Disability and the implication of coaccessibility: a case study on accessibility to the media in Turkey

• Published in: Media, culture & society culture & society, 2020-09, Vol.42 (6), p.987-1002
• Main Authors: Okyayuz, A Şirin, Kaya, Mümtaz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 21st century; Academic staff; Access; Case studies; Deafness; Disability; Handicapped accessibility; Hearing loss; Mass media; Sign language; Translation
• ISSN: 0163-4437; 1460-3675
• DOI: 10.1177/0163443720908133

Media accessibility has been an important issue on the international agenda since the early 21st century. Many countries have achieved major developments in media accessibility, while others like Turkey are currently embarking on the journey. The following article discusses developments in media accessibility in Turkey with emphasis on disability and the implication of coaccessibility which may be defined broadly as appealing to audiences with differing accessibility needs, through the translation(s) inputted on a single product. The research so far seems to indicate that coaccessibility has potential political, social, educational and other implications. Turkish end-users embrace the current coaccessibility model, but the ultimate goal in accessibility for Turkey is to have optional sign language interpreting, audio description and subtitling for the D/deaf and hard of hearing and the actors need to strive to achieve this. Currently, it also falls to academics to research this phenomenon of coaccessibility, learn from it, both in terms of the practice itself and its possible implications for universal design, and design for all, and to ensure that end-users and others benefit from it until the day it can be replaced with a better option.