ndallen@uunet.uu.net> (08/02/90)
(Source for this: {The Globe and Mail}, Toronto, July 31, 1990
Bell Canada has been accused of discriminating against the visually
disabled because its Alex videotex service does not have a format that
the blind can use. [Blind people can BBS using a speech synthesizer.]
Alex provides telephone listings, home shopping and banking services,
and news stories, but the system makes extensive use of graphics.
Computers for the blind can't filter out the graphics characters.
The general manager of Disc-Quebec Inc., a Montreal-based non-profit
organization for the disabled, says his organization is working on
software that would filter out the graphics characters so that blind
people could use Alex, but has been told by Bell Canada that it will
not provide money for the research.
He said France Telecom's Minitel has special terminals for blind
subscribers, but they cost more than $2000.
A Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission said the
CRTC considers Alex a discretionary service, not a basic service that
must be universally available. The CRTC has asked Bell Canada to
investigate the complaints of the groups serving the disabled
community.