[dbaust] UN report highlights need to make television more accessible to persons with disabilities
- From: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 18:24:48 -0800 (PST)
UN report highlights need to make television more accessible to persons with
disabilities
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40626&Cr=disability&Cr1
5 December 2011 – Television should be made more accessible to persons with
disabilities, argues a new United Nations report released today, which
identifies different accessibility options that would enable users to fully
access audiovisual content.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United
Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies, more
than 1.4 billion households worldwide have a TV, representing 98 per cent of
homes in developed countries and almost 73 per cent in the developing world.
But people with audiovisual impairments are not able to make use of this
channel for information, education and entertainment purposes.Accessible TV
should be a fundamental tool in building inclusive societies.
As a response, ITU, in partnership with the Global Initiative for Inclusive
Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict), identified various
accessibility options and explained how access services are produced and
delivered so that regulators and service providers can better understand the
issues and costs.
Closed captioning and signing for the deaf, audio description and audio
captions for the visually impaired, and accessible remote control devices for
the elderly and those with reduced dexterity are some of the accessibility
options highlighted in the report.
“Accessible TV should be a fundamental tool in building inclusive societies,”
said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré.
“The emphasis of this report is on making digital media accessible. The
transition to digital terrestrial TV broadcasting represents an ideal
opportunity for ITU members to take the necessary steps to ensure TV is more
accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
The report argues the implementing the identified measures would also support
social inclusion for immigrants, ageing populations, and non-educated and
marginalized groups.
“TV programmes are a principal source of news and information for such segments
of the population, and are a key element in reinforcing social participation
and community identity. Television also plays an especially crucial role in
times of emergency, and can serve important educational purposes by
transmitting courses and other instructional material,” the report reads.
New access services will need adequate radio frequency spectrum allocations,
and the ITU is actively encouraging its 193 Member States to ensure that
sufficient spectrum is given to support services promoting accessibility for
persons with disabilities.
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2011/51.aspx
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