<div dir="ltr">Hi Tracy,<div><br></div><div>How did things go with setting up the accessible cable box?</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks,</div><div>Serena</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, May 18, 2026 at 9:28\u202fPM Andy via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">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.<br>
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> On May 18, 2026, at 3:54 PM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> Sorry to piecemeal you but I\u2019m 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\u2019s too expensive! I can get free stuff on pluto, youtube, and plex. They\u2019re all free apps! Other than that I do streaming! <br>
> Warm Regards, <br>
> Beatrice Oliveti <br>
> National Federation Of The Blind <br>
> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter <br>
> Vice-President <br>
> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator <br>
> Bayonne, NJ. Lions Club Administrator <br>
> Cell: 2019838124 <br>
> Email: <a href="mailto:beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com" target="_blank">beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com</a> <br>
> <br>
>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:45\u202fPM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>> <br>
>> \ufeffHI B!<br>
>> Hoping all is well with you.<br>
>> Book Club was good. First time I read that author. I liked that it was about New Jersey Patterson, Teaneck, Alpine, Paramus.<br>
>> <br>
>> Yes, you really have to be persistent with the cable company and also searching on their website.<br>
>> I just don\u2019t watch the TV anymore show the TVs are already set up the way they are and I couldn\u2019t even tell her where the microphone button is on the remote I just know the on off.<br>
>> Also, I just know it does work.<br>
>> <br>
>> <br>
>>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:37\u202fPM, Beatrice Oliveti via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>>> <br>
>>> \ufeffHi 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.<br>
>>> Warm Regards,<br>
>>> Beatrice Oliveti<br>
>>> National Federation Of The Blind<br>
>>> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter<br>
>>> Vice-President<br>
>>> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator<br>
>>> Bayonne, NJ. Lions Club Administrator<br>
>>> Cell: 2019838124<br>
>>> Email: <a href="mailto:beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com" target="_blank">beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com</a><br>
>>> <br>
>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 3:13\u202fPM, Lori Falk via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>> <br>
>>>> \ufeffYes, if you can also find the microphone button on the remote you can simply speak turn on voice guidance.<br>
>>>> <br>
>>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 2:43\u202fPM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> \ufeffBea 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.<br>
>>>>> We have an appointment for Wednesday morning, so we'll see. But Bea says that worked in March, so it should be good.<br>
>>>>> Tracy<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----<br>
>>>>> From: NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> On Behalf Of Mario Brusco via NJTechDiv<br>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 1:55 PM<br>
>>>>> To: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
>>>>> Cc: Mario Brusco <<a href="mailto:mrb620@hotmail.com" target="_blank">mrb620@hotmail.com</a>><br>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> 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?<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> -------- Original Message --------<br>
>>>>> From: Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM EDT<br>
>>>>> To: 'New Jersey Technology Division List' <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
>>>>> Cc: <a href="mailto:carcione@access.net" target="_blank">carcione@access.net</a><br>
>>>>> Subject: RE: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> I talked to Bea, and she says the Optimum box is accessible; the workers<br>
>>>>> just have no clue. She told me exactly what to tell the cable guy to do<br>
>>>>> to turn on accessibility, so we made an appointment to try again.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> NJTech comes through again!<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Tracy<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> *From:*NJTechDiv <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> *On Behalf Of *Beatrice<br>
>>>>> Oliveti via NJTechDiv<br>
>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, May 18, 2026 9:53 AM<br>
>>>>> *To:* <a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a><br>
>>>>> *Cc:* Beatrice Oliveti <<a href="mailto:beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com" target="_blank">beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [NJTechDiv] Accessible cable TV<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Hi Tracey. I remember you and I used to talk about this all the time! I<br>
>>>>> can{t believe Optimum took away their accessibility options. I<br>
>>>>> disconnected cable to save money. I do cable and an airial antenna now.<br>
>>>>> But it was only a few months ago that I had cable. And I had a streaming<br>
>>>>> box and it had the accessibility. Is your box a streaming box_ If you<br>
>>>>> buy a smart TV it{s only going to read you the channels on the TV not<br>
>>>>> the cable box. But you can use optimum through the optimum tv app on<br>
>>>>> your phone. That will allow you to use your phone as a control and the<br>
>>>>> voiceover will talk back to you. You can also watch your dvred<br>
>>>>> programming on your TV. You might also consider switching to Hulu with<br>
>>>>> live TV, Youtube TV, or Directtv. They{re very accessible on your phone<br>
>>>>> and IPad. Hope this helps.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Warm Regards,<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Beatrice Oliveti<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> National Federation Of The Blind<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Of NJ. Northeast Chapter<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Vice-President<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> National Federation Of The Blind Of NJ. Braille Group Co-Facilitator<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Bayonne, NJ. Lions Club Administrator<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Cell: 2019838124<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Email: <a href="mailto:beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com" target="_blank">beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com" target="_blank">beatrice.oliveti@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> On May 18, 2026, at 9:17\u202fAM, Tracy Carcione via NJTechDiv<br>
>>>>> <<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:njtechdiv@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">njtechdiv@nfbnet.org</a>>> wrote:<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> \ufeff<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> For a long time, we had software on our Optimum cable box that would<br>
>>>>> announce the channel and what was playing, and I could also use it<br>
>>>>> to access the DVR.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Optimum doesn\u2019t support it anymore, and their new cable box doesn\u2019t<br>
>>>>> have any accessibility at all.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> They think that maybe a smart TV would have it, but I don\u2019t know.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> If I buy a smart TV, and turn on Talkback or whatever it has, will<br>
>>>>> it tell me what\u2019s playing on a channel and have ways to access the DVR?<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> For instance, I was able to move through the shows on a channel<br>
>>>>> until I found the one I wanted to record, then hit record. Later, I<br>
>>>>> could go into the DVR, scroll through the recordings, find the one I<br>
>>>>> wanted, watch it, then go through the menu to either keep it or<br>
>>>>> delete it. Imagine that. Can I get those same features on a smart TV?<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> I have 0 interest in using Alexa.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> It\u2019s extremely annoying that Optimum had accessibility, and then<br>
>>>>> just ditched it completely.<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> Tracy<br>
>>>>> <br>
>>>>> _______________________________________________<br>
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</blockquote></div>