A number of different methods was used in the course of the Project in order to obtain a clear picture of the issues relating to consumer information access for blind or vision impaired people.
A demographic analysis was undertaken to provide an underlying foundation
for the other sections of the Project. Then, a qualitative analysis of consumer
information needs and access was completed through focus groups and discussions
with key informants. A survey of policies, projects, products and services
in Australia and overseas ensured a fuller understanding of the complexity
of issues relating to information access. It became clear that a broad analysis
was necessary to encompass the many factors which have an impact on the provision
of accessible information.
An overview of statistical surveys conducted on blindness and vision impairment in Australia and the U.K. was undertaken. While the broader definition of print disability was considered, it was felt that the complex and often contradictory area of print disability was inappropriate for this Project.
The surveys studied included "Blind and partially sighted adults in Britain: the RNIB survey" conducted in 1991, the Australian Bureau of Statistics "Disability, ageing & carers: Visual impairment" conducted in 1993, the "Print disability review" by the Department of Community Services and Health in 1989 and the Melbourne Visual Impairment Study in 1994. The Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia conducted a survey in 1987. However, the figures contained therein did not provide substantial new data. Both this survey and the "Report on an investigation into telecommunications needs of disabled persons" conducted by Telecom Australia around 1980 provided some useful background information.
The data which is of relevance to this Project was the incidence of blindness
and vision impairment in the population and the methods used by blind and
vision impaired people to obtain information.
Focus groups were used as a valuable method of obtaining data from consumers in a direct and interactive manner. This technique has been used effectively in many research projects and was considered especially valuable in the Consumer Needs Assessment Project conducted with people with disabilities in USA. Not only are focus group participants able to directly provide feedback to the researcher but also participants can share information and learn from each other. (Ward, 1990) In one of the Project's focus group meetings, some participants had not met since school days and old friendships were renewed.
Because there were three distinct subject areas (telecommunications companies, banks and Department of Social Security) where many issues needed to be addressed, it was decided to concentrate discussion on one specific subject area for each group. The groups were divided into older and younger groups and the subject areas covered and number of participants were as follows: Because there were three distinct subject areas (telecommunications companies, banks and Department of Social Security) where many issues needed to be addressed, it was decided to concentrate discussion on one specific subject area for each group. The groups were divided into older and younger groups and the subject areas covered and number of participants were as follows:
Location Subject Age group Females Males Total Brisbane DSS (older group) 7 4 11 Brisbane Telco. (younger group) 2 3 5 Sydney Bank (older group) 6 1 7 Sydney Telco. (younger group) 5 4 9 Macleay/ Telco. (mixed group) 5 2 7 Nambucca Total 25 14 39
The age range of participants was from people in their early twenties to people in their seventies.
A result of this allocation of subject areas to the focus groups was that telecommunications issues were explored more deeply by younger people who were more experienced in using a range of alternative information access techniques. Further research on information access in other areas such as the banking sector, in particular, may prove beneficial.
Local executive members of NFBCA organised the focus group meetings by selecting and contacting suitable focus group participants. They also arranged premises and facilities for the meetings.
A short audiotape was sent to focus group participants outlining the Project and the focus of the discussion. The sessions were facilitated by the Research Consultant, Gunela Astbrink. All sessions were audiotaped and most of the sessions had a notetaker. Each group was aware that the session was being taped and informed that there was a notetaker. When there was no notetaker, the facilitator relied on the audiotapes and her own notes.
Each focus group meeting commenced with a 5-minute overview of the Project. Each person was given the opportunity of having their say by being asked individually for their opinion. However, there was also free-ranging discussion over a wide range of topics within the subject area. A scenario was used in order to open up opportunities to cover the listed questions. (App. A)
Sessions were two hours in duration and participants were open and involved in the discussion. In only one case, was there reluctance to answer a question. Many participants were well-informed and articulate about their requirements.
Towards the end of each session, people were asked to comment on the other two areas not discussed in their focus group. Some useful observations were obtained this way. No one felt the need to stay after the end of the session to discuss any further points.
The composition of the focus groups could be broadened to include people
who become vision impaired later in life. This is a particularly difficult
group to reach as many people are housebound and/or socially isolated and
find it difficult to attend a focus group session away from their familiar
surroundings. This research would be ideal to include in future studies together
with why people undertake different behaviours in their method of obtaining
information.
Information about Australian and overseas developments was obtained in a
number of ways.
Members of the Project Steering Committee were key people in the provision of details about current and planned projects, products and services. This included Christopher Newell, a pioneer in Australia on telecommunications and disability issues. The Committee acted as a springboard to contact with other opinion leaders in Australia such as staff and members of NFBCA, the Association of the Blind (Vic), the Royal Victorian Institute of the Blind, the Royal Blind Society (NSW) as well as other blindness agencies through participants of the focus groups.
Consumer organisations such as the Consumers' Telecommunications Network provided valuable policy information and contacts with other related organisations such as the Communications Law Centre.
Patricia Gillard and Kirsty Williamson at the Telecommunications Needs Research Group based at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) provided much useful information on the social aspects of telecommunications usage.
Attendance at the Summit “Negotiating the information superhighway with a print disability” which was sponsored by the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities provided a useful perspective on issues such as legislation and technology and its effects on the provision of information.
In October, 1995, a visit was made to Europe to pursue other interests but this presented an opportunity to discuss the Project with colleagues in Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal.
In Sweden, meetings were held with representatives from Telia, the Swedish Handicap Institute, the National Swedish Board for Consumer Policies and the Nordic Committee on Disability.
In Switzerland, Telecom 95 was attended which is held every four years and is the largest telecommunications exhibition in the world.
A paper was given about the Internet and disability at ECART3 (European Conference on the Advancement of Rehabilitation Technology) in Portugal. This was an opportunity to meet with experts in the field such as John Gill from the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Contact details for organisations and projects relevant to the Project are listed in App. B.
Searching on-line databases was carried out for relevant literature that could "plug the gaps" for information.
A most useful source of information was the Internet where a number of different methods were used for data collection. Electronic mail was used to communicate with colleagues and others to confirm or obtain further details on projects. Internet discussion lists or listservs are set up for people all over the world to provide input and gain answers to questions on a particular topic. Relevant discussion lists were subscribed to and questions were posted relating to this project. Lists used, discussing topics such as computer access for blind people, equal access to software and information, are listed in Appendix C.
A particularly useful source of information relevant to the Project was the World Wide Web. (App. D) The information is usually very up-to-date and, as reports from government and non-profit organisations are often not indexed in bibliographic databases, it is a very effective means of discovering this type of data. To supplement the on-line information, publications were obtained from a variety of projects and sources. (App. E)
As technology and telecommunications is changing very rapidly, the report
can not be entirely up-to-date but an attempt has been made to ensure currency
as much as possible. The examples used for activities in Australia and other
countries is not exhaustive but are designed to give an overview of the area
under study.
The report is divided into four major sections. These are a demographic analysis and a discussion on consumer information needs; specific types of consumer information provision; the underlying policies to information access; and the underlying technologies used to provide information access. As there is, relatively speaking, not as much activity in Australia as in many other countries, U.S. and European activities are covered in reasonable detail to provide a picture of the developments occurring in information access for people with disabilities.
Recommendations are described within each section and are also listed in the Executive Summary.
Appendices list the questions asked in the focus groups; relevant contact people; Internet discussion lists and Web sites; a bibliography; list of acronyms and examples of information material in alternative formats from Telia.
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Demographic analysis