We have almost 400 signatures!

Thank you for signing the petition and helping us to get almost 400 signatures. Every new signature shows the Pawtucket City Council and many other cities around the country that the closed captioning ordinance makes sense and is necessary for full inclusion. Let me tell you some interesting facts about why closed captioning matters for everyone! According to a study done by the UK government's Office of Communications (Ofcom) in 2006 related to television access, over 18% of people watch television with closed captioning. 80% of television viewers use closed captioning for reasons other than being Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The report lists out some of the benefits of closed captioning: 1. Viewers who know English as a second language benefit from closed captions, because they make it easier to follow along with the speech. 2. Closed captions help with comprehension of dialogue that is spoken very quickly, with accents, mumbling, or background noise. 3. Video that mentions full names, brand names, or technical terminology provides clarity for the viewer. 4. Closed captions help maintain concentration, which can provide a better experience for viewers with learning disabilities, attention deficits, or autism. 5. Online videos with subtitles enjoy higher user engagement and better user experience 6. Captions allow viewers to watch videos in sound-sensitive environments, like offices and libraries. Source: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/42442/access.pdf A survey and infographics by 3Play Media based on 165 participants shows some interesting results: 1. 98% of respondents had watched a program on television with closed captioning before. 2. 47% of people watch closed captioning to help them focus, 45% to watch videos in noisy places and 45% to help understand accents or mumbled speech. 3. Only 25% watch closed captioning because they are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 4. 55% of respondents felt disappointed when there is no closed captioning. Source: http://www.3playmedia.com/2017/04/21/infographic-closed-captions-use-survey/ The Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing estimated about 8.6% of the Rhode Island population is Deaf or Hard of Hearing during 2000. This is based on estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau 2001, this means that Rhode Island has about 87,028 Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents. Source: http://www.cdhh.ri.gov/documents/resources/Info%20Series%20How%20Many%20Deaf%20and%20Hard%20of%20Hearing%20in%20RI.pdf At the end of fiscal year 2014, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reported that 933,000 Veterans were receiving benefits for hearing loss, and nearly 1.3 million were receiving benefits for tinnitus. Many veterans who had blast exposure also have difficulty understanding speech because of an auditory processing disorder. Source: https://www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm Captions for Literacy has gathered information from several research studies that show that closed captioning helps students of all ages improve literacy and academic performance. Source: http://captionsforliteracy.org/learn.php Keep encouraging people to sign the petition! Thank you for your support!