Regular sign language TV programme on the topics of welfare and community

Solution
Sign Language Talks Welfare Program
Organization
OHK - Okayama Broadcasting Co., Ltd
Country of Implementation
Japan
Region
Asia & Pacific
Subregion
Southeast Asia
Start Year
1993
First published
16.01.2022

Sign Language Talks Welfare is a regional monthly TV programme in Japan with sign language interpretation, provided by Okayama Broadcasting. It informs the deaf community and is produced mainly by deaf people themselves. Launched in 1993, the programme is financed entirely by advertising and does not need subsidies.

A male tv presenter in a dark blue suit is conveying the news via sign language on television. He is standing outside of a large two story building.
Sign Language Talks Welfare keeps the deaf community up to date

Solution details

People

Yoshio SHINODA Website
“OHK’s sign language program is a true epitome of the implementation of UN-CRPD as well as disability-inclusive SDGs.” Aiko Akiyama, Social Affairs Office, ESCAP

The Okayama Broadcasting Corporation is a regional TV-broadcaster in Okayama City, Japan, an affiliate company of the large Fuji TV Network. Sign Language Talks Welfare is a regional programme with sign language interpretation, informing the deaf community on topics such as the welfare system, emergency care, and community issues, and mainly produced by people who are deaf themselves. The programme was launched in 1993, is fully self-funded by advertisements, and has about 300,000 regular viewers.

Problems Targeted

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can miss out on important societal information, such as the welfare system and emergency care.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

For 28 years the Okayama Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (OHK) has informed the deaf community about important aspects of society through a special TV programme. Every episode relates to welfare, especially about persons with disabilities, including but not limited to the deaf and hard of hearing. The programme carries superimposed sign language interpretation provided by the deaf members of the production team. OHK has expanded the initiative to areas such as sign language lectures, production of original songs with sign language, and production and airing of videos of dance classes for deaf and hearing children. The monthly programme with 10 minutes exclusive airing time is also available on the Fuji Network’s on demand video platform and on YouTube. In 2020 the Japanese Government awarded OHK the Excellence Award in Universal Design, the first for a TV broadcaster. On September 23, 2021, on the International Day of Sign Languages, OHK carried out a major campaign and produced a special programme on “Information accessibility thinking from sign language” for which companies have sponsored the sign language interpretation.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

OHK is a free-to-air commercial broadcaster, whose business model is based on selling advertisements. In addition, OHK has been working under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to support the improvement of TV programmes with sign language interpretation across the country, along with signing an agreement with Keio University to conduct joint research on accessibility and accessible broadcasting. OHK wants to expand its scope to cover other neglected groups in the future, and aims to demonstrate that accessibility is not charity, and that it can be sustained.

Media

Pictures

A male tv presenter in a dark blue suit is conveying the news via sign language on television. He is standing outside of a large two story building. Sign Language Talks Welfare keeps the deaf community up to date

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Related information

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

Japan

Region of Implementation

Asia & Pacific