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Able Australia, who received an ACCAN Grant in 2010, have produced a report calling for better support for deafblind Australians to access the customised telecommunications solutions that are vital to their day-to-day lives. The report, Telecommunications and Deafblind Australians provides the results of a survey of 71 respondents, and is the first of its kind to focus specifically on telecommunications access and usage by people experiencing deafblindness.

Read more: Research sheds light on unique communications needs for deafblind Australians

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People with complex communication needs, their carers and their friends, can find advice about telecommunications solutions that might work for them from the growing community at the Newell Network. Join the discussion at www.newell.org.au

Read more: Introducing The Newell Network

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ACCAN and Deaf Australia want Deaf and Hearing people to have equal access to telecommunications (phone, mobile, internet) and here's your chance to help. 

Read more: Help improve communication services for Deaf people!

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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Media Access Australia (MAA) are calling on the major television networks to include comprehensive captioning on digital free-to-air multichannels after new research has found a high level of awareness and use of closed captions – even among those who aren’t hearing impaired.

Read more: TV networks need to tune in to audience’s appetite for captions

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The National Relay Service is experiencing major interruptions due to the Queensland floods. The National Relay Service (NRS), a phone solution for people who are Deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired, has been dramatically affected by the Brisbane floods. The NRS’s call centre, which is in Brisbane, has had to be evacuated and this has meant that all NRS calls – other than certain emergency calls – are currently unavailable.

These interruptions are continuing, and there is now information available in Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

Read more: Qld floods: Important information for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired

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Dr Denise Wood was recently awarded the inaugural Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Telecommunications and Disability for her paper titled “Communicating in Virtual Worlds through an Accessible Web 2.0 Solution.”

Dr Wood, a researcher and senior lecturer in the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia, undertook the research as part of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council project to improve access to 3D virtual-learning environments and identify the benefits of Web 2.0 and 3D Virtual Worlds such as Second Life for people with disabilities.

Read more: Dr Denise Wood talks to ACCAN about Web 2.0 and 3D virtual worlds

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Enduring Priority

ACCAN is committed to promoting and advancing digital inclusion, with particular focus on issues relating to the affordability and accessibility of services.

While our work on digital inclusion continues to evolve, this area of enduring policy work is aimed at supporting consumers that may face greater barriers to being digitally included. These include, but are not limited to, people with disability; regional, rural and remote consumers; First Nations Australians; and issues impacting young consumers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and older Australians.

Some current issues in this policy priority include the affordability of broadband services and devices; access to suitable communications in regional, rural and remote Australia and remote First Nations communities; and the accessibility of communications services and devices for people with disability.

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Enduring Priority

ACCAN is committed to advancing the interests of consumers through enhancements to consumer protection arrangements. Sound consumer protections are necessary to allow consumers to engage confidently in the communications market.

ACCAN’s work and commitment to ongoing engagement with stakeholders will drive strengthened consumer protections through the direct regulation of consumer protections. Some current issues in this policy priority include the adequacy of consumer protection arrangements for financial hardship, credit assessment and domestic and family violence.

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Enduring Priority

Through this priority, ACCAN will advance the interests of consumers by supporting policy settings that provide for reliable, resilient and robust infrastructure. ACCAN will continue to engage with key infrastructure policy matters, including the economic regulation and pricing of NBN and legacy communications services and infrastructure investment programs.

Key issues in this policy priority include improving the coverage, capacity and reliability of regional, rural and remote infrastructure to support consumers, small business and communities to grow and thrive.

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Policy Theme

This theme will examine the barriers to getting and staying connected for renters, people experiencing homelessness and those residing in supported accommodation, retirement villages and social, community, affordable or public housing.

Building on historic work undertaken by ACCAN this theme will focus on the development of policy proposals to improve the digital inclusion of consumers regardless of where they live.

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Policy Theme

This theme will focus on emerging issues and trends in the use of communications technologies to cause consumer harm. The intent of this theme is to identify emerging issues and support the development of forward-looking policy settings.

Building on research undertaken by ACCAN grant recipients this theme will focus on the development of policy principles and settings that limit the use of communications technologies for consumer harm, including coercive and abusive behaviour.

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Policy Theme

ACCAN is committed to advancing accessibility for all consumers. This theme will focus on progressing the Ideal Accessible Communications Roadmap in partnership with our members and the broader disability sector to deliver a fully accessible communications sector.