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Making access work in the New World

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Access to media through audio description and captioning is well established through most of Europe, North America and the English-speaking world. However, the situation in other parts of the globe is very mixed. Reporting in Australia is, not suprisingly, biased towards English language developments and advances. What is happening in other parts of the world, especially in Asia?

Globe of the world with Asia in focus

Taxonomy: 
Research & policy
International policy and legislation
News
Television
Policy
Review of access to electronic media
TV terms
TV access
Disability
Sensory impairment
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Captions
Closed captions
Inclusion
Open captions
Audio description
Digital media and technology: 
Techniques

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U.S. Government makes captions compulsory in airports

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The Department of Transport has issued a ruling which will make it compulsory to turn on captions on all televisions and audio-visual displays in American airports.

People walking through an airport

Taxonomy: 
Research & policy
International policy and legislation
News
Television
Review of access to electronic media
TV access
Disability
Deaf or hearing impaired
Captions
Inclusion
Open captions

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Windows 10 Home and Pro – hands-on accessibility test

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Shortly after the launch of Windows 10 on July 29th, Dr Scott Hollier put together his thoughts, findings and hands-on impressions regarding the accessibility of Microsoft's latest operating system.

Windows 10 desktop with the Start menu expanded

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
Web
News
Disability
Sensory impairment
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Solutions
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
Standards
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Technologies
Operating systems
Microsoft Windows

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Irish cinemas show accessible movies

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Ireland’s largest cinema chain, the family-owned Omniplex, which owns 22 cinemas across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, will start screening open-captioned movies on Monday evenings. The chain is also running captioned and autism-friendly screenings on weekend mornings.

Four people seated in a cinema with popcorn and drinks in hand

Taxonomy: 
Cinema
News
Cinema & arts
Movie
Disability
Accessible Cinema
Captions
Inclusion
Open captions

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BBC paper looks at the future of online captioning

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As people increasingly watch TV programs online, the opportunity arises for captions to be made more responsive to the needs of individual users. A new BBC white paper looks at some of the possibilities, which include users being able to vary font size and colour, along with many other enhancements.

Man and woman smiling while viewing media on a smartphone together

Taxonomy: 
Web
International policy and legislation
News
Policy
Disability
Deaf or hearing impaired
Captions
Closed captions
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Techniques
Mobile operating systems
Devices
Tablets
Smartphones

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Connect Ability Challenge awards accessible tech innovators

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The Connect Ability Challenge, which challenges developers to build accessible technology solutions for people with disabilities using only existing and affordable mainstream platforms, announced the winners of a USD$92,500 (AUD$125,381) prize pool last Monday.

Person using a tablet device in front of an open laptop

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
News
Review of access to electronic media
Disability
Affordable
Sensory impairment
Blind or vision impaired
Deaf or hearing impaired
Mobility
Solutions
Inclusion
Equipment
Digital media and technology: 
Techniques
Technologies
Assistive technology
Mobile operating systems
Operating systems
Devices

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Parents support captions in the classroom

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Parents are a key ally in providing a supported captioning experience, according to Kate Kennedy from Parents of Deaf Children (PODC), the NSW-based parent organisation providing support, information and advocacy services to families of children with hearing loss.

Father and son sitting on a sofa using a laptop together

While the focus of the organisation is on supporting families, it often works with schools and classroom teachers to ensure they are aware of the needs of deaf children in the classroom.

Taxonomy: 
General
Education
News
Learning support
National Curriculum
Parents
Student
Teacher
Disability
Deaf or hearing impaired
Captions
Closed captions
Inclusion

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Blind viewers are dreaming of streaming

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Video-on-demand (VOD) or streaming video services are seen as the new way of delivering content to people where they can choose how and when to view that content, rather than rely on time-limited broadcast schedules. In Australia, services such as Netflix, ABC iview, Foxtel on Demand, Presto and Stan have gained lots of publicity and secured new customers quite rapidly.

Left hand with extended index finger pressing a holographic play button

People who are blind or vision impaired have also been excited by these new developments, but a key issue for them is whether the content is audio described or not and whether the platforms to access these services are accessible.

Taxonomy: 
TV & video
News
Television
TV terms
TV access
Disability
Blind or vision impaired
Inclusion
Audio description

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Windows 10 launches with accessibility improvements

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The Windows 10 update has begun to roll out on a number of devices and has some significant improvements to the accessibility features previously available in Windows 8.1, particularly around the inclusion of the Siri-like Cortana digital assistant, more versatile dictation support and minor updates to existing accessibility features.

Windows 10 logo

Taxonomy: 
General
Digital technology
News
Disability
Solutions
Inclusion
Digital media and technology: 
Technologies
Operating systems
Microsoft Windows
Devices

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Captioned video and transcripts – ideal access and teaching combination

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For students with diverse learning needs, the use of captioned content in the classroom is the best way to gain access to context and information for learning experiences using media. When captions are not available, the fall-back position for teachers has often been the use of transcripts.

Student writing the word 'plant' on an interactive whiteboard, alongside the words Irrigation, gardener, farmer, water, soil and fertilising. The caption reads 'will consolidate your message.'

Taxonomy: 
General
Education
News
Movie
Education Terms
Itinerant Teacher of The Deaf
Learning support
National Curriculum
Student
Teacher
Disability
Deaf or hearing impaired
Captions
Closed captions
Inclusion
Open captions

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