From:	Sanderson, Belinda 
Sent:	Tuesday, 10 November 2009 4:29 PM

I would like my complaint to be delivered to Michael Small in regards to the fact they 
are currently seeking submissions on the application for exemption under section 
55:cinema Captioning by the Major Cinema Groups.

I am currently drafting a petition in Townsville on behalf of our local deaf community 
against this exemption. ( I have numerous email support for captions at cinema's in 
Townsville). I am the parent of a profoundly deaf teenager, Kale Flegler.

I am also a parent involved in the Townsville based parent support group ( CHIPS- 
Children with Hearing Impairment Parent support) who are under the umbrella of Deaf 
Children Australia.
I am also in contact with the local Auslan Club as my son's teacher of the deaf is an 
adult who grew up as a CODA ( a Child of Deaf Adult).

The fact captioning is not available at the major cinema groups in Townsville is not 
acceptable. We have a large deaf community in Townsville and over 400 children 
cared for by advisory visiting teachers of the deaf. Why should the cinema's be granted 
an exemption which would see them continue operating without the provision of 
captioned sessions for the deaf?

This basically means our deaf community are unable to attend and enjoy the cinema  
experience purely because they have an inability to hear. This means they are clearly 
discriminating against the deaf community through their lack of provision of accessible 
cinema captions. Clearly the cost can't be raised as an issue, when each group has 
spent $200,000 for the technology of 3D cinema's.

 Both cinema's have recently advertised their  installation of $200,000 of technology at 
Reading and Birch Carrol and Coyle in the opening of a 3D cinema in each location. ( 
Via the Townsville Bulletin).

I have written to both local major chains, Reading and Birch Carrol and Coyle. I have 
received replies from both managers. Both have indicated that
Digital technology ( which would allow captions) is in the process of being installed in 
Townsville in the future, however neither could provide information in relation to when 
captioned sessions may be available in Townsville.

Please be aware we are drafting support for captions in Townsville and will send this to 
the commission ASAP. It always amazes me that decisions are made in regard to the 
deaf community and access to services/resources etc with quoted consultation with 
the affected groups. Yet as the parent of a Deaf Child, we are not notified of the basic
Human rights breaches occurring every day and ways in which we can appeal those 
decisions and have our voices heard.

I look forward to hearing that the Commission will communicate further with the deaf 
community before granting this exemption which would in effect prevent my son as a 
Deaf teenager from having access to the experience of Cinema with captions in 
Townsville.

Regards
Belinda Sanderson