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.
Modern smart TVs come with several in-built accessibility features, such as:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here are some areas to think about before buying a TV or signing up to a streaming service:
In addition to using the accessibility features on your smart TV, here are our top tips for watching TV if you have low vision:
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.
Discover the headphones we recommend for people with vision impairment, including open-ear and in-ear headphones, and how to navigate safely while wearing them.
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Find recommendations on tech, depending on your needs, that can help you in your day-to-day.
Guide Dogs is committed to integrating technology into our service delivery and promoting excellence in accessibility and usability. Our staff undergo comprehensive training in technology and accessibility in collaboration with industry leaders like Apple. We foster knowledge of technology and create content through our Technology Champions, comprising Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and Habilitation Specialists. We review this content periodically to ensure that it is up to date and includes new features and changes with operating systems. We work with our partners to ensure accessibility is at the centre of the design. To find out more, there is more information in our accessibility policy.
Please note: Whilst Guide Dogs may be able to suggest various third-party websites and third-party applications which may be able to assist you, those are not endorsed by Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs have no control over those third parties and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information and support they can provide or the suitability and quality of any products or services they provide.