Media Access Group at WGBH Launches New Web Site

Contact:
Mary Watkins/Media Access Group at WGBH
617-300-3700 or mary_watkins@wgbh.org
http://access.wgbh.org


Media Access Group at WGBH Launches Comprehensive New Web Site

BOSTON, MA. October 3, 2002 - The Media Access Group at WGBH announces the
launch of a newly designed, integrated Web site which combines the
considerable resources of the world's premiere provider of media access
solutions for people with disabilities. Developed in conjunction with WGBH's
award-winning Interactive Department, the new Web site combines and expands
upon the online resources of The Caption Center and the Descriptive Video
Service® and provides direct links to the CPB/WGBH National Center for
Accessible Media and the Group's Motion Picture Access, or MoPix®
initiative. The site can be reached by visiting http://access.wgbh.org.

The site features an easy-to-navigate design and is screen-reader accessible
- enabling users with vision loss to access all content using assistive
technology. The site also includes information about the Media Access
Group's access services and products and a listing of MoPix-equipped
theaters and films in the US and Canada (MoPix is Rear Window® Captioning
and DVS Theatrical®). Also featured are links to samples of captioned and
described Web clips; a library of MAG Guides (information on various
accessibility topics for consumers and industry); user questionnaires,
surveys; background on the Group's research and development projects; and
more.

According to Lori Kay, Director of Services for the Media Access Group at
WGBH, "The all-inclusive site underscores the fact that the Media Access
Group is the singular resource for information about access services for
audiences with hearing and visual disabilities. This new Web site
demonstrates our continuing efforts to be the organization consumers,
corporations, educators, parents and technology developers depend on for
reliable, non-biased information and cutting-edge access solutions."

The Media Access Group at WGBH is a non-profit service with offices in
Boston, Los Angeles and New York. The Group includes Descriptive Video
Service (DVS®), which has made television, film and video more enjoyable to
audiences who are blind or visually impaired since 1990, and The Caption
Center - the world's first captioning agency - which has made audiovisual
media accessible to audiences who are deaf or hard-of-hearing since 1972.
The third branch of the Media Access Group, the CPB/WGBH National Center for
Accessible Media (NCAM), is a research, development and advocacy entity that
works to make existing and emerging technologies accessible to all
audiences. The Media Access Group's staff contains the leading experts in
their fields. For more information about access services, visit the Media
Access Group Web site http://access.wgbh.org or call 617-300-3600 (voice and
TTY).

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source
of nearly one-third of PBS's prime-time lineup and companion online content
as well as many public radio favorites. WGBH is a pioneer in educational
multimedia (including the Web, broadband, and interactive television) and in
technologies and services that make media accessible for people with
disabilities. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys,
Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards. even two Oscars. In 2002, WGBH was honored
with a special institutional Peabody Award for 50 years of excellence. For
more information visit www.wgbh.org .

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