille symbols contain 

more than a single dot, all or any of the braillewriter keys can be pushed at the same time. 
 

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BRAILLE – How is braille written (continued) 

Technological developments in the computer industry have provided and continue to expand 

additional avenues of literacy for braille users. Software programs and portable electronic braille 

notetakers allow users to save and edit their writing, have it displayed back to them either 

verbally or tactually, and produce a hard copy via a desktop computer-driven braille embosser. 

Since its development in France by Louis Braille in the latter part of the nineteenth century, 

braille has become not only an effective means of communication, but also a proven avenue for 

achieving and enhancing literacy for people who are blind or have significant vision loss.142 

 

142 A sample page of braille with an English translation can be found in the Appendix of this Handbook. 
 

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10. Video Description143,144

Video Description uses spoken explanations and descriptions of visual elements that are 

inserted into a television or video program without interfering with the sounds and dialogue that 

are a regular part of the program. This service is available on a limited basis on certain cable 

television channels, on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television shows, commercial 

broadcast stations, and on videotapes for purchase or rental. 

A research project completed by the American Foundation for the Blind in 1997 (partially funded 

by the U.S. Department of Education, grant #H026G40001) studied issues related to video 

description, and to television and video watching by people who are blind or visually impaired. 

The following are highlights of that study: 

▪ Blind and visually impaired people (approximately 3% of the U.S. population) watch 

television and videotapes about as often as those who are not visually impaired. In addition, 

their households own televisions and VCRs, and subscribe to cable television, to the same 

extent as other households. However, many find the experience frustrating. 

▪ In order to increase their understanding and enjoyment of television shows, people who are 

blind or visually impaired take various actions including sitting closer to the television set, 

buying larger television sets, and asking other people questions about what is happening on 

the screen. 

▪ Most people who are blind or visually impaired find that their enjoyment of television is 

increased when sighted companions informally describe the visual aspects of programming 

to them. 

▪ The vast majority of those who have experienced formal video description say they would be 

more likely to watch a television show or video with description than without. 

▪ The vast majority of blind and visually impaired people who have experienced description 

say that it is important to their enjoyment of programming. 

▪ Most people who have watched video description with a sighted person say it rarely or never 

interferes with the sighted person’s enjoyment of programming. 

 

143 Excerpted with compiler additions from American Foundation for the Blind, Information Center, “Video 

Description,” http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?documentid=944 (visited 11/1/02). 

144 “Audio Description” is another term often used for this service. 
 

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VIDEO DESCRIPTION (continued) 

▪ People who have experienced video description feel that it affords important benefits, which 

fall into the categories of enhanced viewing, learning, and social experiences watching 

television and videotapes. 

▪ “Dramas or Mysteries” and “Nature or Science” are the two most popular categories of 

television shows that blind and visually impaired people would like to see described. For 

videotapes of movies, the most popular categories are “Serious Dramas” and 

“Documentaries.” 
 

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11. DISABILITY ACCESS SYMBOLS 

Access to Low Vision145

This symbol may be used to indicate access for people who are blind or have low 

vision, including: guided tours, paths to a nature trail, scent gardens in a park, 

tactile tours or museum exhibitions that may be touched. 

Accessibility Symbol146

The wheelchair symbol should only be used to indicate access for individuals 

with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. For example, the symbol is used 

to indicate accessible entrances, bathrooms, or telephones that have been 

lowered for wheelchair users. Remember that a ramped entrance is not 

completely accessible if there are no curb cuts, and an elevator is not accessible 

if it can only be reached via steps. 

 

Accessible Print147

The symbol for large print is ‘Large Print’ printed in 18 Point or larger text. In 

addition to indicating that large print versions of books, pamphlets, museum 

guides and theater programs are available, the symbol may be used on 

conference or membership forms to indicate that print materials may be provided 

 

145 Excerpted with compiler additions from Graphic Artists Guild, “Disability Access Symbols,” (symbols 

available in downloadable files from this site), http://www.gag.org/resources/das.php (visited 11/1/02).

146 Id.

147 Id.
 

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in large print. Sans serif or modified serif print with good contrast is highly 

recommended, and special attention should be paid to letter and word spacing. 

Assistive Listening Systems148

These systems transmit sound via hearing aids or headsets. They include 

infrared, loop and FM systems. Portable systems may be available from the same 

audiovisual equipment suppliers that service conferences and meetings. 

 

148 Id. 
 

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DISABILITY ACCESS SYMBOLS (continued) 

 

Audio Description (Video Description)149,150

There are 2 symbols that are used for this service that makes television, video, film, 

and live performances more accessible for persons who are blind or have low vision. 

For televisions and monitors, descriptions of visual elements are provided by a 

trained Audio Describer using the Secondary Audio Program (SAP). 

Braille Symbol151

This symbol indicates that printed matter is available in braille, including exhibition 

labeling, publications, and signage. 

Closed Captioning152

These symbols indicate that a television program or videotape is closed captioned. 

The “CC” (with or without the rounded rectangle surrounding it) is generic and can 

be used by any company. The second icon that looks like a comic strip speech 

“balloon” (a rounded rectangle with a small “tail” protruding below) is a registered 

service mark of the National Captioning Institute (NCI), and is only used for 

productions that are captioned by NCI. 

