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The CRTC will hold a hearing on access to broadcasting services for persons with disabilities in November. According to figures from 2006, there are an estimated 4.4 million people (14.3% of the population) with disabilities in Canada.
John Rae, vice-president for the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, says that the CRTC doesn't regulate terminal devices because it feels that market forces should decide the regulation fate.
Other concerns include affordability of equipment for the disabled, design features, customized options, lack of customer support, and additional complaints about CRTC actions towards people with disabilities.
Organizations representing the disabled say that the CRTC has generally failed to offer sufficient regulation and that the disabled find its processes difficult to navigate. These issues include time frames for responding to public notices, building infrastructure, and funding for appearances.
Here are some concerns raised pertaining to broadcasting:
- Close captioning
- Concerns that the transition to high-definition will prove inaccessible to people with disabilities
- Lack of employment of people with disabilities
- Negative portrayal of people with disabilities
Source: Tech Media Reports, 08/19/2008
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