The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly celebrates the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2010, the CVAA remains one of the most significant legislative achievements for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind in the digital age.
In addition to ensuring that smartphones are accessible to consumers who are blind or have low vision, the CVAA also established, for the first time, regulations requiring audio-described content on major broadcast and cable networks. This landmark provision has been championed by ACB’s Audio Description Project, which advocates for audio description across television, film, performing arts, and other media.
The law also allowed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), also known as iCanConnect, which provides free equipment and training for people with both significant hearing and vision loss who meet the program's disability and income eligibility guidelines. iCanConnect is a national program administered locally in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands that helps people stay connected to friends, family, and the world through telecommunications equipment and assistive technology.
ACB was instrumental in garnering support for the CVAA, working alongside advocates, industry leaders, and partner organizations across the disability community. By uniting these voices and demonstrating the broad impact of accessible technology, ACB helped secure the bipartisan backing in Congress that made the CVAA possible. This collaborative spirit remains central to ACB’s advocacy today.
“The CVAA is a shining example of what’s possible when advocates, industry, and policymakers come together with a shared commitment to equity and inclusion,” said ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill.
ACB is now advocating for the introduction and passage of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA), soon to be introduced in Congress. The CVTA reaffirms our nation's commitment to accessible communications and video technologies for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind. This legislation will build on the CVAA to modernize and expand requirements for further captioning and audio description availability, and video user interfaces.
“Just as the CVAA transformed access in the last 15 years, the CVTA will ensure accessibility keeps pace with innovation in the years ahead,” Thornhill added. “We urge Congress to support and pass the CVTA in the 119th Congress.”
About the American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind is a national member-driven consumer organization representing Americans who are blind or have low vision. With 65 affiliates, ACB strives to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for all people who are blind or have low vision. For more information, visit www.acb.org.
Contact:
Scott Thornhill
Executive Director
202-467-5081 sthornhill@acb.org