What is Alternative media?

"Alternative Media" means that standard print information such as a book or a magazine, is copied into a format that can be easily used by someone who has a disability. The different formats include:

Audio

Audio information is provided on CD's. With audio information you will hear the information being read to you. Audio information may be suitable for people with a range of visual impairments, people with specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia and people who have difficulty handling printed information.

Braille

Braille is a system of raised dots which allows Blind and partially sighted people to read by touch. The RNIB suggest that there are around 19,000 Braille users in the UK. Braille is particularly useful for people who are deaf / blind and unable to read large print or hear audio information. At BT we use Grade 2 Braille, this means that some words are abbreviated for example 'and' or 'the' which makes it quicker to read.

E-information

As many as half of the UK population (Government figures) have access to a home PC and for many disabled people, information technology (IT) offers new communication opportunities. It is becoming quite common for information such as phone bills and user information to be available via websites, e-mail or on disk.

Large Print

At BT we provide many items such as user guides, contracts or letters in large print using a standard of 20 point Arial or 20 point BT Medium.

We use a number of 3rd party alternative media suppliers to transcribe BT information into large print and all suppliers are bound by the data protection act and all have experience of using and producing alternative media.