News
ComReg survery of people with disabilities
31st March 2010
Survey of telecommunications services – Forum on Services for People with Disabilities
March 2010
ComReg is conducting a survey of telecommunications services with respect to consumers with disabilities. Millward Brown Lansdowne is the research organisation contracted to assist ComReg in this regard.
Surveys have been issued by People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI) and DeafHear to some of their members. If you have a disability or would like to complete the survey on behalf of someone with a disability and have not received the survey already, you can get a copy of the survey in standard print format or audio format from ComReg (contact Barbara Delaney at 8049759).
ComReg’s role
Electronic communications services including home phones, mobile phones and the internet are an important part of our daily lives. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for the regulation of the Irish telecommunications sector. One of ComReg’s objectives is to ensure that consumers, including those with disabilities, derive maximum benefit in terms of choice, price and quality of telecommunications services.
In 2006, ComReg and the National Disability Authority jointly established the Forum on Services for People with Disabilities (the Forum) to improve the accessibility of all telecommunications services for people with disabilities. I am pleased to advise you that significant progress has been made to date, notably:-
· the publication of the Phone and Broadband Guide for People with Disabilities and Older People
· improved accessibility of service provider websites
· improved accessibility of service provider bills
· improved access/choice of service providers offering free directory enquiries.
What the survey relates to
The Forum agreed that a survey should be conducted to identify the current needs of users with disabilities in relation to telecommunications services. Based on the responses received to this survey, issues can be prioritised for the Forum to progress. The enclosed questionnaire has been developed and agreed for distribution to consumers with disabilities, by membership of the Forum.
The overall survey results will be published by ComReg on its website later this year.
How, and when, to complete the survey
The survey poses a number of questions for you, or your carer or PA, to complete. If you have received the survey in large print or Braille format, your answers will still need to be completed on the standard survey format, also enclosed. The completed survey should be returned by Friday, 30 April 2010 in the enclosed FREEPOST addressed envelope. It is vital that you complete all sections of the survey and, in particular, the last section which provides relevant information. The last section of the survey will assist in compiling information from the survey at an overall level with respect to specific disability/ disabilities. If some sections are not relevant to you, please ensure that you indicate this.
Audio Version of the questionnaire
ComReg has made an audio version of the questionnaire available for those interested in listening to the questions in advance of a telephone interview. This will be made available on www.askcomreg.ie as as series of MP3 files in the next few days; a CD version or casette tape can also be made available on request (contact Barbara Delaney at 8049759).
Telephone Interview
If you cannot complete the questionnaire in writing, there is an option for you to complete the questions by telephone interview. If the telephone interview option is suitable for you then you need to complete the details below and return by Friday, 30 April 2010 in the FREEPOST addressed envelope, that you received enclosed with the questionnaire.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Yes, I agree to participate in a telephone interview to be conducted between the hours of 9am and 5pm on one of the week days between Tuesday, 4May 2010 and Monday, 10 May 2010. The interviewer will try to make contact with you during these times and if possible at the preferred times indicated below.
My telephone number is ---------------------------------
Preferred Date (4th May/5th May/6th May/7th May/10th May) ----------------------------
Preferred Time (Morning/Afternoon) ---------------------------------
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