Netflix has announced that it is to be expanding language availability for audio descriptions and subtitles. In a post from Netflix (via, The Verge), the streaming service announced, through Heather Dowdy, director of accessibility at Netflix, the upcoming changes on Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The changes reportedly start this month, May 2022, and will continue to be rolled out into 2023.
Audio descriptions and subtitles will roll out across the Netflix catalog in more languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and French. It’s noted that the increase will bring over 20 languages to people who want to use subtitles or audio descriptions.
In addition, new badges are going to be rolling out for the services shows and films that include audio descriptions and subtitles. It looks like this will only roll out on the web and iOS for the time being.
Dowdy also touches on the launch of Netflix’s first-ever collection which is titled “Celebrating Disability with Dimension.” This collection contains over 50 shows and films that have stories about disabled people being told. This includes media such as 37 Seconds, Deaf U, Special, Love on the Spectrum, and more.
Netflix also looks to be hosting Accessibility Screenings in a number of countries where it will show the audio descriptions and subtitle features in action “outside of the living room.” These screenings will discuss ways to make entertainment more accessible.
