The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held the Accessible Wireless Emergency Communications Forum & Exhibition on Friday, November 7, 2014, to promote the latest advances in accessible wireless emergency communications. The event, held at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C., allowed industry and emergency communications specialists the opportunity to present innovations in emergency, assistive, and accessible technologies and services that increase information and communications access in the event of an emergency. With goals of advancing inclusive and accessible wireless emergency communications for all, the sessions included presentations from wireless carriers, government agencies, academia, advocates, and providers of accessible notifications systems.

Helena Mitchell, regent's researcher in the School of Public Policy and executive director of the Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), participated in the panel Disability Strategies for Research and Action in the Field, discussing the work of the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) and several Department of Human Services (DHS) Homeland Security grants related to emergency alerts for people with disabilities.

The FCC’s Technology Experience Center also hosted an exhibition of prototypes and technology solutions designed to increase independence and protective active decisions by people with disabilities during times of local or national emergencies. The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and Public Policy were represented by two exhibition booths, the Wireless RERC project on some of the latest apps and a joint CACP/Wireless RERC demonstration of a project funded by NIDRR Bluetooth Enabled External Alerting Device and a DHS, FEMA IPAWS funded prototype Early Bird.

View webcast at www.fcc.gov/live.