[games_access] Getting Federal government. On our side.

[d. michelle hinn]

That's more of a place to move toward than something for right now. 
That's a position statement that's obviously been finally turned -- 
it's something we should work on having for the SIG that will help 
direct our efforts and remind us of what we ultimately are about.

>I took a look at that page for your suggestion of what the petition 
>looks like. 
><http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=100782>http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=100782 
>.
>
>I don't know about that I think it's way too long to write all that. 
>The petition web site says it should be short and to the point and 
>very precise.  So I'd look at some of the other examples and it 
>seems to be a good start.  Except we do need to add the right links 
>for people to click on to get history on the issue that's what was 
>recommended.
>
>Robert
>
>
>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
>[mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
>Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 11:24 PM
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Getting Federal government. On our side.
>
>This is true and I definitely was not trying to discourage the 
>petition -- but when we start talking laws...we start talking about 
>lawsuits. To do that is a whole different ballgame.
>
>Movie industry captioning does fall, in part, under the Americans 
>with Disabilities Act but that ruling was in 2000 and the fight to 
>get at least seat based captioning is STILL ongoing with lawsuit 
>after lawsuit launched. The issue is that these require special 
>devices and sometimes seating that someone has to pick up the bill 
>for (who pays for that? The movie theatres? The movie industry?). 
>The other issue is captions on or below the screen -- The National 
>Association of the Deaf have been trying to get "open captioning" 
>(captions on or below the screen) of movies in theaters implemented 
>for a loooooong time now -- "open captioning" or on screen 
>captioning is NOT covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act 
>for some reason so there's ZERO incentive for the film industry to 
>do that unless they are showing a foreign language film) and there 
>are entire chains of movie theatres that do NOT provide captioning 
>-- even seat-based:
>
>http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=100779
>
>See also this page for more information on how the movie industry 
>has reacted (quoted from the website: "Movie studios and theaters 
>have been slow to adopt open captioning of movies by claiming that 
>open captioning causes a negative effect on box office sales." Sound 
>familiar???):
>
>http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=100782
>
>The above is a nice example of a position statement that is perhaps 
>more like what we want to go with regarding a petition.
>
>A tax break initiative for movie theatre chains to do provide for 
>this was introduced in the JOBS act but when the final version of 
>the law passed, this was a "rider" on the law that was not included. 
>There have also been lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit raised and 
>those take forever and usually get dropped for one reason or another.
>
>So perhaps what we need to do is not just get a petition going but 
>actually get groups like the National Association of the Deaf and so 
>forth involved. Because we can get every name in the game industry 
>to sign the petition but it's powerful (and politically connected) 
>groups like these that launch the lawsuits -- they have the power, 
>connections, and the money to do this.
>
>I know...this is soooo "American." It would be great if there were 
>easy and inexpensive options for the industry to implement, that it 
>was "politically correct" for a legislator to stand behind this 
>issue (remember...we are in election times...) -- the veteran issue 
>is great and I definitely use this example in talks that I give. But 
>on the flip side...games were also used to recruit so you can 
>imagine the powderkeg the senator/whoever that brings this up will 
>face. And with all the issues current candidates are having to 
>address...eeek. So once again the lawsuit issue comes up. For that? 
>We need way more power and we need the power and support of major 
>disability organizations.
>
>Note: I am in no way saying "let's launch a lawsuit NOW." In fact, 
>by even raising the issue I'm probably pissing off every developer 
>on the list. Or not. I'm only raising the issue and pointing out how 
>other advocacy groups have handled this issue of accessibility to 
>entertainment.
>
>Michelle (who on some days is tempted to go get a law degree in 
>night school...hahahahahahah...ok, seriously...I'm tired. And when 
>that happens all kinds of crazy things come to mind.)
>
>
>
>>I know what you mean Michelle.  But the bottom line is there needs to be
>>something created so that the entertainment world has a standard also.
>>
>>Take for example the product brought out by the movie industry.
>>
>>In order for their productivity listened to by people with heart hearing,
>>the movie theaters themselves by law, have to provide assistance technology
>>to help the people either see or hear with devices.
>>
>>
>>To me that seems like not exactly the same thing but something similar.
>>
>>The game design industry also provides a product that is not equal
>>opportunity to enjoy.
>>
>>If we can get the petition circled around then we can send it to the right
>>people who know the law and who can help us voice in if they see the need,
>>which will combine the most important people we can find to sign it.
>>
>>Even if we just get around to the people we need to sign it, and then send
>>it around to officials, and nothing happens, I think it makes a very loud
>>statement.  Because then it can be documented who signed it.
>>
>>I would imagine trying to get the key names in the industry to sign it.
>>Even the employees for those companies.
>>
>>Not to mention sending it out to all the important institutions.
>>
>>On their web site for the petition web page they do say that it's