 

149 FCC uses the term “Video Description.”

150 Excerpted with compiler additions from Graphic Artists Guild, “Disability Access Symbols,” (symbols 

available in downloadable files from this site), http://www.gag.org/resources/das.php (visited 11/1/02). 

Second graphic (“D” with radiating arcs) from WGBH, Services for Hire, “Access Symbols,” 

http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/hire/symbols.html (visited 11/1/02). 

151 From Graphic Artists Guild, “Disability Access Symbols,” (symbols available in downloadable files from 

this site), http://www.gag.org/resources/das.php (visited 11/1/02).

152 Excerpted with compiler additions from Closed Captioning FAQ, “Closed Captioning Overview: Why 

are there different icons to denote captioned programs?” 

http://www.robson.org/capfaq/overview.html#icons (visited 11/1/02). 
 

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DISABILITY ACCESS SYMBOLS (continued) 

Sign Language Interpretation153

The symbol indicates that sign language interpretation is provided for lectures, 

tours, performances, conferences, or other programs. 

TTY (Teletypewriter)154

TTYs are also known as text telephones (TTs), or telecommunications devices for 

the deaf (TDDs). The TTY symbol indicates that TTYs are available. 

Volume Control Telephone155

This symbol indicates that telephone handsets with amplified sound and/or 

adjustable volume controls are available. 

Web Access156

This symbol appears on web sites that have been designed with accessibility 

features. The symbol should always be used with the following alt-text tag: Web 

Access Symbol (for people with disabilities). 

 

153 From Graphic Artists Guild, “Disability Access Symbols,” (symbols available in downloadable files from 

this site), http://www.gag.org/resources/das.php (visited 11/1/02). 

154 Excerpted with compiler additions from Graphic Artists Guild, “Disability Access Symbols,” (symbols 

available in downloadable files from this site), http://www.gag.org/resources/das.php (visited 11/1/02).

155 Id. 

156 Excerpted from WGBH, Service for Hire, “Access Symbols,” 

http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/hire/symbols.html (visited 11/4/02). 
 

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APPENDIX 
 

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APPENDIX A 

Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in the Commission’s Programs and Activities 

Before the 

Federal Communications Commission 

Washington, D.C. 20554 

In the Matter of 

Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the 

Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in 

the Commission’s Programs and Activities 

 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

ORDER 

 Adopted: March 4, 2003 Released: March 12, 2003 

By the Commission: Chairman Powell, Commissioners Copps and Adelstein issuing separate statements. 

1. As originally enacted, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibited 

discrimination against individuals with disabilities under any “program or activity” receiving Federal 

financial assistance. 157 In 1978, Congress amended Section 504 to cover any program or activity 

conducted by any Executive Branch agency or the United States Postal Service. The 1978 amendment 

required covered agencies to promulgate regulations enforcing Section 504’s prohibitions. On April 15, 

1987, the Commission released a Report and Order that adopted with minor modifications the 

 

157 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pub.L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 394, 29 U.S.C. 794, as amended by the Rehabilitation 

Act Amendments of 1974, Pub.L. 93-516, 88 Stat. 1617, and the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and 

Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, Pub.L. 95-602, 92 Stat. 2955, and the Rehabilitation Act 

Amendments of 1986, § 103(d), Pub.L. 99-506, 100 Stat. 1810, creates specific causes of action for persons who are 

aggrieved by discriminatory treatment as defined in the Act. 
 

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Department of Justice’s prototype regulations for implementing and enforcing Section 504.158 The Report 

and Order noted that the legislative history of the 1978 amendments indicated that Congress intended the 

amendments to apply to all federal agencies, including independent regulatory agencies such as this 

Commission.159 Except for adding consumer complaint procedures, the Commission has not updated its 

Section 504 regulations since 1987. 

2. By this Order, we amend Part 1, Subpart N of our rules, entitled “Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Federal 

Communications Commission,” 47 C.F.R. 1.1801 et seq., to update the Commission’s Section 504 

regulations. Specifically, we amend Subpart N throughout to replace the terms “handicap,” “individual 

with a handicap,” and “individuals with handicaps” with the terms “disability,” “individual with a 

disability,” and “individuals with disabilities,” respectively, in keeping with the most current statutory 

terms used in the Americans with Disabilities Act.160 We amend sections 1.1803 and 1.1810 to specify 

filing and signature formats for persons with disabilities who wish to file using alternative media. We 

add a new section 1.1805 to our rules to provide for the Federal Communications Commission Section 

504 Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook (Section 504 Handbook). The Section 504 

Handbook is intended as a guide to implement the Commission’s responsibilities under Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act. 161 This handbook describes the methods and procedures for accommodation 

available at the Commission to achieve a consistent and complete accommodations policy. It is for 

internal staff use and public information only, and is not intended to create any rights, responsibilities, or 

independent causes of action against the Federal Government. 

3. In addition, we amend section 1.1803 to define the term “programs or activities” as that 

term is used in Subpart N. We amend section 1.1810 to require that the self-evaluation process be held 

every three years, during which time we will seek public comment on the accessibility of our programs 

and activities as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Finally, we amend section 

1.1849 to add a procedure for individuals who are requesting accessibility to the Commission’s programs 

and facilities. We note that requests for accommodation requiring the assistance of other persons (e.g., an 

American Sign Language interpreter) can best be provided if the request is made five business days 

before a Commission event.162

4. The modifications to Part 1, Subpart N undertaken by this Order are rules that pertain to 

agency organization, procedure and practice. Consequently, the notice and comment provisions of the 

 

158 Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules to Implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 

amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794, Gen. Docket No. 84-533, Report and Order, 2 FCC Rcd 2199 (1987)(Report and Order). 

