Accessibility groups ask BTLR for legislative changes, new advisory office

Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications legislation should be amended to include a number of references to accessibility for Canadians with disabilities, according to the CNIB Foundation, while the Canadian Council of the Blind is calling for the creation of a new advisor position to work with industry. The CNIB Foundation, which provides services for and advocates for Canadians with blindness, recommended various changes to the telecom and broadcasting acts in its submission to the panel in charge of the reviewing Canada’s communications legislation. It said the section of the Telecommunications Act that describes the objectives of Canadian telecom policy should include explicit references to rendering reliable and affordable telecom services to “Indigenous peoples in Canada and Canadians with disabilities.” It also suggested the portion of the act that talks about stimulating research and development in telecom specify that includes “accessible equipment and services for Canadians with disabilities.” The CNIB Foundation also suggested a number of amendments to the Broadcasting Act. That includes changes to the section describing broadcasting policy for Canada that currently calls for “a public service essential to the maintenance and enhancement of national identity and cultural sovereignty,” which the CNIB said should also strive to maintain and enhance “the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada and Canadians with disabilities.” It also said programming provided by CBC/Radio-Canada should be made available throughout Canada not only by the most “appropriate and efficient” means but also by the most accessible. Among other suggestions, the group also said the section that specifies that “programming accessible by disabled persons should be provided within the Canadian broadcasting system as resources become available for the purpose,” should instead read that “programming provided by the should be fully accessible for Canadians with disabilities.” In its submission, The Canadian Council of the Blind didn’t propose specific changes to legislation, instead outlining how important internet connectivity and wireless data are for people for disabilities. It gave the example of blindness-specific apps like Be My Eyes, which connects users to a sighted volunteer via a video call, and the growth of smart home technology. “It is crucially important that Canadians who are blind, deaf-blind or have low vision, should not need to worry about their data usage for apps that provide invaluable independence and assistance in their everyday lives,” the submission outlined. It said they should “have affordable, reliable, data plans that have large amounts of data available and are easy to understand and use.” The group suggested the creation of an accessibility advisor position and an advisory committee, which would run a mystery shopper program, and provide carriers with information about hiring and training for people with disabilities as well as strengthening customer service training, among other responsibilities. “As telecommunication systems, standards, policies, products and services change, the Accessibility Advisor and Accessibility Committee would be responsible for constant vigilance in monitoring and reviewing these changes to ensure that they remain fully accessible to all over time,” the council said. The terms of reference the expert panel was given when it was tasked with leading the review in 2018 include a section dealing with consumer protection, rights, and accessibility, and asked the panel to consider whether further improvements to legislation are necessary. But a memo for Science Minister Kirsty Duncan looking at the relevance of the review to the proposed Accessible Canada Act flagged a section of those terms. The ACA is currently at second reading in the Senate. The terms of reference state that the “ability for Canadians with physical disabilities to be able to fully engage with modern communications services is critical to their social and economic wellbeing.” The memo to Duncan noted that both the ACA and the CRTC’s accessibility framework recognize accessibility as a human right. “Thus, the language of wellbeing in the review could adversely shift the conversation around accessibility from human rights and barriers towards individual states of wellbeing. Participants in the ACA consultations were clear that accessibility should be framed as a human right,” the memo said. In the end it recommended the department continue to monitor the review. — With reporting by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca and Kyle Duggan at kduggan@thewirereport.ca and editing by Ahmad Hathout at ahathout@thewirereport.ca CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct that the Accessible Canada Act is currently at second reading in the Senate, not first reading.

Accessibility groups ask BTLR for legislative changes, new advisory office

News | March 7, 2019

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Accessibility groups ask BTLR for legislative changes, new advisory office

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