By Shruti Pushkarna
In my last piece (https://www.mxmindia.com/columns/will-persons-with-disabilities-enjoy-the-icc-world-cup-coverage/), I highlighted the issues of inaccessibility of mainstream sports coverage. Whether it’s Wimbledon, FIFA World Cup, Asian Games or the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, viewers with different disabilities often lose out on the sporting action because the channels of mass media don’t necessarily communicate to this so-called minority.
Our communication, information and programming are packaged overlooking the principles of universal design and access for all. We (read media) assume that persons with disabilities don’t participate in mainstream (normal) activities or use the same channels of media consumption.
As I wrote in my previous piece, this is not an easy problem to solve given the various stakeholders, costs, and more importantly, the attitudinal barriers, that prevent us from including people with diverse needs. So where can we start?
We can begin with an understanding of some ways of making sports coverage accessible for different viewers. Here’s a list of five ways (each) to help persons with Vision Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Neurodiversity enjoy and engage with sporting events, with equal excitement.
5 ways to make sports accessible for blind and visually impaired people
1. Audio description- Narrate key elements of the game like the player movements, location of the ball and any other notable event on the field. This commentary should be concise and in sync with the broadcast.
2. Audio commentary- Along with play-by-play commentary, provide supplementary commentary that describes the atmosphere, players’ and crowd reactions, emotions et cetera.
3. Accessible apps and websites- Create accessible platforms where blind viewers can check live scores, schedules, player profiles and more, with the help of screen reading software. Images should have alternate text added, for access.
4. Inclusive announcers- Train and educate sports commentators and announcers about the needs of visually impaired fans. This means the need to be descriptive without assuming that visuals speak for themselves.
5. Accessible graphics- Ensure that on-screen scorecards and other graphics are accessible with screen readers or other assistive technology, so the blind viewers can keep a tab on the statistics independently.
5 ways to make sports accessible for persons with hearing impairment
1. Closed captioning- Provide closed captions for all audio commentary, interviews, and any other audio content. Real-time captioning is possible with the help of AI tools and software, that convert speech into text automatically.
2. Sign Language Interpreters- Having a sign language interpreter for live events, especially for important announcements or interviews, makes it possible for deaf viewers to consume information easily and directly.
3. Text-based updates- Provide real-time updates in text format, like displaying score changes, highlights and more, on screen. These can also be made available through an app or website, allowing deaf fans to follow the game.
4. Visual alerts- Incorporate visual cues like flashing lights or graphics to signal important events in the game like a goal, wicket, replay or appeal. These visual indicators can help the hearing impaired viewers identify critical moments in a match/tournament.
5. Inclusive social media content- Ensure all digital content shared on social media platforms has subtitles or closed captions for the deaf audience. This includes interviews, analysis, behind-the-scenes et cetera.
5 ways to make sports accessible for neurodivergent individuals
1. Sensory-friendly options- Provide sensory-sensitive viewing options for neurodivergent fans as they find it difficult to handle any sort of sensory overload. For instance, a quiet feed with minimal crowd noise and commentary, ability to customise audio levels to suit individual preferences, low background music et cetera.
2. Predictable and clear graphics- Ensure on-screen graphic content is easy to read, consistent and isn’t too distracting from the main visual content. Frequent flashing graphics or animations or too many overlays can be overwhelming for this audience.
3. Visual schedules and timers- Display clear timelines or countdowns for neurodivergent individuals to anticipate breaks, half-time, the end of the game. Predictable viewing experience causes less anxiety for these viewers.
4. Accessible content- Create easy to navigate content on digital and mobile platforms that help viewers find specific games, player profiles or highlights. Use clean icons and labels to simplify the selection of desired content.
5. Alternative viewing modes- Offer the option of switching to a simplified or augmented reality view that enhances the clarity of player movement, ball tracking and any other important events in the game.
Over and above, it is useful to establish communication channels for disabled groups to share feedback on content (and platform) accessibility. By implementing these changes/additions, sports broadcasters and media organisations can create an inclusive and improved fan experience for persons with disabilities.
Wondering why MxMIndia publishes a disability advocacy column? Well, we strongly feel that the media can dramatically transform the world for persons with disabilities. This series attempts to help bring forth issues that the media must champion to create a truly inclusive and accessible India. Writing this column is Shruti Pushkarna, a former journalist and now a disability inclusion advocate based in New Delhi. Her views here are personal. To access the archives of her 80-odd columns, please visit: https://www.mxmindia.com/category/ columns/shruti-pushkarna/
If you have a view on the issues raise or would like to align with MxMIndia on this cause, write to us at editor [at] mxmindia.com.