159 See Report and Order at 2199, ¶ 2. 

160 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. 

161 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pub.L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 394, 29 U.S.C. 794, as amended by the Rehabilitation 

Act Amendments of 1974, Pub.L. 93-516, 88 Stat. 1617, and the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and 

Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, Pub.L. 95-602, 92 Stat. 2955, and the Rehabilitation Act 

Amendments of 1986, sec. 103(d), Pub.L. 99-506, 100 Stat. 1810, creates specific causes of action for persons who 

are aggrieved by discriminatory treatment as defined in the Act. 

162 Even if the request for accommodation is made less than five days before the relevant event, the Commission will 

make every effort to secure the services of a person to provide the requested assistance. 
 

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Administrative Procedure Act are inapplicable.163 The procedural rule modifications will be effective 

immediately upon publication in the Federal Register.164

5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 5 of the Communications Act of 

1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 155, Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission's rules IS AMENDED as set 

forth in the attached Appendix, effective upon publication in the Federal Register. 

 FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 

 Marlene H. Dortch 

 Secretary

 

163 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(3)(A). 

164 See 5 U.S.C. § 553(d). 
 

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6. APPENDIX A 

7. FINAL RULE AMENDMENTS 

8.

Part 1 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows: 

1) The authority citation for Part 1 continues to read as follows: 

AUTHORITY: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 225, 303(r), 309 and 325(e), and 29 USC 794. 

2) Part 1 Subpart N is amended to read as follows: 

9.

SUBPART N--ENFORCEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN 

PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

§ 1.1801 Purpose. 

 The purpose of this part is to effectuate section 119 of the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and 

Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, which amended section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973 (section 504) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities 

conducted by Executive agencies or the United States Postal Service. 

§ 1.1802 Applications. 

 This part applies to all programs or activities conducted by the Federal Communications Commission. 

The programs or activities of entities that are licensed or certified by the Federal Communications 

Commission are not covered by these regulations. 

 

§ 1.1803 Definitions. 

 For purposes of this part, the term-- 

 “Auxiliary aids” means services or devices that enable persons with impaired sensory, manual, or 

speaking skills to have an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs or 

activities conducted by the Commission. For example, auxiliary aids useful for persons with impaired 

vision include readers, Brailled materials, audio recordings, and other similar services and devices. 

Auxiliary aids useful for persons with impaired hearing include telephone handset amplifiers, telephones 

compatible with hearing aids, telecommunication devices for deaf persons (TTY/TDDs), interpreters, 

Computer-aided realtime transcription (CART), captioning, notetakers, written materials, and other 

similar services and devices. 

 “Commission” means Federal Communications Commission. 
 

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 “Complete complaint” means a written statement, or a complaint in audio, Braille, electronic, and/or 

video format, that contains the complainant's name and address and describes the Commission's alleged 

discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Commission of the nature and date of the alleged 

violation of section 504. It shall be signed by the complainant or by someone authorized to do so on his 

or her behalf. The signature of the complainant, or signature of someone authorized by the complainant 

to do so on his or her behalf, shall be provided on print complaints. Complaints in audio, Braille, 

electronic, and/or video formats shall contain an affirmative identity statement of the individual, which 

for this purpose shall be considered to be functionally equivalent to a complainant’s signature. 

Complaints filed on behalf of classes or third parties shall describe or identify (by name, if possible) the 

alleged victims of discrimination. 

 “Facility” means all or any portion of buildings, structures, equipment, roads, walks, parking lots, or 

other real or personal property. 

“General Counsel” means the General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission. 

 “Individual with a disability” means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment that 

substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as 

having such an impairment. As used in this definition, the phrase: 

 

 (1) “Physical or mental impairment” includes, but is not limited to, -- 

 

 (i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss 

affecting one or more of the following body systems: Neurological; musculoskeletal; 

special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; 

digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; 

 

 (ii) Any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain 

syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities; 

 (iii) Diseases and conditions such as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing 

impairments; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis; cancer; 

heart disease; diabetes; mental retardation; emotional illness; and drug addiction and 

alcoholism. 

 (2) “Major life activities” include functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual 

tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. 

 (3) “Has a record of such an impairment” means has a history of, or has been misclassified as 

having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. 

 (4) “Is regarded as having an impairment” means-- 

(i) Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life 

activities but is treated by the Commission as constituting such a limitation; 

(ii) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only 

as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or 
 

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(iii) Has none of the impairments defined in paragraph (1) of this definition but is treated 

by the Commission as having such impairment. 

“Managing Director” means the individual delegated authority as described in 47 C.F.R. § 0.11. 

“Programs or Activities” mean any activity of the Commission permitted or required by its enabling 

statutes, including but not limited to any licensing or certification program, proceeding, investigation, 

hearing, meeting, board or committee. 

