TVWorldwide.com’s AbleTV to Webcast “Able Gang” Discussion Program for Community of those with Disabilities

Interactive Event to Address Government Compliance with Section 508, Casey Martin Controversy and New PAC for Disabled, Enable America,
Event Page

For Immediate Release
June 28, 2001

Chantilly, Va. – TVWorldwide.com announced today that it will again host “The Able Gang”, a live webcast on its AbleTV.net web-based TV channel for people with disabilities, where panelists with disabilities and others who work with the community will again discuss major issues affecting the 54 million Americans with disabilities. “The Able Gang” will focus on the new Section 508 requirements of Rehabilitation Act of 1998 as amended, the controversy surrounding disabled golfing professional Casey Martin and the potential impact of a new political action committee for the community of those with disabilities, Enable America, set to launch shortly.

The panel will also discuss the recent New Freedom Initiative program launched by President Bush in February and his recent announcement concerning efforts surrounding this initiative to assist those with disabilities.  The program was to involve putting additional money into assistive technology development, the purchase of assistive technology equipment, provide more money for special education for disabled children and incentives for housing and better treatment for people with mental health problems.

The Section 508 issue has become particularly hot, in light of the recent June 25 compliance deadline for government agencies to make their websites accessible. Some are looking at the Section 508 as a potential “Y2K” for government CIO’s trying to meet a myriad of requirements in making their agency web sites accessible.

 “Disability issues are national issues.  The lack of access to jobs, education, transportation, public buildings, dwellings, recreational facilities, Internet and assistive technology are a tremendous economic drain on the country. More devastating to the country is the loss of the abilities of millions of unemployed people with disabilities,” says John Williams one of the journalists on the panel. Williams writes Assistive Technology, a weekly column appearing Wednesdays on Business Week.Com under Daily Briefing. His award-winning column is credited with raising disability issues to a national awareness in the media and among politicians, government policy makers, employers, consumers and educators. 

“We have a great opportunity to offer employers and disabled participants an accessible worldwide forum to discuss critical issues challenging the country,” which has adverse implications for the Americans with Disabilities Act, “said Jeff Pledger, President of AbleTV.net. Pledger, who is blind, and one of the panelists.

 “This show works to inform and build consensus among people with disabilities to take action, and that’s why we continue to produce similar programs in an ongoing web series that  takes on these issues from a proactive perspective,” commented Dave Gardy, CEO of TVWorldwide.com who will again be the moderator.

“We are pleased to provide captioned streaming for this live event, just like we’ve done for all our live and archived events, “ remarked Pledger. “ The disability community is always excited about the voice they have in this program.”

“ We have picked experienced, knowledgeable and respected individuals in this field to discuss issues of national importance,” said Gardy.

The live event, “The Able Gang” is slated for 2:30 PM EDT, Thursday June 28, from the Internet TV studios of TVWorldwide.com.

The webcast will feature AbleTV.net’s captioned video streaming or “webcapting” process to aid those with disabilities in participating via chat, e-mail and phone.

The program will be archived with the captioning for later viewing after the webcast at the same event site link. Participants should have the free Real Player installed prior to the event on the 28th. Questions can be directed to info@tvworldwide.com before and during the event or viewers can call 703-961-9250, ext. 223.<