[nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Netflix to Enhance Access for Customers Who Are Blind

[Terry D. Eagle]

Netflix to Enhance Access for Customers Who Are Blind 

  

by Kim Charlson 

  

 

In a first-of-its-kind settlement agreement, the American Council of the 

Blind and Netflix have collectively worked to make accessible the movies and


videos offered through the Netflix video streaming and DVD rental 

subscription program. In these times when more and more people are ?cutting 

the cord? and turning away from more traditional cable providers, Netflix 

and ACB realize that this is just the beginning of a new era in accessible 

entertainment. Streaming video content and having it be accessible with 

description makes all the difference for people who are blind. 

  

The settlement with ACB provides that Netflix will make its video content 

accessible by adding audio description, and that it will be a feature that 

blind customers can activate independently to enjoy the movie and video 

experience.   

  

The settlement was reached between Netflix and ACB, our Massachusetts 

affiliate, the Bay State Council of the Blind, and Robert Baran, an 

individual who is blind in Massachusetts. ACB, BSCB and the individuals 

involved in the case were represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), 

a national non-profit law firm. 

  

Netflix provides one of the nation?s most popular online streaming and DVD 

rental services, offering convenient and affordable video entertainment, 

including original content, to its customers. Under the ACB agreement, 

Netflix will provide audio description for many titles in its streaming and 

disk rental libraries. The audio description lets blind people know what is 

happening in scenes without dialogue or scenes with significant visual 

elements via an audio description track that contains narration of the 

visual elements that is synchronized with the show or movie. Television and 

movie studios will create the audio description tracks and provide them to 

Netflix. In addition, under the settlement, Netflix will also provide audio 

description for its original shows that it has begun distributing such as 

?Daredevil,? ?House of Cards? and ?Orange is the New Black.? Netflix will 

also make its website and mobile applications accessible to individuals who 

are blind and use screen-reading software to navigate websites and apps. 

With the changes Netflix is making, users who are blind or low vision will 

be able to independently use the Netflix website and mobile applications. 

  

These improvements will provide people who are blind or low vision with 

unparalleled access to online video entertainment services currently enjoyed


by millions of Americans. ACB applauds Netflix for working with us to 

enhance access to its services for people who are blind. Our goal is to 

expand the availability of Netflix?s services to the blind community and to 

increase the availability of audio-described film and television 

programming. Movies and television are a central pillar of American culture.


As television and movies are increasingly delivered through streaming and 

home delivery services, ensuring that the blind community receives access to


this content is critical to making certain that people who are blind are 

integrated into modern society. 

  

Attorney Rebecca Williford of Disability Rights Advocates stated, ?This is a


great example of technology promoting greater accessibility and 

inclusiveness for people with disabilities. We hope that the outcome of our 

collaboration with ACB and Netflix will serve as a model for others in the 

online video entertainment industry.? 

  

A copy of the settlement agreement is available at 

www.dralegal.org