Celebrating Hulu's Accessibility Features and My Love of Audio Description

Most television- and movie-watchers have encountered closed captioning, subtitles that are included in TV programs to enable accessibility to those who are deaf or experience limited hearing. Fewer have heard of the equivalent feature for the blind: audio description.

Audio description is a separate audio track that narrates the key visual elements of video content, such as facial expressions, scene and setting changes, and on-screen action. Narration occurs between moments of dialogue to provide blind and low vision users a full media experience. You can find an example of audio description in this Frozen trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7j4_aP8dWA and can read more on audio description at www.acb.org/adp/.

For years, I’ve felt excluded from popular shows like Game of Thrones because the content is too visual. I can’t recognize the different characters and much of the action occurs without narration. I have spent an embarrassing number of hours “watching” movies and TV with friends or family despite being unable to see enough content to enjoy the experience. I attempted to emulate the energy in the room – gasping and laughing when appropriate – to hide my inability to share the experience. I felt ashamed that I couldn’t access one of the most ubiquitous forms of entertainment. I’ve since developed my voice to share when content is less accessible, however, I was still limited to content with sufficient narration and dialog or I had to ask someone to provide me audio descriptions or answer my many plot questions.

I first encountered audio description at a disability film festival. I hadn’t realized how much I was missing without the full visual experience. With audio described facial expression, on-screen action, signage and subtitles, I engaged with and appreciated the films so much more. Audio description gave me access to artistic elements that I didn’t even know existed. It had been so many years since I’d seen a film in its entirety: I hadn’t realized how easy it could be! Sighted readers may be raising an eyebrow; my guess is that you don’t often find it hard to watch TV and movies. For me, it’s often exhausting to try and remember features (e.g. “the brother is wearing blue, so if a blue blob comes on it’s likely him”) and piece together plot elements (e.g. “they went to a building – was it a school? A library? Which would make sense? Probably a school”). Audio description replaces my extensive mental gymnastics and enables me to independently and easily follow what is happening.

In April 2015, Netflix became the first mainstream service to incorporate audio description. Since then, I have wanted to write an “ode to audio description,” expressing my gratitude for the increased access afforded to the blind community by providing this option. In case you’re curious, most Netflix original content now includes this feature (though you can see a full list of audio-described content at netflix.com/browse/audio-description). To turn on audio description, choose subtitles and alternate audio.

And now, Hulu is joining in the efforts, thanks to advocacy by the American Council of the Blind and Bay State Council of the Blind. Hulu is incorporating screen reader technology and audio described content, which ensures that the blind community can independently use accessible Hulu content. Similar to Netflix, Hulu will offer an audio description feature alongside closed captioning that can be turned on or off. Hulu will also maintain a list of audio-described content to enable blind users to easily filter accessible content.

An important aspect of audio description is that it does not interfere with the viewing experience of those with sight. In fact, my fully-sighted fiancé finds it valuable and shares that it’s especially convenient if he’s distracted. Similar to closed captioning, audio description can be turned on to enhance access to all without preventing access to others.  

While this is a giant step towards accessibility in streaming services, on the whole audio description remains rarely available and often flawed. Many movie theaters now offer audio description devices blind users can listen to during films, and yet EVERY time I’ve tried to use these devices there have been problems. Sometimes devices play the wrong movie’s audio description, other times devices play the correct movie, but the timing is wrong. Devices are regularly broken or run out of charge. Beyond the availability of audio description, how visual content is described has the potential to bias interpretations. Individual differences in interpretation, cultural bias, and more present challenges. For example, when watching To All the Boys I Loved Before (don’t judge me, it’s a great movie), I observed the audio-description did not read all text message exchanges. I was curious what was omitted and why, and how that content could have influenced my interpretations.

Despite these flaws, I am so grateful and excited that companies like Hulu and Netflix are taking steps to improve access to their content. Access to TV and movies offers promise beyond entertainment. Ensuring access to these cultural pillars sends the message that the blind community deserves equal access to participate in all aspects of society.

My Shield: A Look of Fierce Determination

“You just passed me on the street. I would have stopped you but you were on a mission!” I chuckled to myself reading my text message. I had just commuted from my clinical externship in San Francisco to a meeting Berkeley’s campus. I was pressed for time, and in typical fashion, was walking quickly with cane in hand and AirPods in ears.

When my friend and I met up later that day, she shared her impression that I looked fierce. I responded by saying “that’s what I was going for. I’ve had several unfortunate encounters lately that have prompted me to put my guard up, especially when traveling with my cane.”

I regaled her in tales from the most recent couple weeks.

I was walking in San Francisco talking on the phone and waiting at a stoplight. Three large men wearing construction uniforms stood in front of me, facing me, with their arms blocking off the street. Two of them simultaneously shouted some version of “miss, lady, wait, you can’t cross, it’s a red light. We'll help you.”  I calmly explained that I was fine and could cross the street on my own. They proceeded to make snarky remarks to each other about how I was “pissy” and they were “just trying to keep me safe.” When I was well out of earshot, I ranted to my friend on the phone. It does not make me feel safe to have three men stand around me shouting orders with arms outstretched blocking my ability to move.

I was walking from my train stop to my office. After passing two men smoking a blunt, one of the two turned to me. He complimented my shades. I thanked him. He turned to walk with me, and proceeded to remark on my appearance, “you’re really beautiful, you know that? You can’t know that. So you gotta believe me. Fucking beautiful.” Again, I thanked him. He became agitated, turning to me with arms outstretched, raising his voice to shout close to my face, “I said you’re fucking beautiful.” As his cursing and anger increased, I walked faster. There were people all around us, no one seemed to notice the scene. I was desperately trying to walk away. He followed me for nearly5 blocks. At the end of the chase, before I walked into my office building, he grabbed my arm and scolded me for not appreciating his affection. I did not appreciate his so-called affection, but I verbally thanked him for the unwanted treatment. Despite arriving to safety at my desk, I was rattled, thinking about how helpless I felt amidst a street of busy people, desperately trying to escape.  

I could carry on with story after story of disrespect, presumption, and harassment. The intersection of sexism and ableism often encourages unwanted attention. To protect myself, I walk quickly with sunglasses on, headphones in, cane outstretched, and a look of fierce determination. As much as I hate looking so unapproachable, I want to send the message that you, random passerby, should not pick on me, try to help me, or tell me how to live my life.