Use social media? Have a disability?

If you do, then ACCAN and Media Access Australia (MAA) would like to hear from you.

Read more: Use social media? Have a disability? Share your tips and tricks

Professor Michael Fraser AM has been named as the new Chair of the ACCAN Board following a meeting held in ACCAN’s Sydney office yesterday.

Read more: Professor Michael Fraser AM named new ACCAN Chairperson

In establishing ACCAN in 2009, the government committed to conduct a review of ACCAN's performance after two years of operation. Having now reached that point, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is keen to hear your views.

Read more: ACCAN mid-term review

Congratulations to ACCAN's own Wayne Hawkins, who won a prestigious award at the 2011 Deafness Forum Captioning Awards held in Sydney last night.

Wayne was awarded the Roma Wood OAM Community Award for his contribution to changes that will see captioning quality standards enshrined in legislation. This is a great win, not only for ACCAN, but for all Australians who are Deaf or hearing-impaired, people who use captions in noisy environments, to learn English, or for any of the many reasons that captioning is in demand.

Read more: Wayne Hawkins honoured with Deafness Forum Community Award

ACCAN has appointed its Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) members for the next two years until June 2013. ACCAN’s Standing Advisory Committees provide guidance and direction as we work towards available, accessible and affordable communications that enhance the lives of all consumers.

Read more: Standing Advisory Committee members for 2011–2013 term

Senator Stephen Conroy has today released the details of the Federal Government’s Review of Access to Telecommunications Services by People with Disability, Older Australians and People Experiencing Illness.

Read more: Telecommunications access for PWD, older Australians under review

ACCAN has received a record 71 applications for the 2011 round of the ACCAN Grants Scheme, which closed on 20 April 2011.

This represents more than a threefold increase from last year. We're delighted to have received such a diverse mix of high-quality applications with projects spanning a wide range of communications issues affecting Australian consumers. 

Read more: Record number of Grants Scheme applications

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

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

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!

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

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