Where's the Inspectors

[SneakerNet]

I been thinking about something and it just angered me. Last weekend, we went up to Rochester, NY to visit my daughter and her boyfriend's graduation party. We use same hotel/motel for many years. When we first arrived to this room and turned out that they replaced all tubed TVs to flat screen TV. I was like oh wow, that is nice. Suddenly we found out that the CC is not working at all. There's a remote that have "CC" button but it's non-functional. It just simply do nothing. So, I thought I could go ahead use TV buttons and tried to press menu. Turned out that it's locked out. You know it's programmed to prevent from someone messing around the setting. So, this remote is made by Lodgenet, so I thought I can go to front desk and see if I can use Panasonic Remote since the TV made by Panasonic. The front desk said that they don't have it. Then I got really pissed. The front desk told me that they are having problem with CC. All TV in every room are the same. All of them???
Then I started to think back, with all of our deaf history, our frustration, one after another you know? Like with all the airlines first time installed a cool TV screen in the back of the seat and turned out that there's no built-in CC?
I was thinking in comparison, when you see building inspectors checked to make sure the builders meet all the codes, inpectors check to be sure that all wheelchair accessable passed the code. That is nice, wheelchair people have no worry at all because they know that building inspectors are very strict with codes and if builders didn't meet the codes, inpectors can simply say, "Shut down", or they get penalize with hefty fines.
Why not incorporate that to electronic industries who sell products? LodgeNet knew that there's a problem with CC before they install, upgrade or replace it. They went ahead replacing all TV and remote with non-functional CC features. When I look at the back of the TV of when that TV was made, it was 3/2012. so, it's obviously very recent replacements. If inspector caught this, they will tell Lodgenet not to replace it until it's fixed. It's not fair for hearing people or wheelchair accessable get all the advantage without any future issues whereas deaf people do, they run into problem after another. Same thing with airlines, they went ahead install TV screen without any CC support. I don't care if they say, "It's very difficult to build CC coder", I'll say "I don't give a SH*T, there are way to to build into it!"
So, it would be nice to have some kind inspectors to check to be sure they meet all ADA requirements and functional before they sell the products.
So..finally, I wrote a letter to Lodgenet about this problem and next month if I find that they did not fix it right away, I will take actions.

I'm just being fed up with it.

 

[Reba]

Interesting point. Who is responsible for enforcing the standards for equipment accommodations?

I know that the DOJ is responsible for following up on complaints but I don't know who is responsible for enforcing equipment requirements.

 

[SneakerNet]

Yeah, you know what if there's state wide emergency going on involving terrorism, or any other kind of state emergency, what do we get? Nothing.

 

[Jiro]

Yeah, you know what if there's state wide emergency going on involving terrorism, or any other kind of state emergency, what do we get? Nothing.

there will be hard-coded caption in emergency broadcast. descriptions too.

 

[SneakerNet]

Right but just a short descriptions, I recalled if correctly that at the end of hard coded captions, it mentioned to watch local news or something like that for more informations. I can't remember but that may changed today.

 

[Jiro]

Right but just a short descriptions, I recalled if correctly that at the end of hard coded captions, it mentioned to watch local news or something like that for more informations. I can't remember but that may changed today.

emergency message will hard-coded in all news as well. they did that for Katrina, I believe. but it is important and great that you take a constructive, proactive action in this matter.

emergency protocols and disability laws are constantly changing and improving all the time but the government or companies cannot act on it if nobody is addressing it.

my professor urged that when addressing any kind of issue/problem, it's crucially important to be very constructive about it. and document everything to the letter - where did the incident happen. when did it happen. what exactly happened. what's wrong. what do you suggest. what should they do to make it better. etc. because nobody is going to listen to whiny/angry/rambling letters.

good luck!

 

[SneakerNet]

The letter I wrote to Lodgenet is more of business professionalism, in term of calm manner along with fair warning. Of course it's childish to write a pissing letter to a big company... I seen it and been there..done that..with my job..lol.

