Breaking Down Barriers in Honour of National AccessAbility Week
To mark National AccessAbility Week, we wanted to share some info on a project we have been working on here at Rogers as we progress to further break down accessibility barriers.
Rogers recently completed a design and user experience research study to learn how to improve the television viewing experience for people who are blind or have vision loss. The study was conducted with funding from the Broadcasting Accessibility Fund, an independent and impartial funding body supporting innovative projects that provide solutions to promote the accessibility of all broadcasting content in Canada.
The purpose of the study was to understand how screen-reading technologies can be applied to the television viewing experience. As a part of the study, we conducted extensive research and consumer interviews and prototype design, and engaged in usability testing with people who are blind or have different levels of vision loss. The final report outlines proposed guidelines that are platform neutral and can be applied by designers from any telecom company in order to make a more accessible television experience for their customers. To access the report, please click here.
In addition to the above study, we have some other initiatives in place to make our products more accessible, including:
- Offering a service where hearing impaired customers can book a sign language interpreter to meet with them at one of our retail locations, allowing them to learn about a product in-store;
- Launching Video Relay Service (VRS), which allows customers to video chat to a hearing person through a sign language interpreter.
- Making videos available on our website, which feature easy-to-follow instructions and closed captioning that explain how to perform key functions related to your Rogers wireless device, such as sending a text or picture, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, making a phone call, and using DeviceAid.
- Offering a wireless accessibility data and text plans for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or have a speech impediment. The flexible data plan adjusts based on the customer’s monthly usage and provides unlimited text messaging.