GNBA Chairman to meet with broadcast operators on programming to cater for PWD
– Urges hiring of PWDs
CHAIRMAN of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Attorney-at-Law Leslie Sobers, is set to meet with operators of television and broadcasting stations in Guyana, within the coming week.
The consultation is aimed at learning, first-hand, from the owners what constraints they face with regard to introducing closed-captioning in their programmes for the benefit of the hearing impaired, he told the Guyana Chronicle.
Sobers said it is essential that PWDs (persons with disabilities), the hearing-impaired included, are catered for within the planning framework of programmes at television stations, while pointing out that it is a known fact that the majority of the hearing impaired community relies on captioned television programmes and movies for education and network.
The television plays a huge role in the lives of the hearing-impaired, and one of the greatest advantages is for hearing-impaired individuals to benefit from closed-captioning (CC), as it allows them to see and read the text of what is being said on news programmes, television shows and movies.
Touching on the possible use of sign language interpreters by television operators, using visual gestures and signs, during the airing of newscasts and during the broadcasting of other programmes, Sobers said the agency is aware that such a move can be both complex and expensive.
He noted, too, that in addition to the persons being trained, there is need for constant practice since such a job cannot be performed spontaneously or without preparation.
He further urged that the operators of television and broadcasting stations seek to train and use persons with disabilities, wherever possible, as these persons are hugely overlooked on the job market.
According to Sobers, the agency is aware that some of the stations may not have the equipment and that it calls for some amount of planning, while noting that earlier attempts were made by e-Network to introduce closed captioning.
Source: The Guyana Chronicle Newspapers – July 13, 2019
