ABC leaves the visually impaired in the dark

Seventeen per cent of Australians cannot adequately engage with print publications such as novels and have no other means of accessing information according to Gerard Menses, Vision Australia ceo. "Vision Australia knows the vital significance of this provision and we are urgently planning how we can meet this vital and growing need," he said.

Vision Australia converts 600 published books into digital format each year, which it then provides free of charge to its members. "We are making great advances with technology and have promised to provide specialised playback devices that enable users to navigate the book more easily for free to our library borrowers across Australia," Meses said.

The decision to cease its audio department was a result of audio books being unprofitable, according to ABC Commercial who issued a statement to the Herald saying: "Losses incurred from such enterprises directly impact on the ABC's ability to produce programs for ABC radio, television and online. ABC Commercial is currently investigating the opportunity of providing audio content for paid digital download."

Glenys Stradijot, spokesperson for Friends of the ABC said that the ABC needs sufficient funding so that it can continue to produce and broadcast quality programs. "The ABC has created an expectation that it will provide this service. And the community rightfully expects the public broadcaster to act in the public interest in all that it does. They don't distinguish between services the ABC has a responsibility to provide and commercial activities the broadcaster engages in purely to make money," she said.

"What has happened this time is just another example of the damage to public trust in the ABC's integrity that can and does occur when the broadcaster engages in commercial activities."

23-year-old Dawson Ko, who established the VIP Online Society, a website for the visually impaired throughout Australia has a voice-operated computer which is capable of scanning texts and reading it to him. He said that although the ABC's decision had the power to impact some people, it would not affect him. "I haven't purchased an audio book in about four years," he said.

Vision Australia is now hoping to meet with ABC Commercial in an attempt to find a solution so that a range of talking books would still be available throughout Australia.

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