 “Qualified individual with a disability” means-- 

 (1) With respect to any Commission program or activity under which an individual is required to 

perform services or to achieve a level of accomplishment, an individual with a disability who, 

with or without reasonable modification to rules, policies, or practices or the provision of 

auxiliary aids, meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the program or 

activity and can achieve the purpose of the program or activity; or 

 (2) With respect to any other program or activity, an individual with a disability who, with or 

without reasonable modification to rules, policies, or practices or the provision of auxiliary aids, 

meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in, or receipt of benefits from, that 

program or activity; or 

 (3) The definition of that term as defined for purposes of employment in 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(m), 

which is made applicable to this part by § 1.1840. 

“Section 504” means section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pub.L. 93-112, 87 Stat. 394, 29 

U.S.C. 794, as amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974, Pub.L. 93-516, 88 Stat. 1617, 

and the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978, 

Pub.L. 95-602, 92 Stat. 2955, and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986, sec. 103(d), Pub.L. 99-

506, 100 Stat. 1810. As used in this part, section 504 applies only to programs or activities conducted by 

Executive agencies and not to federally assisted programs. 

“Section 504 Officer” is the Commission employee charged with overseeing the Commission’s section 

504 programs and activities. 

§ 1.1805 Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility 

Handbook. 

The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau shall publish a “Federal Communications Commission 

Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility Handbook” (“Section 504 Handbook”) for 

Commission staff, and shall update the Section 504 Handbook as necessary and at least every three years. 

The Section 504 Handbook shall be available to the public in hard copy upon request and electronically 

on the Commission’s Internet website. The Section 504 Handbook shall contain procedures for releasing 

documents, holding meetings, receiving comments, and for other aspects of Commission programs and 

activities to achieve accessibility. These procedures will ensure that the Commission presents a 

consistent and complete accommodation policy pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 794, as amended. The Section 

504 Handbook is for internal staff use and public information only, and is not intended to create any 

rights, responsibilities, or independent cause of action against the Federal Government. 
 

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§ 1.1810 Review of compliance. 

 (a) The Commission shall, beginning in 2004 and at least every three years thereafter, review its current 

policies and practices in view of advances in relevant technology and achievability. Based on this review, 

the Commission shall modify its practices and procedures to ensure that the Commission’s programs and 

activities are fully accessible. 

 (b) The Commission shall provide an opportunity to interested persons, including individuals with 

disabilities or organizations representing individuals with disabilities, to participate in the review process 

by submitting comments. Written comments shall be signed by the commenter or by someone authorized 

to do so on his or her behalf. The signature of the commenter, or signature of someone authorized by the 

commenter to do so on his or her behalf, shall be provided on print comments. Comments in audio, 

Braille, electronic, and/or video formats shall contain an affirmative identity statement of the individual, 

which for this purpose shall be considered to be functionally equivalent to a commenter’s signature. 

 (c) The Commission shall maintain on file and make available for public inspection for four years 

following completion of the compliance review -- 

 (1) A description of areas examined and problems identified; 

 (2) All comments and complaints filed regarding the Commission’s compliance; and 

 (3) A description of any modifications made. 

 

 § 1.1811 Notice. 

 The Commission shall make available to employees, applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other 

interested persons information regarding the regulations set forth in this part, and their applicability to the 

programs or activities conducted by the Commission. The Commission shall make such information 

available to such persons in such manner as the Section 504 Officer finds necessary to apprise such 

persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by section 504. 

§ 1.1830 General prohibitions against discrimination. 

 (a) No qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from 

participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program 

or activity conducted by the Commission. 

 (b) Discriminatory actions prohibited. 

(1) The Commission, in providing any aid, benefit, or service, may not, directly or through 

contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, on the basis of disability-- 

(i) Deny a qualified individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in or benefit 

from the aid, benefit, or service; 

(ii) Afford a qualified individual with a disability an opportunity to participate in or 

benefit from the aid, benefit, or service that is not equal to that afforded others; 
 

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(iii) Provide a qualified individual with a disability with an aid, benefit, or service that is 

not as effective in affording equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same 

benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement as that provided to others; 

(iv) Provide different or separate aid, benefits, or services to individuals with disabilities 

or to any class of individuals with disabilities than is provided to others unless such 

action is necessary to provide qualified individuals with disabilities with aid, benefits, or 

services that are as effective as those provided to others; 

(v) Deny a qualified individual with a disability the opportunity to participate as a 

member of planning or advisory boards; or 

(vi) Otherwise limit a qualified individual with a disability in the enjoyment of any right, 

privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by others receiving the aid, benefit, or 

service. 

(2) The Commission may not deny a qualified individual with a disability the opportunity to 

participate in any program or activity even where the Commission is also providing equivalent 

permissibly separate or different programs or activities for persons with disabilities. 

(3) The Commission may not, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, utilize 

criteria or methods of administration-- 

 (i) That have the purpose or effect of subjecting qualified individuals with disabilities to 

discrimination on the basis of disability; or 

(ii) That have the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing 

accomplishment of the objectives of a program or activity with respect to individuals 

with disabilities. 

(4) The Commission may not, in determining the site or location of a facility, make selections-- 

(i) That have the purpose or effect of excluding individuals with disabilities from, 

denying them the benefits of, or otherwise subjecting them to discrimination under any 

program or activity conducted by the Commission; or 

(ii) That have the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing the 

accomplishment of the objectives of a program or activity with respect to individuals 

with disabilities. 

(5) The Commission, in the selection of procurement contractors, may not use criteria that subject 

qualified individuals with disabilities to discrimination on the basis of disability. 

