Help Put An EHS Advocate On The FCC’s Disability Advisory Committee

Back in 2014, the FCC established the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) to provide advice and recommendations to the Commission on a wide array of disability issues. Now, the Committee is being reactivated, and the FCC is looking for nominees. The applications portal for membership closes on August 13th.

Certainly there is no disability more directly related to the FCC’s actions and decisions than electromagnetic hypersensitivity, or EHS.

This week, we’re asking you to send an email to the FCC requesting that the agency include at least one member with EHS on its advisory committee.

If you prefer, you can nominate your own candidate for this position.

You can send your email to DAC@fcc.gov. The contact person is Debra Patkin.

Sample email:

Dear Ms. Patkin,

I am writing to request that the Commission include on its Disability Advisory Committee at least one member with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). This condition is recognized by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), the Federal agency devoted to the accessibility for people with disabilities.

In its Background for its Final Rule Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities; Recreation Facilities that was published in September 2002, the Board stated: “[M]ultiple chemical sensitivities and electromagnetic sensitivities may be considered disabilities under the ADA if they so severely impair the neurological, respiratory or other functions of an individual that it substantially limits one or more of the individual’s major life activities.”

Thank you.