TDI Milestones
Conferences, Office & Board activities and highlights
1968 – 1977
TDI BEGINNINGS
1968
H. Latham Breunig of the
Oral Deaf Adult Section (ODAS) of the Alexander Graham Bell Association and Jess M. Smith of
National Association of the Deaf form Teletypewriters for the Deaf Distribution
Committee (TDDC) to handle acquisition and distribution of Teletype machines
from AT&T. Later TDDC became
incorporated in Indianapolis as a non-profit organization called Teletypewriters
for the Deaf, Inc. (TDI). Breunig was selected
as the first Executive Director. The
first national directory had 145 listings.
1969
TDI receives tax-exempt
status from the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. The second directory after two supplements had 475 listings.
1970
The GA-SK publishes its first issue.
TDI's third directory now nationwide grows to 810 listings.
1971
TDI agents gather at
their first national conference at Gallaudet College in November.
1973
TDI becomes a member of
the Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf while the Board of Directors
increased from three members to nine.
TDI receives $35,000 grant from Lily Foundation for cash advances to TDI
agents for purchase of surplus TTYs and reproductions of technical manuals.
1974
358 registrants attend
the first International TDI Convention in Chicago, IL hosted by the Chicago
Telecommunications Club for the Deaf at the Pick-Congress Hotel. TDI publishes Teletypewriters Made Easy
TTY repair manual and the How to Use your TTY consumer guide from office
space and with volunteers provided by Indiana Bell.
1975
TDI is represented at
International Congress on Education of the Deaf in Tokyo. TDI also presents paper on
telecommunications at the World Federation of the Deaf Congress, which was one
of five to be presented to the World Congress Commission on Communications the
following year. TDI relocates to the
Washington, DC offices of Telephone Pioneers of America. Executive Director Breunig was elected as an
Honorary Member of Telephone Pioneers of America.
1977
500 registrants attend
the second TDI Convention hosted by the NY/NJ Phone-TTY, Inc. at the Ryetown
Hilton Inn in Port Chester, NY. The
issue of the day back then was modem compatibility standards.
1978 – 1987
NEW ERA FOR TDI
1978
In its 10th
year, TDI moves to Halex House in Silver Spring, MD. A new logo for TDI was approved.
Breunig retires.
1979
The third TDI convention
was hosted by Georgia Telecommunications for the Deaf at the Century Center
Hotel in Atlanta. TDI Board approves
the name change to become Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. Barry Strassler
replaces Breunig as Executive Director.
TDD or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf gains wide usage as the
appellation for TTY.
1980
TDI administers DEAFNET
contract in Washington, DC area as agents receive training to install
TeleCaption decoders. Eight more
chapters join TDI.
1981
TDI chapters mushroom
when 17 join. Missouri-Kansas
Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. hosted the fourth TDI Convention at the
Glenwood Manor in Overland Park, Kansas.
1982
New TDI logo
copyrighted. Two more chapters join as
TDI begins to sell NCI TeleCaption decoders and TV sets at reduced rates. TDI works with United States Independent
Telephone Association to serve TTY users in non-Bell areas.
1983
Four more chapters join
as TDI receives recognition from the National Captioning Institute as the top
organizational seller of TeleCaption decoders.
Additionally, TDI develops the HEX computer bulletin board in
collaboration with Amateur Radio Research & Development Corp. TDI unites with
Electronic Industries Association to develop TTY technical and compatibility
standards. TDI holds its fifth
Convention hosted by the Delaware Valley Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.
at the Centre Hotel in Philadelphia.
1984
Thomas Mentkowski
becomes Executive Director. TDI
conducts joint study with Gallaudet Research Institute and counts approximately
100,000 Baudot TTYs in use compared with five million ASCII based computers
that are incompatible with TTYs according to the US Architectural and
Transportation Barrier Compliance Board (a.k.a. The US Access Board).
1985
Nevada Association of
the Deaf hosts the sixth TDI Convention at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
1987
Al Sonnenstrahl becomes
the next Executive Director as TDI's goals were reassessed to include: advocacy
for accessible telecommunications and increased captioning; updating TTY
standards from Baudot to ASCII; evaluation standards for TTYs and other
assistive devices; ensure compatibility between programs, consumers and
manufacturers. NY/NJ Phone-TTY, Inc.
once again hosts the seventh TDI Convention at the Meadowlands Hilton Hotel in
Secaucus, NJ. One highlight of this
convention was the exhibit of old & "orphan" TTY's on display.
