Whether you’re looking forward to festive films, Christmas specials or the King’s Speech, there’s plenty you can do to make sure visual impairment doesn’t mean you miss out.
Dr Lori Di Bon Conyers, who was born with albinism and is partially sighted, is an expert in inclusive design and has this advice for making the most of your TV: “Television is a central part of many homes, offering entertainment, information, and a way to connect with the world. But to truly enjoy your TV, it’s important to explore all the features it offers – especially those designed to make viewing easier for everyone, regardless of sight level.
“Start by diving into your television’s settings or menus and look for the accessibility section. Most brands will have a setting to make the text larger; the effect and how large the text goes will depend on the brand. Some brands have options to make the menus larger with fewer options and that, in combination, with large text may help.
“If the larger text does not work, try to see if there is a magnification or Zoom feature. This will enlarge everything like having a lens on the screen. There is more panning around, but text can be displayed much larger than having the large text turned on.
“If you find the glare of a light interface difficult, there could be an option to turn this into light text on a dark background. The names for this feature can be quite obscure at times, but look for features such as ‘inverted’ or ‘high contrast’.
“If visuals are still challenging, most modern TVs include built-in screen readers that announce what’s on the screen as you navigate with your remote. If you’re new to screen readers, visit the settings to adjust the speech speed – slower at first, then faster as you get comfortable.
“Physical accessibility matters too. Consider using bump-ons or tactile stickers to mark important buttons on your remote, like the menu or microphone button. Voice control is another powerful tool – many TVs let you change channels, adjust volume, or search for programs just by speaking.
“Everyone’s needs and preferences are different. Some people prefer watching TV in complete darkness to reduce reflections and focus on the image, while others like a bit of ambient light to reduce eye strain. Sitting closer to the screen can help with detail, especially for nature documentaries or sports, but sometimes it’s nice to sit back and just listen.
“Experiment with your TV’s settings to find what works best for you. Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the right combination of features can make television more enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.”
Many programmes include audio description (AD) these days (AD is additional commentary that explains what’s happening on screen. It describes body language, expressions and movements, making the programme clear through sound). You can learn more about AD, including specific advice for Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media, here.
Mainstream Christmas TV guides are usually only ‘bumper’ in the number of pages they contain – if the text in these listings is too small (and you don’t want to use a magnifier to pore over the pages), RNIB Newsagent offers accessible TV and radio guides every week, with audio described programmes highlighted. You can choose from large print, etext, HTML, braille and audio formats. If you’re not sure if this is the right service for you, our Helpline can help you choose the right listing magazine and send you a free sample to try. Email helpline@rnib.org.uk or call 0303 123 9999.
An alternative to adding tactile bumps to your existing remote control is to swap to a programmable big button remote control. These ‘learn’ your TV’s settings from your existing remote and have high contrast, large tactile buttons to make them easier to use.
Now all you have to do is decide whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie…
