RESOLUTION #2008-03

Mayor's Disability Council
Resolution in Support of Board of Supervisors' Ordinance
Requiring Activation of Closed Captioning
on Televisions in Public Areas

WHEREAS it is the policy of the City and County of San Francisco to promote full and equal access to all citizens and visitors alike in the interest of eliminating isolation and segregation and encouraging the gathering and participation of all persons;

WHEREAS, the 2000 United States Census found over 19% of the population has disabilities, and 17% of those have a sensory disability;

WHEREAS, we have a high percentage of seniors living and visiting San Francisco;

WHEREAS, hearing loss is becoming the most common disability in the United States;

WHEREAS, the provision of open captioning on television monitors in public areas of congregation, including small businesses, social recreation facilities, and other public buildings promotes full communication access for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing;

WHEREAS, the provision of open captioning on television monitors in public areas of congregation, including small businesses and social recreation facilities also assists many non-native English speakers, and

WHEREAS, the provision of open captioning on television monitors in public areas of congregation, including small businesses and social recreation facilities can be provided easily and at no cost to the owner or occupant,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council fully supports efforts initiated by the Board of Supervisors that television receivers located in any part of a facility open to the general public have closed captioning activated at all times when the facility is open and the television receiver is in use. [Ref File No. 080529 - Ordinance amending the San Francisco Police Code by adding Article 44, Sections 4400 to 4407 to require the activation of closed captioning on television receivers intended for use by the general public and authorizing the imposition of civil penalties and/or criminal fines for violations of this requirement.]

May 16, 2008 Mayor's Disability Council – ADOPTED

Ayes: 6 - Jul Lynn Parsons, F. Ross Woodall, Elizabeth Grigsby, Denise Senhaux, Tatiana Kostanian and Sarah Estes Merrell.

Absent: Raphaella Bennin and Amy Wishnie