[NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV

Mon May 18 19:54:15 UTC 2026

Sorry to piecemeal you but I’m at work and I thought I had to take care of someone at the window but my co-worker did it. I disconnected cable because it’s too expensive! I can get free stuff on pluto, youtube, and plex. They’re all free apps! Other than that I do streaming! 
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 

> On May 18, 2026, at 3:45 PM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> HI B!
> Hoping all is well with you.
> Book Club was good. First time I read that author. I liked that it was about New Jersey Patterson, Teaneck, Alpine, Paramus.
> 
> Yes, you really have to be persistent with the cable company and also searching on their website.
> I just don’t watch the TV anymore show the TVs are already set up the way they are and I couldn’t even tell her where the microphone button is on the remote I just know the on off.
> Also, I just know it does work.
> 
> 
>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:37 PM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Lori, I had to set it up through settings. I don{t think I could do it with the button. Actually the cable guy set it up for me. I told Tracey she has to be persistent. How was Janie{s book club today_ I couldn{t go due to work.
>> 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
>> 
>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:13 PM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 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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