[NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV

Fri May 22 16:13:55 UTC 2026

Hi Tracy,

How did things go with setting up the accessible cable box?

Thanks,
Serena

On Mon, May 18, 2026 at 9:28 PM Andy via NJTechDiv <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I know some people who not only canceled cable, but severed their
> relationship with the provider as a whole, opting to use 5G to access the
> internet  instead of traditional cable or fiber.  I'm told that it's
> remarkably stable and would work for most people.  That might be another
> way to save money too.
>
>
>
>
> > On May 18, 2026, at 3:54 PM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <
> njtechdiv at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > 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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> >>>>>
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