92 / 454
www.zeroproject.org
office@zeroproject.org
266 - Accessible Media, Canada
C
ONTACT
Accessible Media Inc.
Mr. Robert Pearson
Canada
www.ami.ca+1 647 680 51 42
robert.pearson@ami.caO
VERALL GOAL
/
MISSION
The project sees its goal in the making of accessible media for all Canadians.
T
HE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
In 1988, the Canadian government passed a law that concluded that the media consumption needs of those who were
blind or partially sighted were being not properly served. Therefore, AMI-audio, a national broadcast, was launched and
remains in place today. In 2009, AMI-tv was launched to complement the AMI-audio service. AMI-tv offers two
specialized features - closed captioning and described video - on all of its programming. AMI-tv is deemed a must carry
service and can be found on all basic digital tv packages. Each services holds mandatory carriage status, requiring cable
distributors to gather and provide 0.04 cents in the case of AMI-audio and 0.20 cents in the case of AMI-tv from their
subscribers per month.
C
OUNTRIES IN WHICH IT WAS DEVELOPED
: Canada
C
OUNTRY
/
COUNTRIES IN WHICH IT IS OPERATING
:
Canada
F
ACTS ABOUT SIZE AND SCOPE
1)
AMI serves nowadays more than five million Canadians who have visual impairments, are deaf, have physical
disabilities or print disabilities. This happens through the provision of accessible media, whether online, in a printed
version or broadcasted.
2)
Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-tele in French, AMI's mission is to
make accessible media for all Canadians.
O
UTLOOK
The policy and ICT of the project can easily be adapted to other countries or jurisdictions.