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	Tuesday 4 February 2003 Listen to the In Touch for 4 February 2003 DISABILITY ACCESS TO DVD'S Contributors: Tim Gebbels (DVD enthusiast) Stuart Snaith (Director of Video Sponsorship and Events for BBC Worldwide) The problem with DVD' s (Digital Versatile Disc), is that the menu is not audio-described, therefore successful navigation is very difficult. The BBC doesn't produce audio described DVD' s at the present moment. Tim Gebbels approached a private company - ITFC (Independent Television Facilities Centre ) - which produced a trial DVD which has audio-described menu and therefore navigation is possible. Tim presented it on the programme. However, it would appear that there are no DVD's commercially available with audio navigation. CONTACTS INDEPENDENT TELEVISION FACILITIES CENTRE LTD 28 Concord Road Acton London W3 0TH E-mail (general enquiries): webmaster@itfc.com BBC WORLDWIDE LIMITED Woodlands 80 Wood Lane London W12 0TT Tel: 020 8433 2000 Fax: 020 8749 0538 DISABILITY ACCESS TO NIGHTCLUBS Contributors: John Griffiths (Night Clubber) Catherine Casserley (RNIB, Senior Legal Officer). Visually impaired clubber John Griffiths tells Cheryl Gabriel his story about being refused entry to Junction Club in Brighton. The case is discussed by Catherine Casserley, the RNIB's Senior Legal Officer. SERVICE PROVIDERS' RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE DDA If you are a provider of goods, facilities or services you have duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which makes it unlawful to discriminate against members of the public on the grounds of disability. All organisations that provide goods, facilities or services to the public, whether paid for or for free, are covered by the DDA, no matter how large or small they are. Under the Act discrimination also occurs when anyone knowingly aids someone to discriminate against a disabled person, or victimises anyone who tries to make use of rights under the Act. Key to the Act for service providers are the concepts that it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by: refusing to provide a service without justification; providing a service to a lesser standard without justification; providing a service on worse terms without justification; failing to make reasonable adjustments to the way services are provided for disabled people. From the year 2004, failing to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of service premises, to overcome physical barriers to access. However, a service provider can refuse to serve a disabled customer so long as they are able to justify such action, and their reasons have nothing to do with the customer's disability and they would refuse to serve other customers in the same circumstances. COMMUNICATIONS BILL - MASS LOBBY Contributor: Joe Korner Peter White talks to Joe Korner of the RNIB, regarding the mass lobby of the Communications Bill. On Tuesday 4th February at 2pm, there was a mass lobby on the gaps of the Communication Bill. The campaign action is necessary because blind, partially sighted and deafblind people are denied full and equal access to the digital tv, digital radio and telephone services. This exclusion is likely to worsen with people set to lose even the basic ability to select programmes on digital TV, access information from the radio and Teletext. The Communication Bill sets out the powers of a new regulator OFCOM and will to a large extent determine what level of access to services blind people will have in the future. According to the RNIB, the government hasn't listened to the voice of blind people. As a result the Bill says nothing about how access to digital TV equipment or digital radio can be improved. It doesn't prompt OFCOM to encourage manufacturers to start designing more accessible and usable equipment and the audio description targets for digital TV remain at 10 percent over 10 years, rather than the 50 percent the RNIB have demanded. The following is the RNIB's information regarding the Mass Lobby of Parliament, which took take place on Tuesday 4 February on the Communications Bill WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE? The ideal outcome would be changes to the legislation. To do this the Government really has to be under pressure, from MPs, from the media and from the public, and feel it is in its best interests to make concessions to our demands. Cross-party support is vital in this. The Bill has to be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Lords sometimes succeeds in forcing changes through to Government legislation and this is what we will be hoping to do. But these changes will still have to be approved by the House of Commons. We really hope the lobby will result in changes to the Communications Bill. It may be a case of gaining reassurances on certain areas or promises of future action. The lobby will raise our profile as a force to be reckoned with. A mass lobby will help ensure those working on the Digital Action Plan, for example, take up and act on our concerns. Top priorities the RNIB is calling for: An increase in the quotas for audio described programmes from 10 per cent to 50 per cent and a guarantee we will all be able to receive them on all digital TV platforms. Enforceable guidelines to improve access to electronic programme guides, interactive TV services and digital radio. A guarantee that digital Teletext will be accessible. Duties on the new regulator, OFCOM to promote universal access and 'Inclusive Design', so that manufacturers start designing accessible TV, radio and telephone equipment. A strong voice for blind, partially sighted and deafblind people on the consumer panel. CONTACTS RNIB 105 Judd Street London WC1 H9NE Tel: 0845 766 99 99 (UK callers only - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Tel. 0207 388 1266 (switchboard/overseas callers) Fax. 0207 388 2034 Interpreters are available: please call for details Textphone users call via Typetalk 0800 51 51 52 The RNIB provides information, support and advice for anyone with a serious sight problem. They not only provide braille, Talking Books and computer training, but imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. The RNIB campaigns to change society's attitudes, actions and assumptions, so that people with sight problems can enjoy the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities as fully sighted people. They also fund pioneering research into preventing and treating eye disease and promote eye health by running public health awareness campaigns. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF THE BLIND AND DISABLED Central Office Swinton House 324 Grays Inn Road London WC1X 8DD Tel: 020 7837 6103 Fax: 020 7278 0436 Minicom: 020 7837 6103 National League of the Blind and Disabled is a registered trade union and is involved in all issues regarding the employment of blind and disabled people in the UK. Previous week's Factsheet>> Visit the In Touch Message Board Back to the In Touch page The BBC is not responsible for external websites

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