CANBERRA, July 8 AAP - The new phone age of wireless technology and improved internet access does not extend to people with disabilities, a report shows. The disabled are facing access and cost barriers and are not getting their fair share of the new telecommunications age, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) report found. Acting disability discrimination commissioner Sev Ozdowski said people with disabilities deserved better telecommunications services. "Advances in telecommunications are an important area for everyone in the community and people with a disability are entitled to their fare share of benefits," Dr Ozdowski said in a statement. "Telecommunications should be accessible to all Australians. "I welcome improvements in telecommunications for people in rural and remote Australia but many people with a disability are being left behind." Deaf people who use tele-typewriters to communicate on the phone network could not use mobile phones since the analogue network closed three years ago, he said. "Australia's telecommunications network is modern and efficient, and customers have a variety of means for telecommunications: fixed telephones, terrestrial or satellite wireless phones, and access to the Internet," the discussion paper said. "A strong feature of the telecommunications system in Australia is universal geographic accessibility, but the situation for people with disabilities facing barriers of accessibility and affordability is not so positive." The discussion paper made 26 recommendations, including a call for larger keys for people with arthritis, brighter colour contrasts for people with vision loss and volume controls for people with hearing loss. Source AAP ###