From:	Avni Dauti 
Sent:	Monday, 7 December 2009 2:49 PM
To:	disabdis
Subject:	Application for exemption under DDA section 55: Cinema captioning 
and	audio description

A Letter to Human Rights Commissioner
 
A brief history of the magical 115 years of cinema, Lumiere brothers introducing the motion 
pictures of train arrives to the station in soundless black and white pictures at the small theatre 
and fast forwarding to luxurious golden ages of Hollywood with flourish setting, lighting and 
sound, laughing at Donald Duck’s rage in pictures during the great depression day, breathtaking 
to see Dorothy to stepping in the marvellous colour universe, salute to the soldier marching to the 
war on the news reel footage, read English translation subtitles on foreign film, dress up formal 
with 3-D glasses at the cinema, a group of young black-turtleneck Frenchmen praising the 
pictures in the cinema, exaggerate sound-effecting storming in the cinema theatre, and discipline 
to man who hide the video camera in armpit while sitting at the cinema. 
 
Sure, many of audience experienced the unforgettable moments in the cinema history. I’m 
positive deaf and blind audience would want to have sensation experience the moment in the 
cinema too. I learned that one in six citizens of Australia whom are hearing loss (which is equal to 
approx 4 millions Australian).Unfortunately, major Australian cinema companies are providing 
only 105 screenings with captions and audio descriptions every week out of 43,000 screening 
every week in two islands (Tasmania included) which it is extremely limit access for 4 millions 
Australia. I find it political injustice and completely exclusion for deaf and blind audience.
 
Captions and audio descriptions are not only purpose to use for entertainments for deaf and blind 
audience but also to providing pedagogy for every individual Australian. I find it frustration for 
individual of Australia citizen are forced to give up their rights to complains for two and a half 
years. 
 
Since, I’m deaf and cinephile, my view on 105 screenings in Australia alone is awful lacking for 
provide to deaf and blind audience where in the suburban society are wrestling with their life 
schedule to find idealise time to visit a choice of film of their prefer and with possible of 
providing captions in the cinema. I’m university student and I hard to find appropriate time to 
possible to visit to cinema to see the film in either of three weekly screenings in a cinema. It is 
rather unfair deal for deaf and blind audience. Many of them are limit of experience the 
entertainments in the cinema as I find it a mammoth difference between with experience at the 
cinema with seeing captions on silver screen compare to the box at corner in the family room. 
 
Finally, I pledge you to discontinuing with that silly exemption and increasing to expand cinema 
accessible for many audience. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Avni Dauti
 
Monash University student and cinephile