>>prohibited, not allowed, to mass e-mail yourself they set it up somehow
>>targeting it to the right people I'm not sure how.
>>
>>I do not know what that's all about.  Seems kind of crazy.
>>
>>Robert
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>>On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
>>Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 8:10 PM
>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Getting Federal government. On our side.
>>
>>Well, the reality is that it can take a VERY long time for a bill to
>>become a law...and even longer for something to become a bill! While
>>I think we should send something to the government I think the first
>>step is going to be sending something that makes them aware that this
>>is even an issue.
>>
>>Then we probably need the help of a legislative attorney who knows
>>what specific constitutional laws are being violated and in what
>>instances. For instance, I'm pretty sure that there's no law that
>>requires that the music industry makes all CDs sold accessible to all
>>so a federal law mandating that video games are accessible to all
>>seems like that's probably pretty improbable. But what about video
>>game tournaments that exclude disabled gamers or a video game that's
>>marketed and used in schools (that, for sure, is a violation of US
>>law)?
>>
>>I don't mean to be discouraging -- quite the opposite. We just have
>>to know what's possible and what is realistic and what can be done
>>soon and what is going to take a whole lot of persistence.
>>
>>Michelle
>>
>>>Sounds great.  I'm just not sure how to tie it in a broad?  How would that
>>>work?  I was suggesting that if it worked here it would become something
>>>marketable that other countries with one the same stamp of approval.
>>>
>>>My thoughts would be if it was made into some kind of legislation who makes
>>>up the ideas for ranking if it becomes accepted?
>>>
>>>I think the best thing is to put together the petition that I will
>>>definitely start writing.  And then if we get any important representatives
>>>responding they can let us know what they think the best solution would be.
>>>
>>>Ultimately I think it should be something we can make money from instead of
>>>giving away all our ideas.  So I'm sure there will be guidelines written up
>>>basic ones may be but then after that someone needs to regulate it.
>>>
>>>Kind of like what Hillary Clinton set up with the MSRP people.  And as they
>>  >might already have a branch or suggest a private branch which would be
>>>better.  Maybe they would find it and give us a place to locate.  One of
>>the
>>>best persuasive points to put in the petition would be for the injured
>>>soldiers.
>>>
>>>Robert
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
>>>On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
>>>Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 7:34 PM
>>>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Getting Federal government. On our side.
>>>
>>>I have all the US Senate/House/Governors email addresses so if you
>>>start it and others can help edit, I can send out a press release.
>>>
>>>We can start by raising the issue with the US government because I
>>>have those addresses but as Barrie suggested -- why limit this to
>>>just the US?
>>>
>>>I'm not sure how successful it will be but we haven't tried it and
>>
>>  >with the right tone it's worth a shot -- if anything it never hurts
>>>to remind the US government who often tries to outlaw gaming after
>>>this and that happens that games are important and not all bad. I'm
>>>always happy to contribute to that approach!
>>>
>>>Michelle
>>>
>>>>Robert, if you kick start it, and get it going - I'll support you
>>>>and so will others. Why not
>>>>start by building an on-line petition - I'm sure there's more than just me
>>>>here that would be happy to proof read it and add suggestions before
>>>>it goes live.
>>>>
>>>>Take a look here:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.petitiononline.com/
>>>>http://www.petitiononline.com/Captions/petition.html
>>>>
>>>>I too don't know how successful this approach will be - but none of us
>>will
>>>>know for sure unless it's tried.
>>>>
>>>>At the very least, it can burble away in the background - building support
>>>>for us in numbers. Perhaps we could all point people in its direction if
>>it
>>>>says things we are mostly happy with? I'd like it to be a bit more
>>>>international in scope, so I'd love to see an intro paragraph with links
>>to
>>>>translated versions in other languages.
>>>>
>>>>Go for it, Robert!
>>>>
>>>>Barrie
>>>   >www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Florio"
>>><arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
>>>>To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
>>>>Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2007 7:41 PM
>>>>Subject: Re: [games_access] Getting Federal government. On our side.
>>>>
>>>>>I'm actually proposing how many of us want to and can help to send
>>letters
>>>>>to important people like senators, independent game developers, to get
>>>>>petitions signed, and send it to some senators to get some kind of
>>>>>nationwide talk on this and finally a regulated necessity standard?
>>>>>
>>>>>I think it's a very good and noble thing to do.  Thinking of it in a way
>>>>>that it's an industry that has ignored and does not have any future plans
>>>>>for any big deals for accessibility for people.  Especially in the United
>>>>>States is our Constitution write to have fair access to all forms of
>>>>>entertainment.  To not allow people access to their product is
>>>>>discrimination.
>>>>>
>>>>>Again this is something I have proposed before nobody said they wanted to
>>>>>work on it and I don't know why it seems like a great thing to do.  Stand
>>>>>up
>>>>>for our rights that's what the government is there to help us to
>>>>>especially
>>>>>in a billion-dollar industry making millions and millions but ignoring
>>the
>>>>>rest seems wrong.
>>>>>
>>>>>Robert
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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