Charter Communications received the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Federation for the Blind (AFB) for its breakthrough innovation in expanding inclusive media for visually impaired audiences.
Charter and Honorable Tony Coelho, a former California legislator and advocate for disability rights who led the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are two recipients of the 2023 Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement Award. was the winner.
AFB President Debbie Dennis said, “Both this year’s winners embody the heart and passion of Helen Keller for creating a more inclusive and just world for people with disabilities.” Serving society has not only expanded equal access for the blind, but it has also reminded us all that in the age of digital inclusion, the desire to dream something new is still alive and well. I keep letting you.”
For over 40 years, Helen Keller has been a key ambassador for AFB, inspiring millions of people around the world. Since 1994, AFB has honored her legacy by recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations who have expanded possibilities for the blind. Artists and musicians such as Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder were honored, as well as major companies such as Apple, Comcast, Google and Netflix.
Steve Raymond, vice president of accessibility at Charter, said: “We are honored to receive the Helen Keller Achievement Award for our efforts.”
Charter drives innovation in accessible technology
Charter continues to advance the ethos of digital inclusion by finding innovative ways to make movies and TV more accessible to millions of visually impaired customers. Free to anyone in the US, the Spectrum Access app allows users to access media with audio descriptions wherever they are, in addition to being in the comfort of their own home.
From controlling who listens to audio description, to streaming via Bluetooth hearing aids, to reading captions via an electronic Braille display, Charter enhances the user experience by making audio description functional and convenient. made more comprehensive. Change the way people consume media.
“Our connections to the accessibility community continue to drive feature development and user experience for our apps,” said Petr Kucheryavyy, Senior Manager of Accessibility at Charter and Product Owner of Spectrum Access. . Employees on the accessibility team have disabilities and have experience working with assistive technology.
Charter recently patented a technology known as Auto Resync that enables real-time synchronization of audio descriptions and closed captions. This allows users to use your app with any media, including linear TV.
Charter will be honored at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency in Arlington, Virginia on April 19, 2023. For more information on the Helen Keller Achievement Awards, visit her website at the American Foundation for the Blind.
For more information on Spectrum’s accessible products and services, click here. here.
