Sky
The Workplace
Sky attempt to employ diverse range of people, on the belief that diversity enhances creativity. Sky continue to implement the disability awareness programmes that were introduced in 2003, working with the broadcasting industry and disability awareness organisations to address disability in the workplace in their sector. They aim for fair employment opportunities for disabled people, by following legal guidelines and their own internal procedures.. Disability access at their sites is a fundamental consideration, and is incorporated into all new building developments and refurbishments. All disability access information is kept in the 'Access to Sky' workbook.
Customer Access
During the last year, Sky have developed two new remote controls working with Scope and Age Concern amongst others to understand how to modify their remote control unit to make it easier to use for people with either limited vision or mobility impairment. Research helped improve the existing device through enlarging the print to make button identification easier, increasing the contrast in colour between the buttons and the central feature, changing the contours of the number keys for ease of finger location, and introducing a hand-strap version to help customers with dexterity problems. This product will be available from July 2006. For some time Sky have offered an audio version of the Sky monthly magazine to customers who find reading small print difficult and this is now available online. Both the online and CD version are easy to use and simple to navigate.
The Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) has a new feature which when activated, highlights the access services on the EPG so that viewers can see immediately whether a programme has audio description, sign language or subtitles. The Sky website also has a dedicated page for information about programming with subtitles, narrative or sign language. A recent redesign has made this clearer and more streamlined, with three new sections offering background information on each of the services, plus details on how to use them.
Sky has a dedicated Accessibility Service Team to make sure that disabled callers can access our helpline in the way that works best for them. The team stays in touch with the needs and expectations of disabled customers through focus groups, which include both Sky customers and people not currently using the service. Feedback is also collected from the Accessibility section on the Sky website, so that these services are under constant scrutiny and are subject to improvement.
Programming
Sky help bring people with disabilities into mainstream television, to help get rid of outdated views on disability and bring people a greater level of understanding on the matter. An example of Sky's work in this area was the show 'Abnormally Funny People'. This was one of the success stories of the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, bringing together a number of stand-up comedians who have disabilities. After the festival, Sky screened a documentary on Sky Three and the Community Channel, taking a behind-the-scenes look at how the show was put together, and following the progress made by the cast from the day they first began writing material for the show, to the opening night and the press reviews. Over 100,000 people watched it on-screen. Sky is a member of the Broadcasters and Creative Industries Disability Network which works to improve and increase the representation of disabled people on television.