Please make movies accessible for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It is important not to be left out of such an important social activity.

Thank you,
Kathleen Costello

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

I agree, we do need captioning now. I found that the window thing they had does not make the print large enough and you can't always get FM systems as needed.

I am deaf myself and have not been to movies outing for years now. I d love to go out one day when that is if there s a cc available .. smile.

There are at times I sure need a break from hectic shedule of daily living and children raising. It is hard work and I am sure deaf ppl really want to enjoy themselves at the movies for a nice relax atmosphere

Thanks for reading this.

I am writing this letter in support of the human rights action being brought forward by Gary Malkowski, Scott Simser and Nancy Barker to make captioning in movie theatres more easily accessible.

As the parent of a hearing impaired daughter there are plenty of challenges we must face together everyday. A basic human right should not be an obstacle to us.

We have been made to fight for numerous small concessions (such as street signs) and I feel the deaf/hard of hearing community out there should be allotted the basic right to enjoy an evening out at the movies.

As they say, it's the small things in life that matter. Please take every person into consideration.

I strongly support Gary Malkowski, Scott Simser and Nancy Barker in their efforts to seek equal access to movies in the theatres for Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people in Canada.

Sincerly,
Blair O'Malley

To Whom It My Concern

I am married and my wife is deaf. I have always wanted to take her to the movies like hearing husband can. It would mean so much to my wife to be able to bring her daughters to a show and follow along and know what is going on. Hearing people take for granted with out a thought - lets go see a show - we have to wait until it goes to video and hope it is CC. Please make all theaters closed captioned so all the people have the same rights to go and watch a movie

Andrew Strachan
You may post this letter

Yes I do support this and would like to see addition of french included.

I did a copy, paste and glue, of your information to include (FSL).

The Caption Movies Now Coalition is a coalition of local, provincial, and national organizations that addresses equal access in the movie theatres everywhere in Canada.

The Coalition believes consumers who are Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing, and consumers with learning needs (i.e.: learning English as a Second Language (ESL), French as (FSL) and persons with learning disabilities) should have the same freedom as anyone else.'

Thanks for making a difference for minority Deaf French.

Roger St-Louis,
president of AOSF

Please Please Please
I'm supporting the Caption Movies Now Coalition.

When I was young, most of my time I went to see movies at theatre but not understand 'talking' and loved to see all colors of pictures. I am no longer to attend to see the movies so far. I am getting tired of renting DVD's at home and I want to go out to see the movies for a change!

Thank you

The film industry has been going strong for over a past century. Early films, once called 'silent movies' were accessible to the Deaf persons of the early part of the 20th century. Filmmakers at that time were unable to incorporate sounds and scores into their films, so films were either pantomimed or had dialogue presented on intertitles. Thus, without a spoken language, films were easily understood by both the Deaf and hearing people alike.

In the 1930's, when the 'talkies films' came out This introduced sound technology on films, and with that, more and more films were then inaccessible to the Deaf. What's damning is that this communication barrier still exists to this day. We have tolerated seventy five years of waiting.

We strongly support the Caption Movies Now Coalition's mission. Accessibility for the Deaf at cinemas and movie theatres has been long in coming. It's time the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafened people were not treated as second class citizens.

Paul and Rita LeDrew
Toronto, ON

Hi!

I'm very support to have CC for Movie to use all different movies. I would said I wasn't happy past of years ago. But positive that I Thanks to have RWC. It is great idea but why ONE MOVIE! Some movie is not my type like weird movie or strange or horror movie. So I have to wait other week if any good movie for RWC CC. Then other week whatever that keep going every week.

When I want to watch good movie as popular example 'Lord of the Ring' or other movie. When I saw the News about this movie said 'Number one' or like Best TOP selling ticket! I thought that for sure, I will go watch movie but find out no CC! at movie theatre. I was upset. So I have to wait for 8 month or a year to get movie rental as DVD. Kinda behind movie news. Some of my hearing friends watched it but I didn't. They keep telling me like ' You should watch it!' I told them, well, because no cc. I have to wait until to get rental movie DVD that is all and watch at home.

It such a one movie with CC in once a week or month to me. I felt that Deaf have so small limit. Compare Hearing have so much choice to pick and they are so enjoy lot than Deaf do. We or I want to be same as hearing people too like they have choice to pick movie. We are not complain but our eyes open to see world and things that future is going to be better for Deaf need than long time ago. World is changing already and the future.

