Richard Roehm
(Address snipped)

March 5, 1998

The Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
Washington, DC  20510

Dear Senator Boxer,

Please do not cut or reduce U.S. Department of Education funds for captioning!

These funds provide critical access to television programs that I watch and
enjoy, such as CNN, People's Court, Dateline, Law & Order, and Le Femme Nikita.
These shows are resourceful and informative and they help me learn a few things
as well.  It is very important these shows remain close captioned.

Captioning also makes it possible for me to watch television with family
members and friends who can hear and enjoy.  It is better to have captions
than rely on someone else who is watching the shows because it removes the
entertaining experience because one of the persons will have to spend time
telling me what's on the shows and misses a lot of whats going on in the shows
thus eliminating his/her enjoyment of the shows.

Again, please do not put Deaf and hard of hearing Americans like myself
back in the Dark Ages--without access to information provided through
television!  Information from television nowdays is practically the only
source of knowledge for the majority of the Deaf Community.  It is important
these shows remain closed captioned to remain accessible to the Deaf
community.

The disability community is one of the largest and most underrepresented 
groups in the State as well in the nation.

Thank you very much for your time to read this letter and I anticipate your
response.

Sincerely,

Richard Roehm
Deaf@activist.com
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