(6) The Commission may not administer a licensing or certification program in a manner that 

subjects qualified individuals with disabilities to discrimination on the basis of disability, nor may 

the Commission establish requirements for the programs or activities of licensees or certified 

entities that subject qualified individuals with disabilities to discrimination on the basis of 

disability. However, the programs or activities of entities that are licensed or certified by the 

Commission are not, themselves, covered by this part. 
 

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(7) The Commission shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures 

when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless the 

Commission can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature 

of the program, service, or activity. 

(c) This part does not prohibit the exclusion of persons without disabilities from the benefits of a program 

limited by Federal statute or Executive order to individuals with disabilities, or the exclusion of a specific 

class of individuals with disabilities from a program limited by Federal statute or Executive order to a 

different class of individuals with disabilities. 

(d) The Commission shall administer programs and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to 

the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities. 

§ 1.1840 Employment. 

 No qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be subjected to discrimination in 

employment under any program or activity conducted by the Commission. The definitions, requirements 

and procedures of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 791, as established by the 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 29 C.F.R. Parts 1614 and 1630, as well as the procedures 

set forth in the Basic Negotiations Agreement Between the Federal Communications Commission and 

National Treasury Employees Union, as amended, and Subchapter III of the Civil Service Reform Act of 

1978, 5 U.S.C. § 7121(d), shall apply to employment in federally conducted programs or activities. 

§ 1.1849 Program accessibility: Discrimination prohibited. 

 (a) Except as otherwise provided in § 1.1850, no qualified individual with a disability shall, because the 

Commission's facilities are inaccessible to, or unusable, by individuals with disabilities, be denied the 

benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any 

program or activity conducted by the Commission. 

(b) Individuals shall request accessibility to the Commission’s programs and facilities by contacting the 

Commission’s Section 504 Officer. Such contact may be made in the manner indicated in the FCC 

Section 504 Handbook. The Commission will make every effort to provide accommodations requiring 

the assistance of other persons (e.g., American Sign Language interpreters, communication access 

realtime translation (CART) providers, transcribers, captioners, and readers) if the request is made to the 

Commission’s Section 504 Officer a minimum of five business days in advance of the program. If such 

requests are made fewer than five business days prior to an event, the Commission will make every effort 

to secure accommodation services, although it may be less likely that the Commission will be able to 

secure such services. 

§ 1.1850 Program accessibility: Existing facilities. 

 (a) General. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Commission shall operate each program 

or activity so that the program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, is readily accessible to and usable 

by individuals with disabilities. This paragraph does not— 

(1) Necessarily require the Commission to make each of its existing facilities accessible to and 

usable by individuals with disabilities; 
 

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(2) Require the Commission to take any action that it can demonstrate would result in a 

fundamental alteration in the nature of a program or activity, or in undue financial and 

administrative burdens. In those circumstances where Commission personnel believe that the 

proposed action would fundamentally alter the program or activity or would result in undue 

financial and administrative burdens, the Commission has the burden of proving that compliance 

with § 1.1850(a) would result in such alteration or burdens. The decision that compliance would 

result in such alteration or burdens must be made by the Managing Director, in consultation with 

the Section 504 Officer, after considering all Commission resources available for use in the 

funding and operation of the conducted program or activity, and must be accompanied by a 

written statement of the reasons for reaching that conclusion. If an action would result in such an 

alteration or such burdens, the Commission shall take any other action that would not result in 

such an alteration or such burdens but would nevertheless ensure that individuals with disabilities 

receive the benefits and services of the program or activity. 

(b) Methods. The Commission may comply with the requirements of this section through such means as 

the redesign of equipment, reassignment of services to accessible buildings, assignment of aides to 

beneficiaries, home visits, delivery of services at alternate accessible sites, alteration of existing facilities 

and construction of new facilities, or any other methods that result in making its programs or activities 

readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The Commission is not required to make 

structural changes in existing facilities where other methods are effective in achieving compliance with 

this section. The Commission, in making alterations to existing buildings, shall meet accessibility 

requirements to the extent compelled by the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 

4151-4157), and any regulations implementing it. In choosing among available methods for meeting the 

requirements of this section, the Commission shall give priority to those methods that offer programs and 

activities to qualified individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate. 

 (c) Time period for compliance. The Commission shall comply with the obligations established under 

this section within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this subpart, except that where structural 

changes in facilities are undertaken, such changes shall be made within three (3) years of the effective 

date of this part. 

 (d) Transition plan. In the event that structural changes to facilities will be undertaken to achieve 

program accessibility, the Commission shall develop, within six (6) months of the effective date of this 

subpart, a transition plan setting forth the steps necessary to complete such changes. The Commission 

shall provide an opportunity to interested persons, including individuals with disabilities or organizations 

representing individuals with disabilities, to participate in the development of the transition plan by 

submitting comments (both oral and written). A copy of the transitional plan shall be made available for 

public inspection. The plan shall, at a minimum-- 

(1) Identify physical obstacles in the Commission's facilities that limit the accessibility of its 

programs or activities to individuals with disabilities; 

(2) Describe in detail the methods that will be used to make the facilities accessible; 

(3) Specify the schedule for taking the steps necessary to achieve compliance with this section 

and, if the time period of the transition plan is longer than one (1) year, identify steps that will be 

taken during each year of the transition period; 

(4) Indicate the official responsible for implementation of the plan. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

§ 1.1851 Building accessibility: New construction and alterations. 

