We spend a lot of time at home these days. For many, this means binging our favorite shows. With streaming services and network channels now offering mobile watching, it’s easier than ever to watch what we want when we want.
Like sighted people, blind and visually impaired viewers eagerly anticipate the latest episode of “This is Us,” binge straight through “Stranger Things,” or gossip about “Tiger King.” How do you comprehend what is happening in a show when you can’t see it? Many blind people consume visual content using audio descriptions.
What is an audio description?
Audio description allows blind and visually impaired people to access visual content at no extra charge. A narrator describes content that cannot be discerned without description, such as color, action, background, and expression. In films and TV shows, the recorded description is slipped in between scenes where there is no dialogue. The description happens in real-time with live performances, also in between dialogue and music.
Technology for the blind
More and more production companies, TV programmers, and artists are realizing the importance of providing audio description services for blind and visually impaired viewers. Just as closed captioning evolved in the industry more than 20 years ago, audio description also evolved.
The five main streaming services are Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, Hulu, and Apple TV. Netflix and Disney Plus currently provide more audio-described content than any other platform. Especially if it’s content original to Netflix or Disney Plus. Prime closely follows with most of its original content audio described. With only four audio-described shows from last year, Hulu now offers many shows with this feature. Apple TV also provides many audio-described titles. Each of these platforms is from various TV networks. However, many of these titles are not described; it depends on whether the original programmer built it or not.
These services all have accessible interfaces for screen reader users. Technology for the blind, like JAWS NVDA or Apple Voiceover, can access the app/site itself in audio description to watch audio-described content.
How to access audio-described content on these platforms
The following is a list of directions for the specific services using an Apple device. You will need to turn on the audio description feature on your device, but once you do, it will remain on, and you will not have to turn it back on constantly.
First, you will need to turn the audio description on. Go to the Settings app, swipe until you find Accessibility, tap on this, and swipe again, looking for the audio description–make sure it is toggled on. Once you toggle this, it will automatically play if a film or show has an audio description.
Netflix
Once you toggle the audio description feature on your Apple device, you are set to watch audio-described content on Netflix. If an audio description with a title is available, it will automatically play from now on.
Disney Plus
Select a title, tap on the screen as it plays, and controls will be displayed. Look for the Audio and Subtitles Menu. If available, there will be an English Audio Description button to select. You will only have to set this up once.
Prime Video
Select a title. Once the program is playing, tap on Video Controls. Then, look for the Audio and Subtitles options and tap on them. If an audio description is available, you will see the option. Once you select this option, the audio description will automatically play when available.
Hulu
Once you find a title you want to watch on Hulu, play it. Swipe on the screen until you find Player, then tap on it to turn on player controls. Then swipe until you find Settings, and tap on it. If an audio description is available, there will be a button for English Audio Description; tap on it. You will only have to do this once. Any title with an audio description available will automatically play with an audio description.
Apple TV
Like Netflix, once you toggle the audio description feature on your device, titles with audio descriptions will automatically play.
Outlook Enrichment’s adaptive technology trainers can help you set up audio descriptions on your Apple TV, smartphone, or other device. Audio description services allow the visually impaired to enjoy film, TV, and theatre as their sighted peers. The more audio description is advocated for, the more visual content blind people can access.
