Welcome to Media Access Australia

Review of Multi-channel Captioning

Captioning laws do not currently apply to standard definition or high definition multi-channels. The only exception to this has been where the program has aired previously on the primary channel. A bill is currently before parliament that would ensure a review of these laws before the earliest switchover day - the 1st January 2010.

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Paramount DVD Labelling

Paramount Home Entertainment, one of Australia’s major DVD distributors, has recently commenced the adoption of the local industry standard for labelling of accessibility features.  For more information on the standards.  

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Films from the Other Film Festival to screen in Canberra

The highly successful Other Film Festival of 2008 is taking a selection of its films to Canberra to celebrate International Day of People With a Disability. 

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The power of song

A common side claim for the benefit of captioning programs is that it helps people with their reading, including “early readers”.  A large-scale example of this is being rolled out across India,not dealing with the needs of the hard of hearing (who become side beneficiaries), but tackling functional illiteracy. 

The number of people who are functionally illiterate in India varies according to who is doing the measuring, but however you measure it, it is a major problem.  Estimates suggest at least 300 million people cannot usefully read. 

Read more: The power of song