Today, we are launching the “toolkit for transposition” of the Audio-visual Media Services Directive.
This document outlines how you can use the Directive to demand stronger national laws that guarantee more accessible audiovisual media, such as TV programs and streaming “on-demand” content. It will also help you ensure strong laws prohibiting discriminatory and hateful speech towards persons with disabilities. Finally, it will help you in making sure the national laws are actually respected by broadcasters and other media providers
This toolkit should be used by disability advocates working to influence national policies in the EU. Many governments have already started adapting their national laws and all must do it until 19 September 2020. So, now is the time to act!
Some of the advices in the toolkit include:
- Ask authorities to set concrete and obligatory timelines, quantitative and qualitative goals to make audiovisual content accessible (for example, number of programs that need audio-description until a certain date, with measures to ensure adequate quality).
- Strongly advocate for provisions ensuring all emergency information is accessible.
- Visit the website of the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media, contact your national regulatory authority and ask to be connected with their experts on audiovisual matters and media accessibility.