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What Disney+ Does for Accessibility and What It Can Improve

Ever since Disney+ launched a year ago, I have had an account on it. Although I use it less than other streaming sites, I was still pretty familiar with it when I completed an Expert Analysis on it a few weeks ago. One aspect that I focused on was how accessible Disney+ is and what they can do to improve their accessibility. I focused on three main aspects: closed captions, audio options, photo-sensitivity, and cultural sensitivity.

Closed captions and audio options

Disney+ does well with accessibility in regards to these two features. Since Disney+ is available in fourteen countries so far, the seventeen audio options and fourteen closed captions options ensure many more Disney+ users beyond just those who can speak only English can use and enjoy the enormous amount of content on the steaming service. Additionally, one of the audio options is “English [Audio Description]” which allows English-speaking but visually impaired users to participate in watching Disney content too. When a user is watching a video, all they have to do to activate this setting is click the settings wheel in the top right corner to change the audio and closed captions options. The closed captions can also be personalized to a user’s liking by changing the language, font, and font color. This way, if one needs the captions to stand out more or blend in better with the background, they can do so.

Photo-sensitivity

Content that contains a level of flashing lights includes a warning for photosensitive viewers who may need to avoid watching it to prevent unnecessary health issues. However, it only comes on screen very briefly in the top left-hand corner after clicking on a title to watch, and it goes away so quickly I couldn’t even read what the whole warning said. While the inclusion of this warning is helpful and shows that Disney+ is aware of the sensitivities some of their users may have, the warning needs to be more “in your face.” My suggestion to improve this feature would be to have the warning as a pop-up screen that needs to be clicked on before the video starts. This way, the user will definitely notice it and make an informed decision on whether or not they should watch the content.

Cultural sensitivity

Similar to the photo-sensitivity warning but located before clicking on a title, videos that have “outdated cultural depictions” feature a warning in the description of the movie or TV show. Because Disney has been around for many decades, some of their content doesn’t fit the standards of the modern era. While the decision to show this content as originally depicted can provide users with the ability to discuss sensitive issues with their families, particularly children, the notice isn’t as visible as it could be. I recommend that the disclaimer be more specific to what is actually outdated in the title, instead of just saying that it’s an “outdated cultural depiction.” Additionally, the warning should be a different color from the rest of the video description or bigger than the other words. Otherwise, it could go unnoticed as easily as the current photo-sensitivity warning.

Overall, Disney+ has a good foundation for several different accessibility accommodations, but the service could make some improvements, especially to their photo-sensitivity and cultural sensitivity warnings. As the site continues to evolve in terms of new content, hopefully its accessibility features will as well.

 

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