[blindlaw] Needed:access to audio digital described TV for the blind ad low vision in USA-NOW

[Dennis DiBona]

>> Hi Lists - PLEASE take the time to read this - especially if blind  
>> or visually impaired or a caregiver-
>> 	Very Important info is included below  that would definitely  
>> benefit the ever -growing low vision/blind population in the USA..
>>  	PLEASE!  Help Me Spread the Word regarding the need to allow us,  
>> in America, to ALSO  have audio described TV as an accessibility  
>> right in the USA.
>> Please get this  message and the info below to those who can make  
>> it a reality for us here...
>> Here is the question:
>> Does anyone know why we, the blind,  do not have audio description  
>> TV  service  in the USA?
>> What is the barrier?
>> Who do we need to contact to get this in motion?
>> 	PLEASE READ the news article below BELOW:
>>
>> A big ---  Shot in the arm for audio description  - great for the  
>> blind - From European news sources
>> By Paul Crichton
>> 31 Jul 07, 08:15 PM
>>
>> Sony
>> has recently announced that all their digital
>> TVs in the Bravia Range will now provide
>> access to audio description on Freeview as
>> standard. This follows in the wake of
>> Panasonic
>> , who made a similar move earlier in the year.
>> Audio description is an extra narrative voice
>> added to a programme to help explain
>> what is happening on screen for visually impaired viewers.
>> After years of waiting, there are now several
>> ways to receive audio described TV
>> at home. Satellite and cable set-top boxes
>> provide this functionality as do specialist
>> devices, such as the
>> Portset Digital Media Centre
>> . But if your old analogue TV has gone to the
>> great junkyard in the sky, then an
>> IDTV - which is a digital television with a
>> set-top box integrated into it - is an
>> option to think about.
>> What is quite exciting about this is that audio
>> description is being provided as
>> standard with these televisions - in the same way
>> that closed captioning has been
>> for 25 years or more. This means that no
>> expensive special boxes need be purchased
>> and no one will be financially penalised for
>> being visually impaired; that isn't
>> always the case.
>> Additionally, we're not talking one or two token
>> TVs here. You can pick from dozens
>> of TVs from Sony and Panasonic to get the one that suits you best.
>> Sony also indicated that they will be seeking to
>> raise awareness of the issues, and
>> will be campaigning across Europe to spread the
>> word to consumers, broadcasters and
>> legislators about audio description.
>> Sony's press release
>> quotes a figure of almost 30 million people
>> throughout Europe who could benefit
>> from audio description, a figure provided by the
>> European Blind Union
>> Where are we in the USA with this project?????? Let's band  
>> together to get it here!
>> Please send this out to anyone you may know of ,especially your  
>> legislatures, Sony and Panasonic and any other companies ,  
>> dealers , representatives and any governmental or organization  
>> agencies who can speak for us about this very important issue that  
>> can help move it forward for the blind/low vision population.
>> This really should be a basic right and part of equal  
>> accessibility, don't you agree?
>>







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Hi Lists - PLEASE take the time to read this - especially if blind or visually impaired or a caregiver-??
Very Important info is included below? that would definitely benefit?the ever -growing low vision/blind population in the USA..
?
PLEASE!? Help Me?Spread the Word regarding the need to allow us, in America, to ALSO? have audio described TV as an accessibility right in the USA.
Please get this? message and the info below to those who can make it a reality for us here...?
Here is the question:
Does anyone know why we, the blind,? do not have audio description TV? service? in the USA??
What is the barrier? ?
Who do we need to contact to get this in?motion???
PLEASE READ the news article below BELOW:
? ? ?? ???
A big ---? Shot in the arm for audio description? - great for the blind -
From European news sources
By Paul Crichton
31 Jul 07, 08:15 PM
Sony
has recently announced that all their digital
TVs in the Bravia Range will now provide
access to audio description on Freeview as
standard. This follows in the wake of
Panasonic
, who made a similar move earlier in the year.
Audio description is an extra narrative voice
added to a programme to help explain
what is happening on screen for visually impaired viewers.
After years of waiting, there are now several
ways to receive audio described TV
at home. Satellite and cable set-top boxes
provide this functionality as do specialist
devices, such as the
Portset Digital Media Centre
. But if your old analogue TV has gone to the
great junkyard in the sky, then an
IDTV - which is a digital television with a
set-top box integrated into it - is an
option to think about.
What is quite exciting about this is that audio
description is being provided as
standard with these televisions - in the same way
that closed captioning has been
for 25 years or more. This means that no
expensive special boxes need be purchased
and no one will be financially penalised for
being visually impaired; that isn't
always the case.
Additionally, we're not talking one or two token
TVs here. You can pick from dozens
of TVs from Sony and Panasonic to get the one that suits you best.
Sony also indicated that they will be seeking to
raise awareness of the issues, and
will be campaigning across
Europe to spread the
word to consumers, broadcasters and
legislators about audio description.
Sony's press release
quotes a figure of almost 30 million people
throughout Europe who could benefit
from audio description, a figure provided by the
European Blind Union
Where are we in the USA with this project?????? Let's band together to get it here!?
Please send this out to anyone you may know of ,especially your legislatures, Sony and Panasonic and any other companies , dealers , representatives and any governmental or organization agencies who can speak for us about this very important issue that can help move it forward for the blind/low vision population.?
This really should be a basic right and part of equal accessibility, don't you agree?