Satoru Iori
Japan Deafblind Association (Social Welfare Corporation)

1. We Want to Enjoy TV

There are many deafblind people who want to enjoy TV even if they have a disability called “deafblindness,” which is a dual sensory impairment of vision and hearing.  However, even with subtitles and sign languages, they cannot see; and even with normal TV with audio description, they cannot hear.

“If I can see and hear even a little, I wish I could see and hear better.  Also, even if I cannot see or hear at all, I strongly want access to information from TV.”

2. Differences in Needs by Type

In the case of totally deaf-blind people, it is not possible to obtain information from TV sounds and images.  It would be nice if we could read subtitles and data from audio description by using Braille on a Braille display.

Persons with total blindness and hard of hearing rely on sound.  If we cannot hear the TV sound clearly or if the audio description is too fast to follow, we cannot keep up with it.  It would be nice if we could adjust the manner and speed of speaking.

If you are weak-sighted and also deaf, you have to rely on your eyes.  If the subtitles and sign languages are small, fast, and with unclear contrast, you cannot read them.  Subtitles and sign languages should be shown on a separate screen from the TV screen and displayed clearly in large size.

If you are weak-sighted and also hard of hearing, you must make full use of the remaining ability of your eyes and ears.  On live television, it is difficult to obtain information because there is a lag in the appearance of subtitles.  It would be preferable for subtitles to be displayed simultaneously with the audio.

3. Common Challenges

When there are multiple characters in a drama or variety show, you cannot enjoy it unless you know who is saying what.  Subtitles should always include the speaker’s name before the dialogue.  In the future, if subtitles can be read on Braille displays, even deaf-blind people will be able to enjoy television.

4. Expectations for the Future of Television Broadcasting

A person with either a visual or hearing impairment is highly likely to become a “deafblind person” due to aging or illness.

In the future, with the leadership of the national government, we would like to see broadcasters, manufacturers, people with deafblindness, the elderly, and supporters work together on the improvement of broadcasting accessibility by emphasizing “easy to see,” “easy to hear,” and “easy to understand” TV broadcasts.