The Need for ASL in Entertainment: Why Subtitles Alone Are Inadequate

content creator. “It’s part of our identity. It’s part of who we are.”Smith, who can code-switch between ASL and English, says she thinks of ASL as she would any other language. Just as she might switch from Spanish to English when consuming content or communicating with others, she looks for ASL content when watching movies or shows. “It’s exhausting to always watch with captions.”Some streaming platforms are taking Smith’s words to heart. Hulu, for instance, uses sign language within some of its content, and Netflix has begun offering an ASL option on some of its shows and movies.”We are firm believers in making sure that people have access to stories that reflect who they are,” says Kenya Matthews, who oversees linguistic accessibility at Netflix.In addition to direct sign language interpretation, some companies are implementing features like character descriptions, audio descriptions, and transcripts to enhance the viewing experience. Amazon Prime Video, for example, has a feature called X-Ray Speech Enhancements, which gives viewers a text-based overlay of character dialogue over the video, and it is preparing to launch its first film with ASL in the coming months.Overall, the movement toward incorporating ASL and other accessibility features into streaming entertainment is a step in the right direction for many viewers. As the demand for inclusive content grows, more platforms are likely to follow suit, leading to a richer, more inclusive experience for all. Whether you’re hearing, hard of hearing, d/Deaf, or deafblind, having access to a wide range of entertainment options that speak to your preferences and identity is crucial. The integration of ASL and other accessibility features into mainstream entertainment is helping to make that a reality.