 Each building or part of a building that is constructed or altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of the 

Commission shall be designed, constructed, or altered so as to be readily accessible to and usable by 

individuals with disabilities. The definitions, requirements and standards of the Architectural Barriers 

Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4151-4157, as established in 41 C.F.R. §§ 101-19.600 to 101-19.607, apply to 

buildings covered by this section. 

§ 1.1870 Compliance procedures. 

 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this section applies to all allegations of 

discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities conducted by the Commission. 

 (b) The Commission shall process complaints alleging violations of section 504 with respect to 

employment according to the procedures established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

in 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 pursuant to section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791. 

 (c) Complaints alleging violation of section 504 with respect to the Commission’s programs and 

activities shall be addressed to the Managing Director and filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TWB- 204, Washington, DC 20554. 

 

 (d) Acceptance of complaint. 

(1) The Commission shall accept and investigate all complete complaints, as defined in section 

1.1803 of this part, for which it has jurisdiction. All such complaints must be filed within onehundred eighty (180) days of the alleged act of discrimination. The Commission may extend this 

time period for good cause. 

(2) If the Commission receives a complaint that is not complete as defined in section 1.1803 of 

this part, the complainant will be notified within thirty (30) days of receipt of the incomplete 

complaint that additional information is needed. If the complainant fails to complete the 

complaint within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice, the Commission shall dismiss the 

complaint without prejudice. 

 (e) If the Commission receives a complaint over which it does not have jurisdiction, it shall promptly 

notify the complainant and shall make reasonable efforts to refer the complaint to the appropriate 

government entity. 

 (f) The Commission shall notify the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board upon 

receipt of any complaint alleging that a building or facility that is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act 

of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4151-4157, is not readily accessible to and usable by individuals with 

disabilities. 

 (g) Within one-hundred eighty (180) days of the receipt of a complete complaint, as defined in section 

1.1803 of this part, for which it has jurisdiction, the Commission shall notify the complainant of the 

results of the investigation in a letter containing-- 

(1) Findings of fact and conclusions of law; 

(2) A description of a remedy for each violation found; and 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

(3) A notice of the right to appeal. 

 (h) Appeals of the findings of fact and conclusions of law or remedies must be filed by the complainant 

within ninety (90) days of receipt from the Commission of the letter required by § 1.1870(g). The 

Commission may extend this time for good cause. 

 (i) Timely appeals shall be accepted and processed by the Office of the Secretary, Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TWB- 204, Washington, DC 20554. 

 (j) The Commission shall notify the complainant of the results of the appeal within sixty (60) days of the 

receipt of the appeal request. If the Commission determines that it needs additional information from the 

complainant, and requests such information, the Commission shall have sixty (60) days from the date it 

receives the additional information to make its determination on the appeal. 

 (k) The time limits cited in (g) and (j) of this section may be extended with the permission of the General 

Counsel. 

 (l) The Commission may delegate its authority for conducting complaint investigations to other federal 

agencies, except that the authority for making the final determination may not be delegated to another 

agency. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

APPENDIX B 

10.

11. Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs and Activities Accessibility 

Handbook. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

SEPARATE STATEMENT OF 

CHAIRMAN MICHAEL K. POWELL 

Re: Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Non-Discrimination on the 

Basis of Disability in the Commission’s Programs and Activities. 

 

Technology has the power to deliver to Americans with disabilities access that previously was 

unimaginable. Making access solutions available to the disability community has been a core objective of 

this Commission – from closed captioning to IP relay. Today’s Order ensures that a high level of access 

extends to the Commission as well, so that all Americans have the opportunity to meaningfully participate 

in the Commission’s work. 

Since the Commission first promulgated disability accommodation rules in 1987, there have been 

many changes in disability law, and the “state of the art” in access technology has advanced considerably. 

Today’s Order brings the Commission’s rules up-to-date with these changes. In addition, adoption of the 

Accessibility Handbook will ensure that the Commission’s policies are consistently applied and that all 

Commission staff are adequately prepared to deal with accommodation requests. The Order further 

provides that every three years the Commission will review its accommodation policies, so that we may 

learn and grow from our experiences, and keep pace with ever-changing technology. Only through 

constant vigilance can we ensure that individuals with disabilities are obtaining the best possible 

accommodations and the highest level of access. 

The creation of this Accessibility Handbook was a significant undertaking. I applaud the 

leadership demonstrated by the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau and its Disability Rights 

Office in making this remarkable and practical resource a reality – and a model for other federal agencies 

and the private sector. Such efforts further secure the FCC’s place as one of the most accessible 

institutions in government – an achievement for which I am tremendously proud. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

SEPARATE STATEMENT OF 

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS 

Re: In the Matter of Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in the Commission’s Programs and Activities 

I am pleased to support the Section 504 Order and Handbook. This update is long overdue, but 

all the more welcome for that. I am encouraged that we are updating our regulations today and 

establishing a regular review of these rules to help keep them up-to-date in the future. 

The Commission has made great strides over the past several years to improve accessibility. 

Among other things, the Commission wrote new rules to ensure that communications products and 

services are accessible to those with disabilities; overhauled and updated our Telecommunications Relay 

Services (TRS) rules; established and implemented 711 as a nationwide relay number; took action on 

captioning to ensure that everyone has access to televised information, including most importantly 

warnings about emergency situations; and allocated spectrum for assistive listening devices. 

