Netflix Announces Accessibility Feature for Blind Users

By Hillary Kleck
On April 14, 2015, Netflix officially announced the addition of audio description tracks for viewers who are visually impaired to their newest series, Marvel’s Daredevil. In their blog post, Netflix also stated that they would continue to add description to more titles in the future.
This announcement was huge for advocates of description, as Netflix is the first corporate streaming service to provide the accessibility feature. Supporters are hopeful that Netflix will not delay in adding the feature to many more titles right away, and hopeful the push will be felt immediately by other streaming services such as Amazon and Hulu. Early advocates such as The Netflix Project (who is also credited by bloggers as a major player in Netflix’s decision) aren’t backing down in their fight for accessibility of visual media by mainstream providers.
As of April 30, Netflix now offers a total of 48 titles with audio description tracks, including a few kid and family movies such as How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Croods, and Turbo (all from DreamWorks Animation).
To learn more about how to access the audio description feature on Netflix, as well as other details regarding accessibility of TV and movies for blind viewers, please read these instructions from the American Council for the Blind’s Audio Description Project.
You may also enjoy our article on the basics of description, “Audio Description for Blind Viewers.”
Related Posts

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Congenital Glaucoma: Early Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options for Young Children
Congenital glaucoma is a disease where the pressure inside your baby’s eye is too high. This can damage the optic nerve and can even make your child go blind.

Braille and Literacy, Product Reviews, Visual Impairment
Sense of Play
Dana Meachen Rau's book, Sense of Play, follows the adventures of Chip and Joy as they play. Chip is blind, but this doesn't get in the way of their play!

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Albinism and Vision: Unraveling the Myths and Understanding the Facts
Albinism is a genetic condition that reduces melanin. There are many myths about albinism and vision, so educating yourself with the facts is important.