Deaf Equality Meets with Rep. Debbie Dingell to Advance CVTA Act, Urges Modern Accessibility Standards
Washington, DC — Deaf Equality joined a coalition of national disability advocates this week to meet with Rep. Debbie Dingell in support of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at updating federal accessibility laws for today’s communication landscape.
The CVTA Act would strengthen and modernize the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which has not kept pace with how people communicate today. As video platforms, streaming services, and digital communication tools have rapidly expanded, accessibility requirements have remained outdated — leaving significant gaps in access.
For Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Late-Deafened people, these gaps have real consequences. Inconsistent captioning, limited access to video conferencing, and barriers to emergency communication services continue to restrict full participation in daily life.
The CVTA Act addresses these issues by:
- Expanding and improving captioning and audio description standards across television and online streaming
- Making accessibility features easier to find and use across devices, including smartphones, laptops, and televisions
- Strengthening access to video conferencing platforms
- Improving access to 9-1-1 emergency services
- Giving the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to ensure accessibility standards keep pace with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality
This bill reflects a simple reality. Technology has changed. Our laws need to catch up. Access to communication is not optional. It is a requirement for full participation in society.
As a lead sponsor, Rep. Dingell is playing a key role in moving the CVTA Act forward in Congress. The meeting focused on strengthening support for the bill and ensuring accessibility remains a priority as communication technologies continue to evolve.
The CVTA Act builds on decades of federal accessibility policy and represents a critical step toward ensuring equal access across modern communication technologies. Deaf Equality and its partners continue to push for timely passage of the bill.
Who Was in the Room
Pictured from left to right: Leela Baggett (Powers Law), Karen Strauss, Claire Stanley (American Council of the Blind) with her guide dog Tulane, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Zainab Alkebsi (Deaf Equality), Neil Snyder (Hearing Loss Association of America), and Sarah Malaier (American Foundation for the Blind).
Resources
CVTA One-Pager:
https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/cvta_one_pager.pdf
Full Bill Text:
https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/communications_video_and_technology_accessibility_act.pdf
