Watching TV with a vision impairment

On this page, we share our recommendations for the best streaming services for people with vision impairment. We also talk about accessibility features on smart TVs and different types of remote controls to help you get the most out of your viewing experience.

Accessibility features on smart TVs

Modern smart TVs come with several in-built accessibility features, such as:

• Voice control
• Audio description
• Screen reader functionalities
• The ability to change text size
• Colour inversion or high contrast modes

Although these features are common, each TV and the way you access these features can differ.

TV add-ons, like Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV, have very similar accessibility features (although they might be called something different on different devices) and have their own unique features. For example, Amazon Fire Stick’s screen reader is called VoiceView, and it comes with a High Contrast Text feature that makes text more readable by increasing the contrast between the text and the background. On the other hand, Apple TV has a Hover Text feature that magnifies any text you select, allows you to turn on Bold Text, and includes a Reduce Motion feature that reduces certain animations or motion effects.

Additionally, the Freeview channel 555 is an accessible high-contrast TV guide, including a talking TV guide with text-to-speech functionality and screen magnification.

Casting and mirroring your device screen

Most  smart TVs will allow you to cast to the TV screen or mirror from other devices, like your phone or tablet. Casting your phone’s content to the screen allows you to still use your phone while the content is playing through the TV, whereas mirroring shows the same content on both devices. If you have accessibility features set up on your phone or tablet, consider using mirroring instead of casting, as mirroring more reliably carries over the function of those features to the TV. However, this will depend on the app you’re using and your TV’s unique settings.

Best streaming services for audio description

Several streaming apps, such as Apple TV, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Channel 4, and Disney+ have audio description for some of their titles, but not all. For example, roughly 40% of Channel 4’s content is audio described.

To make it easier to browse their accessible content, some streaming services like iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Channel 4, and Netflix, have dedicated sections for their audio described titles. Additionally, Netflix titles that are audio described display an ‘AD’ icon in their programme details page.

TV remotes for people with a vision impairment

Some standard TV remotes have accessibility features, like voice command, or larger buttons which could be useful for people with sight loss. Alternatively, you can get a simplified version of a remote that has fewer buttons and is universal to all TVs. These can take some time to set up, but once they are, they can be easier to use than a standard tv remote.

Things to consider with TVs and streaming services 

Here are some areas to think about before buying a TV or signing up to a streaming service:

• Think about the brand of your current technology. Usually, devices integrate better if they’re part of the same technological ecosystem. Plus, you may already be familiar with a TV’s operating system and accessibility features if it’s the same brand as your phone or tablet.
• Once you’ve found something you want to watch, check if an audio described version of that programme or film is available before you subscribe to the streaming service.
• Does your TV need a software update? Like most phones and screen readers, TVs need software updates so that features can be tweaked, added, or taken away. Similarly, if you’re buying a TV, check if it supports the latest accessibility features.

Tips for watching TV for people with low vision

In addition to using the accessibility features on your smart TV, here are our top tips for watching TV if you have low vision:

• Max TV glasses: these glasses magnify anything in front of them, meaning the TV will appear larger. Each eye piece can be adjusted separately, meaning you can adapt the glasses to be bespoke for your vision.
• Sit closer: if possible, move your seat closer to the screen, or move the screen closer to your seat.
• Get a larger TV: a larger TV screen might mean you’ll be able to watch with greater clarity.
• Listening to radio commentary: this tip is great for sports fans! As radio or streamed commentary tends to be more descriptive than TV commentary, listening to it while watching a live event can help you follow what’s happening on screen.
• Eccentric viewing techniques: using your peripheral vision to look at faces on the screen can help you visualise the characters and story. Learn more about eccentric viewing techniques 

Making the most of your TV’s technology

If you’d like some support with getting the most out of your TV’s accessibility options, speak to your Habilitation Specialist, Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, or call Guide Line on 0800 781 1444. Someone will be happy to assist you.