MEDIA ADVISORY - AMI's Robert Pearson appointed as a Disability Advisory Committee subcommittee representative

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) announced today that Robert Pearson, the organization's recently designated Accessibility Officer, has been appointed as a representative on one of the subcommittees overseen by the Federal Communications Commission's Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) in the United States.

The subcommittee to which Robert has been appointed will focus on video programming access and will cover initiatives including Closed Captioning, Described Video programming, access to video programming apparatus, and access to televised emergency information, among others. As a representative, Robert will share AMI's viewpoints on accessibility issues and help develop recommendations for the DAC's consideration.

"It's an honour to be appointed to this subcommittee," says Robert. "The DAC will be a highly influential committee and I look forward to collaborating with likeminded professionals regarding accessibility initiatives in the media industry, while sharing the progress that we have achieved at AMI."

The DAC was established in December 2014 in order to provide information and advice to the Federal Communications Commission regarding a range of accessibility issues within the media industry. The DAC will operate on a two-year term, providing a forum for disability advocates and experts to share ideas regarding current and evolving accessibility issues, and facilitate the participation of individuals living with a disability in future Commission proceedings.

"At AMI we strive to be a leader in accessibility not just in Canada but worldwide," explains David Errington, President and CEO of Accessible Media. "Robert's appointment to this DAC subcommittee reaffirms our commitment to ensuring access to media is a right, not a privilege."

Robert was appointed to the role of Accessibility Officer in December 2014 and has worked at AMI since April 2011. He is responsible for establishing and maintaining AMI as a leader in media accessibility by setting and influencing accessibility standards and best practices, shaping organization policies and encouraging the development of technology and industry solutions that contribute to creating an inclusive environment within the organization and with external partners. In March Robert will travel to Washington to participate in the preliminary subcommittee meetings with the DAC.

For further information about AMI and its various programs and initiatives, visit www.AMI.ca.

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About Accessible Media Inc. 
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is a not-for-profit multimedia organization serving more than five million Canadians who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, hard of hearing, mobility or print restricted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI's mission is to make accessible media for all Canadians. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca

SOURCE Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)

Janis Davidson Pressick, Communications Manager, 800-567-6755 ext. 0971, [email protected]; Taylor Turner, Communications Coordinator, 800-567-6755 ext. 0977, [email protected]