News
25 February 2008
CDMA Closure
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), The Hon. Senator Stephen Conroy, has moved the date of closure of Telstra's CDMA network to 28 April 2008, subject to a review of the equivalence of the NextG network at the end of March. The Minister convened a meeting of interested stakeholders and Telstra personnel on 12 February to discuss issues of concern about the closure. TEDICORE attended that meeting. Since then, TEDICORE has been in discussion with Telstra about ensuring that consumers with disabilities get access to information and suitable handsets to meet their needs. Telstra has set up a Hotline number (1800 888 888) for questions about NextG handset and coverage. For advice on making the changeover to CDMA, consumers are asked to first contact their nearest Telstra Country Wide manager.
Government and
Telstra announce measures to enable CDMA network closure
Find out more about the CDMA closure
25 February 2008
SA government & mobile phones
"Older people ... just want a simple phone that has clear numbers and easy buttons to use." This plea from the South Australian Ministerial Advisory Board on Ageing prompted the Minister, Jay Weatherill, to take action. As SA Minister for Disability & Ageing he has written to manufacturers highlighting that the mobile handset requirements of people with disabilities and older Australians are markedly different from those favoured by younger consumers. The call for user-friendly handsets needs to be met by manufacturers and suppliers. [Adelaide Advertiser, 25 February 2008]
5 February 2008
RTIRC Consultations
The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC) is holding consultations around the country. This is an opportunity for consumers with disabilities in regional, rural and remote Australia to give feedback about their experiences with telecommunications services. Written submissions are possible during the consultation period which finishes in May 2008.
Find out more about the consultation schedule
Find out more about how to make a
submission to the RT Review
22 April 2007
Australia among the first to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Australia signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on its first day. Some 85 countries have now signed the Convention. Australia will consider domestic implications before deciding to ratify the Convention.
Read the government's media release
1 March 2007
Release of DCITA reports on text any-to-any connectivity and provision of telecommunications equipment to consumers with disabilities
The two reports completed in July 2006 and December 2006 respectively have been eagerly awaited by consumers with disabilities. TEDICORE will be presenting a response to the reports.
Find
out more about the reports.
20 January 2007
COST 219ter launches new book, Towards an inclusive future
COST 219ter (the European Commission project on accessibility for all to services and terminals for next generation mobile networks) has launched its latest book. It explains current broadband applications for people with disabilities and older people, the regulatory scene, evaluation processes and ideas to bring concepts to reality.
Download a copy of: Towards
an inclusive future: impact and wider potential of information and communications
technologies
14 December 2006
UN General Assembly passes Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities includes many references to the need for improved access to information and communications technologies at an affordable cost. UN member countries are being encouraged to ratify the Convention.
Read the press release: Secretary-General
hails adoption of landmark convention
8 December 2006
New guideline released to improve ICT industry's consultative processes for people with disabilities
The guideline developed by the Disability Council of the Communications Alliance will help industry ensure it meets the the communication needs of people with disabilities and older people, now and in the future.
Read the guideline: Disability
matters - access to communication technologies for people with disabilities
and older Australians
5 December 2006
New guideline for making payphones more accessible for people with disabilities
The Communications Alliance and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) have released a new industry guideline to ensure that payphones are more accessible for people with disabilities.
The Accessibility
of payphones industry guideline G630:2006 is available to download in
PDF format (246 kB)
3 December 2006
TEDICORE's new website has been launched as part of Australia's contribution to the International Day of People with Disability.
Read the press release: TEDICORE launched its new website on International Day of People with Disability
1 December 2006
People with disabilities will find it easier to choose a phone that suits their needs following the release of a new industry code.
The code requires Australia's customer equipment importers and manufacturers to provide information on features of their equipment that will meet people’s communications needs. Equipment suppliers must also have a contact point for consumers to seek further information about the equipment supplier’s equipment features.
Information about accessible phone features will be available from telephone service providers' shops from mid-April 2007. The code, ACIF C625:2005 Information on Accessibility Features for Telephone Equipment, is available online.