Areti Papanikolaou

Every day, we listen to music, enjoy our favorite shows, watch the news, listen to audiobooks and podcasts while driving or going to work. Sounds and images are there, and we take them for granted. However, they are not accessible to everyone. This is where accessibility and media services come into play. Thanks to the evolution of technology and the development of software tools, there are several services that cater to the specific needs of viewers so they can obtain information, educate themselves, enjoy a show or a movie, and take part in cultural events. Media access services play a crucial role in allowing people who would otherwise be unable to do these things to access audiovisual media. It’s more than worthwhile, then, to examine some of the legislation that covers the accessibility field, the recipients of these services, and the image of the media industry.