But we must not rest on these accomplishments; we must build on them. The Commission needs 

now to look at the important issues of Internet relay, hearing aid compatibility for digital wireless phones, 

accessibility to digital and interactive television, and implementation of TTY access to E-911 and video 

description. 

My office was fortunate to have an intern with a disability to work with us last summer. The 

Commission did an outstanding job of providing accommodations for us, but I wonder whether everyone 

at this agency is aware of the kinds of accommodations the Commission can – and indeed, is required to – 

provide for our employees with disabilities. This Handbook is a good step to help us understand, and to 

make us a model not only of compliance -- but of leadership. We can do more. I would like to see this 

Handbook be used as a model for the Commission to develop other handbooks to address related issues. 

The Commission has responsibilities under Sections 501 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide 

accommodations to our employees with disabilities, and to ensure that the electronic and information 

technology that we use, build, buy, and/or lease is accessible to persons with disabilities. A Section 501 

Handbook could be a valuable tool for FCC employees, co-workers, and supervisors of employees with 

disabilities. Likewise, a Section 508 Handbook would assist all of us at the Commission who work with 

electronic and information technology to learn how to make decisions when procuring technology. It is 

not only the right thing to do, it is the law. 

I want to thank the Disability Rights Office for its leadership on this item, particularly those who 

spearheaded the Handbook. Thank you for your dedication to your jobs, and for helping the Commission 

to be accessible to members of the public with disabilities. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

SEPARATE STATEMENT OF 

COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN 

Re: In the Matter of Amendment of Part 1, Subpart N of the Commission’s Rules Concerning NonDiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in the Commission’s Programs and Activities 

I would like to commend the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau for its successful efforts in 

bringing yet another item to the Commission floor. After reading the handbook, I must say that it is both 

very thorough and informative. 

While a staff member in the United States Senate, I worked to help pass the Americans with Disabilities 

Act and devoted a great amount of attention to the Social Security Disability Insurance program. These 

types of issues ring very true to me. 

We, as a Commission, need to ensure that we have a uniform and comprehensive approach to ensuring 

accessibility to all Commission events in order to meet the Rehabilitation Act Section 504 requirements. 

As a federal entity, this is our mandate. I agree that in order to maintain that uniform approach, we need 

to periodically review the Commission’s current policies and practices every three years in order to take 

into account any relevant technological advances. Again, I want to thank you for your time on this very 

important issue. 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

APPENDIX B 

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Section 504 Handbook 

Page of embossed braille included in paper copies.
INDEX 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

INDEX 

Please refer to the Table of Contents for a detailed outline of the topics covered in this 

Handbook. 

A

Access guidelines 

FCC Audio-visual media..............................................40 

Meetings 

Attendee requests for accommodation .......................3 

FCC staff only....................................................21–24 

Open to all staff .............................................21–22 

In the Commission Meeting Room..................21 

Not in the Commission Meeting Room...........22 

Open to limited audience.....................................23 

Pre-registration required ......................................24 

Hosting accessible meetings and events.............33–35 

Media used during presentations........................35–39 

FCC events ....................................................35–37 

When speaking at non-FCC events................38–39 

Moderators.........................................................33–35 

Planner’s responsibilities ...........................................3 

Sample wording for announcing interpreter 

availability ...........................................................28 

With non-FCC attendees....................................25–31 

Commission Open Meetings................................25 

On issues of interest to people with disabilities...28 

Open to limited public audience ..........................27 

Pre-registration required ......................................30 

Public meetings ...................................................26 

Releasing documents....................................................32 

Training........................................................................41 

Accessible format model statements............See Reasonable 

accommodations:Model statements:Accessible formats 

ADA ......See Laws:Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Advisory committee accessSee Access guidelines:Meetings 

ALDs ................................... See Assistive listening devices 

Americans with Disabilities Act . See Laws:Americans with 

Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Artificial larynx,definition ................................................10 

Assistive listening devices ................................................86 

FM systems ..................................................................86 

Inductive or audio loop systems ...................................87 

Infrared systems ...........................................................86 

Audio description...............................See Video description 

Audio loops.......................... See Assistive listening devices 

Augmentative & alternative communication,definition....11 

AV access .See Access guidelines:FCC Audio-visual media 

B

Braille .........................................................................93–95 

C

Captioning.................................................................. 89–92 

Captioning rule................................................................. 71 

CART............................................................................... 88 

Closed captioning......................................... See Captioning 

Communication Access Realtime Translation..... See CART 

Communication boards,definition .................................... 10 

Computer Assisted Realtime ............................... See CART 

Conference Access ............ See Access guidelines:Meetings 

Cued speech transliterators................................................. 9 

D

Disability access symbols......................................... 98–100 

Disability etiquette 

Blind and visually impaired ............................. 76, 78–79 

Deaf and hard of hearing........................................ 76, 82 

General..................................................................... 3, 76 

