One of Netflix's biggest hits over the weekend was probably its original series Daredevil that featured a main character who is not just a superhero but also blind.
However, the series is not accessible for the blind, and fans of the subscription service are now asking Netflix to change that.
Robert Kingett, who is legally blind, started writing to Netflix as part of the accessible Netflix project since 2012, as reported by CNBC. Kingett, along with 11 other volunteers, wants Netflix, the world's largest streaming service, to provide audio descriptions for its content, particularly for a series like Daredevil, which features a blind character as its main protagonist.
Comic book creator Rich Bernatovech also started calling the company and asking for audio descriptions shortly after the network announced the Daredevil series, stating that he encountered a mother of a blind boy who was disappointed about not being able to experience the series with audio descriptions. Bernatovech took his campaign to Facebook.
"Am I the only person who finds it bad that there is a show about a blind superhero coming on TV and people, more importantly children, who are visually impaired will not be able to enjoy this show unless they find their own way to get audio description?" writes Bernatovech.
There is also a petition now on Change.org to request that Netflix make Daredevil accessible to the blind.
It isn't just Netflix, though, that doesn't offer audio descriptions for programming: competitors Amazon and Hulu don't offer those descriptions either. In fact, even on live television, audio descriptions still aren't that common.
Kingett and Bernatovech, however, have been heard. Amazon responded to a tweet by Kingett suggesting an audio description filter for Amazon U.S., similar to the filter in use on the Amazon UK website.
@AmazonHelp Amazon UK has an filter that narrows it down by AD, audio description. Can the US? https://t.co/tIDqsAJdW1
— Robert Kingett (@theblindwriter) April 11, 2015
@theblindwriter That's a great idea! I've submitted your suggestion to the appropriate team to handle it. Thank you! ^MJ — Amazon Help (@AmazonHelp) April 11, 2015
Amazon also responded that its instant video could soon host streaming movies and TV shows with audio descriptions.
It now seems that the ball is in Netflix's court; hopefully, the service is paying attention and will start offering audio descriptions not just for Daredevil but for more of its original content.
[via CNBC]
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