As technology advances around us, some organizations are joining together to make sure that those who have visual or hearing impairments are being given proper consideration. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) was founded in 2007 to advocate for legislative and regulatory safeguards. This coalition strives to ensure that there is full access by people with disabilities to evolving technologies such as, though not limited to, high speed broadband and wireless connections.

COAT is currently comprised of over 280 national, regional, state, and community-based disability organizations. The organizations have joined together in order to advocate for their common goal. A few items on COAT’s agenda include ensuring that internet phones are compatible with hearing aids, creating a requirement for 9-1-1 to be available through internet and video phones, and extending closed captioning requirements to internet based videos. By working with Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), COAT works to change federal regulations to achieve their goals.

For more information on COAT, please visit their website at www.COATaccess.org or email info@COATaccess.org.