Chantilly, Va., Aug. 05, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TV Worldwide (www.TVWorldwide.com), since 1999, a pioneering web-based global TV network, announced that its Internet TV Channel for the Community of People with Disabilities, WebABLE TV, (www.WebABLE.TV) is now offering the accessible on-demand archived webcast of the July 24th Live webcast event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Joining TV Worldwide to discuss the advancements of the ADA were several distinguished guests who have made it their mission to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
In interviews during the webcast with TV Worldwide’s Dave Gardy, former Congressmen Tony Coelho and former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin discussed their participation in getting the ADA drafted and signed by then President, George H. W. Bush and provided perspective on the future of the ADA.
“It’s exciting to see what’ll happen in the next 10 years, let alone the next 25 years,” remarked Coelho. “There is so much that is going to happen because we have opened the doors of opportunity in 1990, and we’ve made the opportunities available to many people, and we’re going to make it available to a lot more over the next 10 years. I’m very excited to have introduced the bill, and very excited at what has happened since that day.”
Senator Harkin provided a retrospective view of the last 25 years but maintained that there was much work to be done. “We’ve got to do a better job of employing people with disabilities, not in subminimum wage jobs, but in competitive, integrated employment,” said Harkin.
In an interview during the webcast with TV Worldwide’s Dave Gardy, Albert Rizzi, Founder and CEO of My Blind Spot, Inc. relayed his own experience with blindness and the impact the ADA has had on his life. “Everybody was looking to me to demonstrate what 100 percent looks like, because I require that in everybody in my life, so I took it as a sign from above that I had to live by example,” stated Rizzi. I chose to embrace this and look at is as a gift, and I really do believe it has been a wonderful opportunity for me to see things differently -- I’ve never seen more clearly than I have as a blind person. The ADA was signed in 1990 around the same time that the internet was born, and it has allowed us to look at the internet and intranets of the world differently in order to allow people of all abilities to access the virtual forums that are present. There is no reason why a 42 year old man who enters the blind world through no choice and no inherent plan to do so, would have had to go on disability. I find there is a need for us as a community and a society to look at the full impact and far reaching protections under the ADA and use them.”
Nathan Bradley, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of AudioEye, Inc echoed Mr. Rizzi’s remarks, concurring that the ADA has become and will continue to be a priority. “This [the ADA] is becoming a high priority across the board for corporations that want to reach more people and have more successful websites, and also that want to address the mandates. And when you look at the mandates, certainly our federal government and state governments have to begin to address, and are beginning to address online and digital accessibility across their documents and mobile sites.”
Lee Grossman, CEO for the Association for Vascular Access, and former President of the Autism Society of America compared the lifestyles of his son and mother, who both had mental disabilities. “When I look back and I see the contrast between my mother’s life and that of my son’s and the opportunities that are now available to him, it is tremendously significant, what this legislation has done for not only him and my family, but for millions of other people in America,” stated Grossman.
David Capozzi, Executive Director of the US Access Board summarized the implementation of the ADA over the last 25 years and how the Access Board will continue to be active in the future. “We haven’t solved all accessibility needs for persons with disabilities, and new ones keep cropping up, so unfortunately our work is never done,” remarked Capozzi.
Mike Paciello, Founder and President of The Paciello Group, who along with Gardy, co-hosted and sponsored this WebABLE TV ADA 25th Anniversary Webcast was upbeat about participating in the event.
“The Paciello Group (TPG) is both proud and honored to have participated in this webcast highlighting this important milestone in the successful history of the ADA. We also recognize there still is much to be done in meeting new challenges in the future with the continued implementation of ADA guidelines in emerging technology areas, including Internet and Web platforms. This is the key to bridging the gap in an inclusive, digital society. TPG welcomes the opportunity to continue contributing to this endeavor,” said Paciello.
A full list of the distinguished participants in this WebABLE TV 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) webcast is provided below. People around the world can view accessible on-demand video of the full webcast and individual webcast interviews on WebABLE TV (www.WebABLE.tv), by clicking here.
Distinguished Webcast Guest Interviewees
David Capozzi, Executive Director, U.S. Access Board
Albert Rizzi, Founder and CEO, My Blind Spot, Inc.
David Dikter CEO, Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
Hon. Tony Coelho, Fmr. U.S. Congressman
Joyce Bender, Founder and CEO of Bender Consulting Services
Nate Bradley, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, AudioEye, Inc.
John Kemp, President and CEO of the Viscardi Center
Lainey Feingold, Disability Rights Attorney, Law Office of Lainey Feigold
Lee Grossman
CEO, Association for Vascular Access
Fmr. President Autism Society of America,
Fmr. Interim Executive Director, CEO, International Dyslexia Association
Mike Paciello, Founder and CEO of The Paciello Group
Tom Harkin, Fmr. U.S. Senator
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About WebABLE TV
WebABLE TV (www.WebABLE.TV) is an Internet TV Channel on the TV Worldwide Network (www.TVWorldwide.com) dedicated to providing accessible live and on-demand interactive coverage of the issues, activities and events important to the community of people with disabilities. Produced in cooperation with WebABLE TV charter sponsor, The Paciello Group, (www.PacielloGroup.com), our staff of industry professionals with extensive experience in the production of accessible Internet TV programming for the disability community, seeks to inform, educate and engage audiences to generate feedback and build intelligent consensus for the advancement of all people with disabilities. WebABLE TV values input from our audiences on content and programming suggestions at info@tvworldwide.com.
About TV Worldwide
Founded in 1999, TV Worldwide (www.TVworldwide.com) developed the first Internet TV network of community-based Internet TV channels, primarily targeting niche professional communities ranging from the Maritime industry to the Digital Media sector. Known by many in the industry as "Intelligent Internet TV," Fortune 500 companies, 36 government agencies, and numerous International associations, including the National Association of Broadcasters, utilize TV Worldwide's live and archived state-of-the art video streaming content applications and Internet TV channels. In recognition of the company's unique achievements in new media, TV Worldwide was selected by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) to webcast past Daytime Emmy Awards and the Emmy awards for Technology and Engineering. CEO Dave Gardy has been honored by Streaming Media Magazine in 2008 as one of the 25 Most Influential People in Streaming Media. Mr. Gardy has served as the President of the International Webcasting Association (IWA).
About The Paciello Group
The Paciello Group is passionately dedicated to helping government agencies, technology vendors, e-commerce corporations, and educational institutions make their technology equally accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. The company, based in Nashua, NH, offers professional consulting, technology solutions, and monthly monitoring services to ensure that clients reach all audiences effectively and efficiently while meeting governmental and international standards. For more information, visit the Paciello Group web site.
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