Hope you understand, I know it is cost of money to spend on it but I am sure that whoever in city or government could support Deaf need BUT it is not for DEAF only either who hearing person can talk but can't hear too. Even children can read English. Also other different foreign people can't understand the voice talking too fast. So they can learn & read on CC. That is lot of choice for hearing people too. That is postive!

You know, I am so impress that one of country like in Europe or other country. The government did offer for Deaf support lots like TTY, or CC. They are VERY SUPPORTIVE DEAF NEED!' Why not do in Canada too? I was embarrassing when I hear that other deaf people from other country like in one or few deaf Sweden people said ' What wrong with Canada ? Why can Canada support Deaf need? Or they ignore Deaf needs?'

Thank you for your understanding,
Manitoba

We are proud being the Deaf family. We are writing this letter in support of the human rights action being brought forward by Gary Malkowski, Scott Simser and Nancy Barker to make captioning in movie theatres accessible.

When we feel like going out to a movie theatre, it turned out that there is only one movie with closed captions (CC) available. It is as if we are limited to one choice while others can watch any preferred movies. It is frustrating that they offer only one movie with CC that we didn’t want to watch. If we want to watch the specific movie and it is not available with CC at a movie theatre, we have to wait a few more months for the movie to be transferred into the VHS or DVD format. It is as if we are the last people to get excited.

In addition, we would like to make some comments about the type of captioning. We do not mind the open captioning movie if there is a dull-transparent colour background covered like closed captioning. We prefer the closed captioning of movie’s with subtitles onto the screen better than the rear-view window using a small panel. It is ridiculous when we have to carry the small panel to our seat and insert it into the cup holder at our seat. The panel replaces the space for our drinks and then we have to hold our drinks in our hands. We need our hands to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) the visual language. We have to watch the panel and the screen back and forth. It would be convenient if the open captioning or closed captioning is automatically available on the screen at all times. This way we can sit with our free hands anywhere like everybody else. Why bother to carry the panel?

Why can’t we, Deaf people, just buy a ticket and go directly to our seats without waiting for service and the panel? It does not really make sense when a movie with sound is available at any time and anywhere while a movie with closed captions is not available anywhere at anytime. Would it be convenient if the sound of all movies is completely off? If your answer is “No”, then why do we, Deaf people, suffer to a limited freedom and independence?

We are the same people, except don't hear. We, Deaf people, are all citizens, taxpayers and real humans like everybody else. It is not appropriate to treat Deaf people differently. It is clearly discrimination.

It is simple common-sense that movies with closed captions should be available at all the times at anywhere. Without CC, we do not get full information and it is impossible to lip-read conversations.

CC is really essential and beneficial not only for the Deaf community but also for anyone with hearing loss and literacy skills.

Have you ever thought that one day anyone may lose their hearing at any age because of age, health illness or accident? It may be you who need a movie with closed captions as well.

Come on, let everyone including Deaf people enjoy watching movies together!

The Palusci Family

Captioning for all movies is a human right that should not be compromised. All Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals have the right to attend any and all movies without having to wonder whether there will be captioning. You may post my letter.

Sincerely,
A. Zammit
Communication Facilitator

This letter is in strong support for Deaf, hard of hearing, deafened and hearing consumers in general to have access to information in public, including movie theatres. We value the society and we contribute to the society as whole. And in return, we require access to everything that the society has to offer. I am asking, as a mother of hearing daughter and a wife of a hearing husband, to please include close captioning for all movie theatres so that my family and I could go for enjoyment as equals. Without having to depend on my family for information or being singled out as 'Deaf' and be assigned to obvious 'handicapped' area with a closed captioning device to use. I have used it in the audience, to be able to watch the movie with closed captioning on this device. It was painfully obvious that I had a problem because I was deaf by using this device. But the truth is, if I am not given access to information, then the society is creating a problem for me. Not the other way around. In addition, closed captioning is an excellent tool to promote English literacy for all persons, after all Canada is a strong believer in developing strong literacy skills. So why not use this tool in all places that are highly enteraining -- movie theatres for instance -- and it'd guarantee an opportunity to encourage strong literacy skills?? It is really a subtle way to promote literacy skills in English without forcing illiterate persons into classroom and teach them reading in English!