BSI Calls on Industry to Improve Communications to the Blind

Confederation of Transcribed Information Services

To promote the provision of information in alternative formats to print

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The BSI Group, in partnership with RNIB and COTIS, is undertaking essential developments for the provision of a standard to ensure organisations can effectively deliver customer information to blind and visually impaired people. BSI is now looking for business partners to help create a publicly available specification (PAS).

Three million people in the UK require alternatives to print or visual presentations due to sight problems, dyslexia or a reading disability. Currently many companies are wasting time and money through inaccessible and ineffective communication. Companies, unable to generate the material themselves, rely upon contractors to ensure that information is presented accurately and to a high standard.

No standardised codes of best practice have, as yet, been available in this area. The introduction of a PAS will give organisations the know-how and confidence to ensure all the information is accessible and of the appropriate quality. It will encompass all the relevant factors for every format of alternative communication, from speed and availability, accuracy and layout, to quality of voice recording.

When the standard is established it will be an essential tool in providing organisations with the knowledge that transcription is being undertaken to best available practice, so they can be confident in the end result, as well as being fluid enough to adapt to future developments. It will ensure that the visually impaired obtain access to all information in a consistent and familiar format.

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Wendy Davies, Chair of COTIS, states: "The standard will remove the onus from those in receipt of the information to report any problems, which is an unfair, ineffective and impractical method. It will also provide a recognisable benchmark from which transcription agencies can promote their services."

Mike Low, the director of British Standards at BSI, remarks: "We see this as being of particular importance to utility and financial organisations - or indeed any company with a large consumer customer base.

"The creation of a PAS will allow organisations to make informed choices over the quality and style of information, in whichever format it is provided. As well as ensuring that all customers can access all information, it will also have the added benefit of creating better relations between business and blind people."

A PAS is a standards document that an organisation sponsors. It can cover products or processes. Using the full resources and expertise of BSI, a PAS can be delivered in six to nine months and, eventually, it can lead to a full British Standard.

The finished PAS is a professionally produced document, whose sponsors have placed a marker down to inform stakeholders that this is the way things should be done. It also enables an organisation to:

• Gain market credibility as the originator of a key industry standard
• Create new and improved ways of working between industry and the consumer
• Assume a position of thought leadership
• ·Streamline processes throughout the supply chain

BSI is developing the specification with leading experts in accessible information and, by utilising BSI's rapid standard development cycle, it can be ready in the next six to nine months. Companies wishing to become involved in this essential development should contact Gareth Williams on tel: 0208 996 7468 or email: gareth.williams@bsi-global.com

ENDS

For further media information please contact Steven Brassey at the BSI Press Office on tel: 020 7861 3188 or email: bsipressoffice@goodrelations.co.uk

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BSI GROUP INFORMATION

BSI Group is an international provider of services to businesses and other organisations. All our business units are working to the same vision of supporting business improvement and trade world-wide. Through provision of standards, technical information, systems assessment, product testing and commodity inspection services, BSI supplies vital third-party services that enable its customers to trade effectively and to improve their operations and products.

Founded in the UK, in 1901, the BSI Group is now a global company made up of five complementary business units:

• British Standards is the National Standards Body of the UK. Through engagement and collaboration with its stakeholders, it develops standards and applies innovative standardization solutions to meet the needs of business and society.
• BSI Business Information focuses on providing standards information and dynamic services that add value to business standards, best practice and management systems.
• BSI Management Systems, a provider of certification to management systems is based at BSI's headquarters in the UK. Following the 2002 purchase of the North American systems assessment business of KPMG, BSI Inc, based in Reston, Virginia, is the largest company providing management systems certification in North America. Management Systems also has regional headquarters in Hong Kong to service the network of offices in the Asian-Pacific region.
• BSI Product Services, based in Hemel Hempstead, UK, provides product-testing and awards Kitemark conformity certification and CE marking. The Kitemark is a BSI registered trademark.
• BSI Inspectorate, a global inspection company providing independent verification services to the global commodities market and industry. Inspectorate joined the BSI Group in 1998, which has its main offices in London, with operations from Houston to Singapore.

For further information about BSI, please visit our website: www.bsi-global.com

COTIS INFORMATION

COTIS (Confederation of Transcribed Information Services) is a Registered Charity, No 299024., dedicated to improving the quality of materials produced as alternatives for those who cannot read print. Originally set up as an umbrella group of recording agencies, the current COTIS management team also includes representatives of those using such materials, and promotes quality for all formats, not just audio.

For further information, membership application form and purchase of guidance notes and tapes please contact:

COTIS, Project Office, 67 High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0DP, United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0)1829 733351

Email: administrator@cotis.org.uk

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COTIS President: Sir John A. Wall - Charity Number 299024

COTIS Web Site last updated 21st November 2008