Offering help................................................................ 76 

Shaking hands.............................................................. 76 

Sign language interpreters............................................ 76 

Speech disabilities.................................................. 76, 80 

Wheelchairs ................................................................. 76 

Disability Rights Movement .............................................. 5 

Disability terminology...................................................... 74 

Documents 

Releasing documents, access guidelines ........ See Access 

guidelines:Releasing documents 

Submitted in alternate format................................. 53–62 

FCC points of contact.............................................. 52 

E

E-mail address for Section 504......................................... 47 

Etiquette ...........................................See Disability etiquette 

Event Access ..................... See Access guidelines:Meetings 

F

FCC 

Basic principles of access .............................................. 3 

Commitment to access ................................................... 2 

Disability and access information .................................. 8 

General access considerations 

Contracting and acquisitions ................................... 18 

Information access................................................... 13 

Physical access ........................................................ 12 

Safety....................................................................... 16 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

Staff activities ..........................................................15 

Points of contact.............................................................8 

Types of access requested 

For people who are blind or have low vision .............8 

For people with mobility impairments .......................8 

For people with other disabilities.............................11 

For people with speech disabilities ..........................10 

FCC University.................................................................41 

fcc504@fcc.gov................................................................47 

Forum access .....................See Access guidelines:Meetings 

G

Graphics, Disability access symbols.........................98–100 

H

HCO (Hearing carry over) ................................................50 

Hearing Aid Compatibility Act.........................................72 

I

Inclusive language ............................................................74 

Interpreters 

Cued speech transliterators.............................................9 

Oral interpreters..............................................................9 

Re-voicers,definition ....................................................10 

Sign language interpreters ......................................82–85 

Code of ethics ..........................................................84 

Working with .....................................................76, 82 

Tactile interpreters..........................................................9 

IP Relay ............................................................................50 

L

Laws .......................................................................4, 64–71 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).................67–70 

Title I, Employment .................................................67 

Title II, Public transportation ...................................68 

Title II, State and local government activities..........67 

Title III, Public accommodations.............................69 

Title IV, Telecommunications relay services...........69 

Architectural Barriers Act ............................................70 

Rehabilitation Act ........................................................66 

Section 501 ..............................................................66 

Section 503 ..............................................................66 

Section 504 ..........................................................4, 64 

FCC Order ...........................................................65 

Section 508 ..............................................................66 

Telecommunications Act..............................................70 

Lipreading...........................................................................2 

Logos,Disability access ............................................98–100 

Loops ................................... See Assistive listening devices 

M

Meeting Access..................See Access guidelines:Meetings 

N

Notetakers,definition.......................................................... 9 

O

Open captioning ........................................... See Captioning 

Oral interpreters ................................................................. 9 

P

Politically correct language.............................................. 74 

R

Reasonable accommodations 

Model statements 

Accessible formats .................................................. 32 

Presenters announcing availability upon request. 39 

Meetings 

Commission Open Meetings ............................... 25 

FCC staff only, in the Commission Meeting Room

........................................................................ 21 

FCC staff only, not in the Commission Meeting 

Room .............................................................. 22 

FCC staff only, open to limited audience............ 23 

On issues of interest to people with disabilities .. 29 

Open to limited public audience.......................... 27 

Public meetings................................................... 26 

Registration forms............................................... 30 

Sign language interpreters available.................... 28 

Registration forms ................................................... 24 

Requests....................................................................... 45 

Rehabilitation Act ...................See Laws:Rehabilitation Act 

Relay ...................................................................... See TRS 

Releasing documents.........See Access guidelines:Releasing 

documents 

Requests for reasonable accommodations... See Reasonable 

accommodations:Requests 

S

Section 501.......... See Laws:Rehabilitation Act:Section 501 

Section 503.......... See Laws:Rehabilitation Act:Section 503 

Section 504.......... See Laws:Rehabilitation Act:Section 504 

Section 508..........See Laws:Rehabilitation Act:Section 508 

Sign language interpreters 

Code of ethics .............................................................. 84 

Working with......................................................... 76, 82 

Signers.................................. See Sign language interpreters 

Spanish Relay Service...................................................... 51 

Speech output device,definition ....................................... 10 

Speechreading .................................................................... 2 

Statistics, Disability.......................................................... 73 

STS (Speech to speech).................................................... 50 

Symbols, Disability access....................................... 98–100 
 

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Section 504 Handbook 

T

Tactile interpreters ..............................................................9 

Taskforce access ............... See Access Guidelines:Meetings 

Telecommunications Act 

Section 713...................................................................71 

Sections 255 & 251 ......................................................70 

Telecommunications Relay Service........................See TRS 

Television Decoder Circuitry Act.....................................71 

Training access ................... See Access guidelines:Training 

Transcription procedures 

Audio recordings....................................................53–55 

Braille.....................................................................56–58 

Sign language video recordings..............................59–62 

TRS.............................................................................49–50 

HCO (Hearing carry over)............................................50 

IP Relay........................................................................50 

Spanish Relay...............................................................51 

STS (Speech to speech)................................................50 

TTY calls......................................................................49 

VCO (Voice carry over)............................................... 49 

VRS (Video Relay Service) ......................................... 50 

TRS legislation................................................................. 69 

TTYs 

Assistance with ............................................................ 48 

Distribution in the FCC................................................ 48 

Listing phone numbers................................................. 48 

Office standards........................................................... 48 

Use with TRS (Relay).................................................. 49 

V

VCO (Voice Carry Over) ................................................. 49 

Video description ............................................................. 96 

Video description rule ...................................................... 71 

VRS (Video Relay Service) ............................................. 50 

W

Workshop access............... See Access guidelines:Meetings 
12.

13.

14.

Federal Communications Commission 

Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 

445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554 

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) 

TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) 

www.fcc.gov/cgb/