NETFLIX accessibility


Netflix is well known in the blind community for excellent access to films with audio description on numerous films. If you use a smart tv with voice recognition you can search for films and play, pause and rewind.

If you use a remote you should have no trouble accessing netfllix if you are blind or visually impaired. But what if you have no hand function and are blind. This presents some obstacles. The visual menu system Netflix makes scrolling through the films difficult. Even with smart tv accessibility with the LG model frustratingly the voice output stops. The only reason it stops is it doesn’t seem to respond to the latest Google Nest. I am still working on it.

So the present solution with my blind physically disabled client is to use her possum which is a device with limited navigational options but at least I have made the options simpler by moving things around. Commands such as Home, Select, Up/Down, Left/Right are important and have to be learned.

Introducing a new skill takes time and regular practise. All in good time! I still don’t understand why Google Nest won’t completely control Netfliix. My client also lost the power to switch on the TV but she cleverly set a timer to start the TV – like 5 to 10 seconds!

This project will take time to bed in and will keep you posted on this journey of discovery.

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