[NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV

Mon May 18 19:11:22 UTC 2026

Yes, if you can also find the microphone button on the remote you can simply speak turn on voice guidance.

> On May 18, 2026, at 2:43 PM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Bea says to go to Settings, then Accessibility, then turn on either Voice Guidance or Talkback, whichever it says.  Then she says it will say everything.
> We have an appointment for Wednesday morning, so we'll see. But Bea says that worked in March, so it should be good.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NJTechDiv <njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mario Brusco via NJTechDiv
> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 1:55 PM
> To: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Mario Brusco <mrb620 at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
> 
> Tracy, could you share what you told the cable guy to do in order to turn on accessibility? After it's on, what exactly can be spoken?
> 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> From: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM EDT
> To: 'New Jersey Technology Division List' <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: carcione at access.net
> Subject: RE: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
> 
> I talked to Bea, and she says the Optimum box is accessible; the workers
> just have no clue.  She told me exactly what to tell the cable guy to do
> to turn on accessibility, so we made an appointment to try again.
> 
> NJTech comes through again!
> 
> Tracy
> 
> *From:*NJTechDiv <njtechdiv-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Beatrice
> Oliveti via NJTechDiv
> *Sent:* Monday, May 18, 2026 9:53 AM
> *To:* njtechdiv at nfbnet.org
> *Cc:* Beatrice Oliveti <beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV
> 
> Hi Tracey. I remember you and I used to talk about this all the time! I
> can{t believe Optimum took away their accessibility options. I
> disconnected cable to save money. I do cable and an airial antenna now.
> But it was only a few months ago that I had cable. And I had a streaming
> box and it had the accessibility. Is your box a streaming box_ If you
> buy a smart TV it{s only going to read you the channels on the TV not
> the cable box. But you can use optimum through the optimum tv app on
> your phone. That will allow you to use your phone as a control and the
> voiceover will talk back to you. You can also watch your dvred
> programming on your TV. You might also consider switching to Hulu with
> live TV, Youtube TV, or Directtv. They{re very accessible on your phone
> and IPad. Hope this helps.
> 
> Warm Regards,
> 
> Beatrice Oliveti
> 
> National Federation Of The Blind
> 
> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter
> 
> Vice-President
> 
> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator
> 
> Bayonne, NJ.  Lions Club Administrator
> 
> Cell: 2019838124
> 
> Email: beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com <mailto:beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com>
> 
> 
> 
>     On May 18, 2026, at 9:17 AM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv
>     <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org <mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
> 
>     
> 
>     For a long time, we had software on our Optimum cable box that would
>     announce the channel and what was playing, and I could also use it
>     to access the DVR.
> 
>     Optimum doesn’t support it anymore, and their new cable box doesn’t
>     have any accessibility at all.
> 
>     They think that maybe a smart TV would have it, but I don’t know.
> 
>     If I buy a smart TV, and turn on Talkback or whatever it has, will
>     it tell me what’s playing on a channel and have ways to access the DVR?
> 
>     For instance, I was able to move through the shows on a channel
>     until I found the one I wanted to record, then hit record.  Later, I
>     could go into the DVR, scroll through the recordings, find the one I
>     wanted, watch it, then go through the menu to either keep it or
>     delete it.  Imagine that.  Can I get those same features on a smart TV?
> 
>     I have 0 interest in using Alexa.
> 
>     It’s extremely annoying that Optimum had accessibility, and then
>     just ditched it completely.
> 
>     Tracy
> 
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