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

[Fred Olver]

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Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: June 2, 2016 at 7:31:05 PM CDT
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Terry D. Eagle" <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Netflix to Enhance Access for Customers Who Are Blind
> Reply-To: terrydeagle at yahoo.com, NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> 
> 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 
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> accessible by adding audio description, and that it will be a feature that 
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> blind customers can activate independently to enjoy the movie and video 
> 
> experience.   
> 
> 
> 
> The settlement was reached between Netflix and ACB, our Massachusetts 
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> affiliate, the Bay State Council of the Blind, and Robert Baran, an 
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> individual who is blind in Massachusetts. ACB, BSCB and the individuals 
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> 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 
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> 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 
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> 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 
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> 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
> 
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