Netflix is making its service accessible to the blind, fittingly starting with Daredevil

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Netflix is making its content more accessible for blind and visually-impaired subscribers, starting with new original series Daredevil.

The popular streaming service is introducing audio descriptions that describe “what is happening on screen, including physical actions, facial expressions, costumes, settings and scene changes”. Customers can choose to use it as they would a foreign language soundtrack.

Marvel’s Daredevil follows the adventures of Matt Murdock, a lawyer who moonlights as a superhero. Blinded as a young boy but imbued with an extraordinary sense, he battles injustice by night in “modern day Hell’s Kitchen, New York City”.

The new service began rolling out in the US and Canada yesterday, with Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Marco Polo and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt among titles to be added soon.

“Netflix is actively committed to increasing the number of audio-visual translations for movies and shows in our English-language catalogues,” read the announcement on Netflix’s blog.

“Over time, we expect audio description to be available for major Netflix original series, as well as select other shows and movies. We are working with studios and other content owners to increase the amount of audio description across a range of devices including smart TVs, tablets and smartphones.”

Netflix also hopes to add audio descriptions into other languages in the future. You can listen to an example below, when Katniss is hunting in The Hunger Games.

Visually-impaired viewers were quick to respond to the news in comments underneath the blog post. “You guys are awesome! As a blind person this is a huge deal for me and will enable me to optimally enjoy your shows. Great job!” one subscriber wrote, while another gave “kudos to everyone for speaking up”.