1988 – 1997
TDI EMERGES AS A POWERFUL FORCE
1988
TDI reaches the 20-year
milestone.
1989
TDI and Sign Media, Inc.
produces a TTY training tape Using Your TTY/TDD. TDI unveils the new
international TTY logo to designate TTY locations in public places. TDI holds its eighth convention and leads
Technology Forums in the areas of captioning, 9-1-1, TRS and computers at Deaf
Way, an international conference hosted by Gallaudet University at the Omni
Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
1990
TDI & American
Athletic Association of the Deaf present their Certificate of Appreciation to
Senator McCain for his role in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA).
1991
TDI helps the US
Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
develop federal relay standards as defined by Title IV of the ADA. A new mission statement and bylaws were
passed by the TDI Board at its ninth convention hosted by Deaf Community
Services at the Omni Broadway Hotel in San Diego. TDI office moves to another location in Silver Spring.
1992
TDI conducts a national
poll that confirms TTY as the preferred acronym for text telephones over
"TDD" or "TT". TDI
joins the Consumer Action Network, a national advisory council for consumer
organizations.
1993
TDI receives NEC
Foundation grant to begin developing TTY equipment standards. The tenth TDI Convention was hosted by the
Alaska Association of the Deaf at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage.
1994
Under a grant from DOJ,
TDI develops TTY training kits, Emergency Access Self Evaluation or EASE,
for emergency personnel at 9-1-1 centers.
TDI gives supports to Dr. Harry Lang to write a book on the history of
the TTY. TDI attends international
conference on text telephones in Rotterdam, Holland.
1995
Reed Hundt, Chairman of
the FCC was the keynote speaker at TDI's 11th Convention, hosted by D.E.A.F.,
Inc. at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, MA.
1996
"Sonny"
retires as Executive Director after nine years at TDI. Pam Holbrook, then Robert Weinstock take
over as interim executive directors while the board searches for a permanent
replacement.
1997
Claude Stout becomes the
current Executive Director. TDI participates
in two forums to study analog TTY access to wireless 9-1-1 systems. The Missouri-Kansas Telecommunications for
the Deaf, Inc. hosts the 12th Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas
City convention which drew 307 participants; some of whom also participated in
the TDI Golf Classic, a fundraising activity.
TDI office settles in its present location in Silver Spring.
1998 – PRESENT
TDI GOES DIGITAL
1998
TDI celebrates 30
years!!! <http:/www.tdi-online.org>
is TDI's address on the information highway.
TDI inaugurates a free Expo at Gallaudet University for consumers to
visit TTY manufacturers and see product demonstrations.
1999
Right after the historic
Section 255 rulemaking, FCC Chairman William E. Kennard sets the tone with his
keynote speech Defining Vision at the 13th biennial TDI International
Conference in Seattle, Washington - encouraging telecommunications engineers
and designers to work side-by-side with consumers with disabilities in the
design phase. Judy Viera raises thought
provoking points for Relay 2000 - Quality of Service. TDI Board adopts new mission statement: Promoting
Equal Access in Telecommunications and Media for People who are Deaf, Late
Deafened, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind. TDI’s first Executive Director,
H. Latham Breunig passes away. TDI
implements new public listserv TDI-L eNotes e-mail news service
providing timely updates in areas of telecommunications and media access.
2000
TDI Office computer
system upgraded with state-of-the-art system made possible by Verizon. TDI was recognized by the FCC in its denial
of closed captioning waiver based on undue burden to Home Shopping Network. TDI submitted filings to the FCC in areas of
digital television captioning standards, instant messaging, Internet Telephony,
handset volume control, obligations of television broadcasters, the needs of
deaf-blind consumers in video description.
TDI files comments to the US Access Board regarding telecommunication
and media access issues in Section 508 rulings and the upcoming revisions to the
ADA Accessibility Guidelines. TDI
authors position paper on movie captioning for the Coalition on Movie
Captioning. Claude Stout coordinates
activities of the TRS Coalition in bringing the need for TRS functional
equivalency to the FCC. The GA-SK
revamped into smaller news magazine that focuses on a specific issue such as The
Push for Movie Captioning and TRS: Reaching Functional Equivalency.
