New Features Help Consumers Choose the Right Accessible Wireless Devices and Services
Washington, D.C. - CTIA-The Wireless Association® today announced the redesign of AccessWireless.org, the association's website to help people with disabilities, seniors and their families find the right accessible wireless products and services. As part of the wireless industry's continued commitment to serving people of all abilities, AccessWireless.org is the initial website that consumers should visit for information about accessible wireless handsets and services. For the first time in the U.S., consumers can "Find a Phone" by searching and comparing the accessibility features of a variety of wireless handsets through the Mobile Manufacturer Forum's (MMF) Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI).
CTIA and its member companies received recommendations and insights from a diverse working group to ensure the redesigned website fit the needs of the accessibility community. The group consisted of policymakers from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and consumer representatives including the American Foundation for the Blind, Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), American Association of People with Disabilities, TDI, Inc., the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Alzheimer's Association and the Wireless Research Engineering and Rehabilitation Center (RERC).
"The redesigned AccessWireless.org represents our continued commitment to serving the accessibility community. The website's updates will help people of all abilities find the device that's right for them, whether it's a hearing aid compatible device or a smart phone with accessibility apps," said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association.
"The GARI project was designed to address a simple need - to help people find cell phones with the sort of features that will make communicating easier either for themselves or for those they care about.
Through our partnership with CTIA, we can now expand awareness of the project and assist more people to benefit from it," said Michael Milligan, Secretary General of the Mobile Manufacturers Forum. "With wireless such a major part of our lives today, the newly designed CTIA website is a valuable resource for people to find accessible devices they can use depending on their needs," said Brenda Battat, executive director of the HLAA. "HLAA will certainly recommend CTIA's website to consumers looking for mobile devices that will work with their hearing aids and cochlear implants."
For more information, please visit: www.accesswireless.org.
