OTTAWA – Mediac Inc. is urging the CRTC not to “abandon” hearing- and visually-challenged consumers.
“With revenues shifting to multi-platform content distribution, the CRTC bears a duty to ensure that all Canadians’ ability to access the communications system is improved and strengthened, not reduced,” said Mediac president and CEO Beverley Milligan, in a statement. “As one of the central issues for hearing- or visually-challenged people with disabilities, and for those learning Canada’s official languages, accessibility will become meaningless unless the CRTC’s report to the government considers the benefits of encouraging and ensuring accessible content going forward.”
The company, which specializes in measuring and improving broadband accessibility for consumers with hearing and visual impairments, offered recommendations to the Commission on Friday at its impact hearing that is says will provide free or low cost alternatives to maximize the availability of accessible programming content across a range of media platforms.