2001
The Board of Directors
reorganizes with five representatives from the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest,
Central and West Regions. TDI hosts its
14th Biennial Conference and Expo for the first time in a rural setting under
the theme Information, Technology, Access:
The Gold Rush of the Future.
Michael J. Copps gives the keynote speech, his first since his Senate confirmation
as FCC Commissioner in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. TDI files comments with the FCC on Universal Service Fund support
for orphan technologies such as TTYs with Braille output and for service fees
above customary fees required to make telephones accessible such as a second
line for 2-Line VCO users. In addition
to the Conference preview and review, The GA-SK issues cover paging,
disaster preparedness, and a visit to the Technology Access Program at
Gallaudet University. TDI signs on with
National Organization of Disabilities' Statements of Principles and
Responsibilities in Emergency Preparedness by and for People with Disabilities,
which was then presented to Mr. Tom Ridge, Director of Homeland Security. TDI Board Member Pam Holmes selected to chair
the US Access Board. TDI upgrades its
membership and Blue Book database and completes its inaugural Quality Assurance
Program. A brochure was developed to
recruit new members and subscribers.
2002
TDI files comments with
the FCC requesting that the FCC revoke current exemptions to the Hearing Aid
Compatibility Act of 1988; requesting that the FCC uses its Universal Service
Fund for training and outreach from schools and libraries on TRS and other
telecommunication services; urging the FCC not to classify wireline broadband
services as "information services; the FCC's proposals to streamline and
simplify its informal complaint procedures; requesting that cable modem
Internet service be accessible and usable to people with disabilities; opposing
captioning waivers from producers of nine programs - mostly hunting and fishing
shows and one show devoted to antique collecting; asking and reinforcing the
contention made by others that emergency TRS calls be routed to the most
appropriate PSAP, rather than automatically routed to the geographically
"nearest" PSAP; supporting the petition of National Exchange Carrier
Association to recover costs for wireless calls made through TRS from the
Interstate TRS Fund. TDI filed joint
comments to the FCC with NAD opposing the petition of several digital wireless
service providers to extend the time or waive their responsibilities to make
their network digital-TTY 911 compatible; comments with sign-ons from NAD and
ALDA on cost jurisdiction and other mechanism issues regarding reimbursement
for Internet Protocol Relay, especially people with hearing or speech
disabilities. TDI, NAD, SHHH, and CAN (Consumer Action Network) filed a
petition for reconsideration of the FCC's Order on the handling of relay calls
made through payphones, claiming that the Order violated the requirement to not
charge relay users any more than conventional callers for payphone calls, and
require outreach measures that would alert relay consumers about making
payphone calls through relay services.
TDI also filed comments to the Federal Trade Commission from TDI urging
that it makes its "Do-Not-Call' registry accessible to all consumers. TDI filed joint comments with CAN, NAD and
Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) to the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in support for full
deployment of broadband services across America. The GA-SK issues cover the Disability Rights Office at the
FCC, Access by Land and by Sea, and International Technology - prepared for the
Deaf Way II event in Washington, DC during the summer. TDI recognized by students in Gallaudet
University's Department of Business as the Organization of the Year 2002.
2003
TDI returns to Las
Vegas, Nevada for the 15th Biennial TDI International Conference at
the Green Valley Ranch Resort. 204
registered attendees help TDI celebrate its 35th Anniversary as it
honors 12 companies and two educational institutions with a painting in
appreciation for their support. TDI’s
Directory and Resource Guide goes online as the eBlue Book in an overhauled
website with funding from AT&T Relay, AT&T Wireless, Hamilton Relay,
MCI Relay, SBC Foundation, Sprint Relay and Verizon. The GA-SK issues cover Classroom Access, Local Advocacy,
IP-Relay and Video Relay Services. Two
coalitions change names; CAN becomes the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Consumer
Advocacy Network. COR becomes Deaf
& Hard of Hearing Alliance – A Coalition of Professional and Consumer
Organizations.
