While discussing television in narrative in class, I began to think about those people with disabilities who may not be able to experience TV and film as I am able to. The overall thrill viewers get from watching television and movies includes audial and visual effects that makeup the experience as a whole. How, then, do deaf and blind individuals experience TV? Luckily, television and motion pictures have provided supplemental features for those with these types of disabilities.

For the hearing impaired, for example, closed-captioned programs have assisted individuals by means of visual text on the television screen. Closed-captioning, or subtitles, allow the individual to read what is being said on the screen. Below, I have posted a link on youtube which illustrates how subtitles are used. Turn off your sound and view the clip as a deaf person would.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

The video, itself, is rather funny. This is just one example of how television can be viewable to all.

But what, however, about those who are visually impaired? How can someone who cannot see the television screen experience TV? The Narrative Television Network (NTN) has helped people with just this problem. The NTN provides visual assistance by providing a narrated version of a television show or movie. The narrator of the show simply explains what is going on without interrupting the original soundtrack. This way, a blind person can listen to the origin audio of the show or movie, while a supplemental narrator accounts what is happening that the visually impaired are unable to see. Below, I have posted another think. This is the first part of the movie "The Ultimate Gift." Turn off your monitor, or don't look at your computer and experience this clip as a blind person would.

http://www.narrativetv.com/