Information
The information on this page answers the questions that we are most commonly asked about disability-related legislation and audio transcription. If you want to know more about our specific services please look at our Services page. If you can't find the answer to your question on our web site, please contact us and we will respond to your query as quickly as possible.
Cue and Review Recording Service FAQs
Q: How many visually impaired people are there in the UK?
A: According to the RNIB there are 1.7 million people in the UK who are either blind or partially sighted. That's one person in every thirty five who cannot read or has difficulty reading normal text.
Q: Is it only those with visual impairments who benefit from audio transcriptions?
A: No. There are millions of people with physical or language difficulties who can benefit. For example: people with reading difficulties or illnesses such as Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis and also people from different cultures who may understand what is spoken to them but who have difficulty reading. And don't forget the busy able-bodied person who wants to listen to information on the move.
Q: What alternative information formats are available for those with a visual impairment?
A: Braille and audio are the two media that are most useful to those with a visual impairment. Of the two, transcription into audio formats is by far the most popular since only 2% of blind people read Braille.
Q: What is the Disability Discrimination Act?
A: "The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 1995 to introduce new measures aimed at ending the discrimination which many disabled people face. It protects disabled people in the areas of employment, access to goods, facilities and services and the management, buying or renting of land or property." (from the Disability Rights Commission web site).
Q: What sorts of documents do organisations transcribe to audio?
A: "What sort of documents do organisations produce in print?" is the answer. If you can produce it in print then it can be transcribed to audio. Some documents, particularly those with a lot of images or charts, may need more specialist input but nothing is impossible.
Q: What sorts of responsibilities do I have under the Disability Discrimination Act?
A: Under Part III of the Disability and Discrimination Act, which came into force on 1st October 1999, providers of goods, facilities and services must make them accessible to disabled people. This means, for example, that if you provide information in print, you must also provide it in a format that can be used by those with a visual impairment, on request.
Q: Where can I go for more information?
A: If you want information about the Disability Discrimination Act the Disability Rights Commission web site is a good start. To find out more about transcription services look at our Services section or call us on +44(0)141 563 0306 and speak to Morag Mackay our Operations Director.