I also recorded a video showing what's not working at all, starting with taping a room number, picture of the remote itself and showing what happen when I pressed the "CC" button. Then next door there was a cleaning lady have TV on, she was watching the Olympic (of course everyone glued on this TV show) and I asked her if she doesn't mind do a quick test on another TV. Same thing.

So, this will documents of what's happening. Now, if they didn't do anything about it next month or two. Lodgenet make it look like it's a low priority to fix it. I asked front desk of when this was replaced, he have no idea when, and was hoping manager will be there but he didn't arrived yet. So, we had to take off and head home.

 

[Jiro]

The letter I wrote to Lodgenet is more of business professionalism, in term of calm manner along with fair warning. Of course it's childish to write a pissing letter to a big company... I seen it and been there..done that..with my job..lol.

I also recorded a video showing what's not working at all, starting with taping a room number, picture of the remote itself and showing what happen when I pressed the "CC" button. Then next door there was a cleaning lady have TV on, she was watching the Olympic (of course everyone glued on this TV show) and I asked her if she doesn't mind do a quick test on another TV. Same thing.

So, this will documents of what's happening. Now, if they didn't do anything about it next month or two. Lodgenet make it look like it's a low priority to fix it. I asked front desk of when this was replaced, he have no idea when, and was hoping manager will be there but he didn't arrived yet. So, we had to take off and head home.

I'll know who to thank to if my tv in my hotel room is working

 

[SneakerNet]

(smile) But the whole point is, would it be nice to have some sort of enforcements or inspectors involved? Before they install live site? Why we should be the responsibility to be sure everything is working ok? We are the one that get all the suprises and we already spend money that become useless. We did plan to get a refund from this hotel but we called hotel across the street but they are pretty much booked.

 

[Jiro]

(smile) But the whole point is, would it be nice to have some sort of enforcements or inspectors involved? Before they install live site? Why we should be the responsibility to be sure everything is working ok? We are the one that get all the suprises and we already spend money that become useless. We did plan to get a refund from this hotel but we called hotel across the street but they are pretty much booked.

I think it's much more economical and easier if the "inspectors" are deaf customers instead of government. if we see a problem, then we simply file a report online and the department will look into it and take appropriate action.

same thing with fire department. if a person notices a fire violation/hazard, they report it to fire department and they'll send a chief/inspector there to investigate and they'll issue notice and/or fines.

 

[SneakerNet]

I think it's much more economical and easier if the "inspectors" are deaf customers instead of government. if we see a problem, then we simply file a report online and the department will look into it and take appropriate action.

same thing with fire department. if a person notices a fire violation/hazard, they report it to fire department and they'll send a chief/inspector there to investigate and they'll issue notice and/or fines.

Ha ha, economical and easier if the "inspectors" are deaf customers compare to emotional break down when they found out that it's not "functional" at all? That's what happen to my wife when she found out that CC button doing nothing. She went on and rant about it.

Yes, if person notices there are fire violation/hazard, they will report it but it's nothing like living without smart phone technology. People will go crazy of not getting any info through this simple devices. Same as on TV. Try to imagine to live in a hotel with no TV, and no wireless/3G-4G for smart phone/computer? For sure those people will ended up in psych ward.

 

[Jiro]

Ha ha, economical and easier if the "inspectors" are deaf customers compare to emotional break down when they found out that it's not "functional" at all? That's what happen to my wife when she found out that CC button doing nothing. She went on and rant about it.

Yes, if person notices there are fire violation/hazard, they will report it but it's nothing like living without smart phone technology. People will go crazy of not getting any info through this simple devices. Same as on TV. Try to imagine to live in a hotel with no TV, and no wireless/3G-4G for smart phone/computer? For sure those people will ended up in psych ward.

they should choose a hotel that is equipped with tv and wifi. I can manage without those amenities at hotel just fine.

 

[SneakerNet]

Yes, like I said in earlier post that we been to that hotel for many years and suddenly they changed something... will hotel make noticed on the website that there's no CC available? How do we know if there's something changed?

That....