Conclusion
The review of the Print Disability Services Program and the Postal Concessions for the Blind
Program will become a milestone in the improvement of services to people with a print disability.
Participants in the review raised a wide range of issues, the more significant of which have been addressed in this report.
A need to keep pace with the social changes and technological advances in the design and production of alternative format material for people with a print disability has significant implications for producers and significant benefits for users.
Two key issues will need to be addressed if print disability stakeholders are to take advantage of these societal and technological changes. The first concerns the preparedness of producers to adapt the latest technological advances and international standards to their production. The second issue concerns the funding arrangements of FaCS to assist in facilitating this adaptation.
As a consequence, two recommendations are proposed, namely conduct a review of funding arrangements and research the application of advanced technology to the design and production of alternative format material for blind and vision impaired people.
The review also highlighted the need to improve administrative arrangements of the Postal
Concessions for the Blind Program and the consistent delivery of services for the postage of eligible material for people with a print disability.
It is anticipated that the outcome of the recommended reviews, research and awareness program will be a noticeable improvement in the independence and self-reliance of people with a print disability, particularly for blind and vision impaired people.