Building an Inclusive Broadcasting Ecosystem for the Visually Impaired

Kartunet - The world of broadcasting—whether as a radio announcer, Master of Ceremony (MC), or podcaster—is a highly sought-after career path for individuals with visual impairments. This profession heavily relies on the power of verbal and audio communication, an area where visually impaired individuals possess immense potential to excel. However, to truly break into this industry, people with disabilities must not only hone their technical vocal skills but also be prepared to face the reality of studio infrastructure that is often not yet accessible.

The "Golden Voice" Myth and the Importance of Practice

The first obstacle that often makes someone retreat before even entering the world of broadcasting is a lack of self-confidence regarding their own voice quality. Many feel unworthy of becoming a broadcaster because they believe they weren't born with a "golden voice" or a deep, authoritative tone.

Albert Wijaya, an announcer currently broadcasting on RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia) and the initiator of Podcaster Netra Indonesia, firmly debunks this myth. According to him, in the modern broadcasting world, there is no such thing as a good voice or a bad voice; there is only an untrained voice. Training your voice means learning to control your speaking tempo, knowing when to pause (stop briefly), and mastering intonation so that your message doesn't sound monotonous like a text-reading robot. Every individual inherently possesses a unique vocal timbre, which, if consistently trained, will become a strong character (personal branding) in the ears of listeners.

Studio Reality: Lack of Software Access

After vocal skills are honed, the real challenges await in the control room (studio room). A visually impaired broadcaster cannot read news scripts or song sequences from a piece of paper; they are absolutely dependent on screen reader software (screen reader) like JAWS or NVDA. Unfortunately, the reality on the ground shows that many private radio stations and government broadcasting institutions are not yet ready to accommodate this.

Albert shares his real-world experience that, to this day, almost no radio station allows visually impaired broadcasters to install screen reader software on the main studio computers. This refusal is generally based on a lack of knowledge or concern that the additional software might damage the existing broadcast system. This, of course, makes it difficult for visually impaired broadcasters to operate the broadcast system independently and forces them to rely on producer colleagues as operators.

The "Two Ears" Strategy and the Right to Reasonable Accommodation

Facing this systemic deadlock, visually impaired broadcasters must devise technical strategies. As a workaround (workaround), they typically use their personal smart devices (smartphone) to read scripts. Technically, they must use a small earphone in one ear to listen to the screen reader's voice, then layer it with large studio headphones to monitor the broadcast sound. They are trained to have a high level of concentration: dividing their auditory focus between the pace of the text on the screen reader and the pace of their own voice on air.

While this ingenuity is commendable, it remains a setback for the employment industry. Law Number 8 of 2016 and Government Regulation Number 60 of 2020 explicitly mandate the provision of Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation in the workplace for persons with disabilities. The refusal to install accessibility software on workplace computers constitutes a violation of Reasonable Accommodation. Broadcasting companies must begin to be educated to open themselves up to adaptive technology, so that visually impaired broadcasters can work professionally and independently.

Podcaster Netra Indonesia as a Support System

Recognizing that the path to an inclusive industry is still long, Albert, along with several other broadcasting practitioners, initiated the community Podcaster Netra Indonesia. This platform was established to break down old habits where fellow persons with disabilities often competed to be the most prominent.

This community serves as a supportive ecosystem (support system) where broadcasting enthusiasts gather to collaborate, share knowledge, discuss broadcasting tricks, and build self-confidence. With this incubator platform, it is hoped that more new vocal talents will emerge, ready to enliven the national broadcasting and podcasting industry.

Conclusion

Professions in public speaking and broadcasting offer a golden opportunity for the visually impaired to prove their existence. Vocal abilities can be continuously honed, and studio challenges can be circumvented, but the true struggle is to push the industry to provide proper digital accommodation. Let's not leave visually impaired broadcaster pioneers to struggle alone; let's raise our voices, because there is no worthless voice, only voices that have not yet been heard. (DPM)

References:

• "59th Pertuni Anniversary Webinar: Career Opportunities for the Visually Impaired in Public Speaking". YouTube Indonesian Blind Association.
• Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities.
• Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 60 of 2020 concerning Disability Service Units in the Employment Sector.