From:	John Couani 
Sent:	Sunday, 8 November 2009 9:43 PM
Subject:	Submission by Cinema Chains for Exemption

This is in response to the notice lodged at
http://humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/exemptions/cinema/notice.htm 

I am deaf and have a cochlear implant.

I have read the application for the "Temporary Exemption under section  
55 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) from complaints in  
relation to the provision of captions and audio description in cinemas"

At no point in the application do the applicants explain why they  
should be exempt from complaints. Granted that they offer the four  
points listed on the application but there is no justification for  
their exemption from receiving complaints.

As a deaf person I feel that the application is a mechanism by which  
the cinema chains will try to shirk their responsibilities to the 1 in  
6 citizens who suffer from a hearing disability. I am grateful for the  
cinemas for their commitments regarding captions and other facilities  
but I expect that more could, and should be done. I do feel that not  
enough is done and the cinemas should be aiming for 100% satisfaction  
for us, their clients, hearing and otherwise. It seems difficult to  
get action on captions and also audio loop installations and use.

To deny the complaints due process is an unnecessary gag on the deaf  
'community'. If we can't complain, what other avenues are there that  
cinema chains might respond to? Their internal quality control  
mechanisms? This smacks of 'self-regulation', something which time and  
time again fails the consumer, but protects the provider from having  
to improve service. We need open and fair feedback - surely the  
cinemas would welcome that free facility.


Thank you for the opportunity to comment
John Couani