PBS KIDS is advancing its mission to serve all kids and families by integrating American Sign Language (ASL) interpretations into multiple series that will be available for free on PBS KIDS digital streaming platforms beginning tomorrow, Thursday, April 18. This new content builds on PBS KIDS’ extensive accessibility offerings and dedication to inclusivity, aiming to empower kids to engage with content in ways that best suit their individual needs and preferences.
Working with series producers from GBH Kids and Fred Rogers Productions, along with Bridge Multimedia and The Described and Captioned Media Program, PBS KIDS will integrate ASL interpretations into six popular PBS KIDS series, with 10 episodes for each:
- Work It Out Wombats!
- Pinkalicious & Peterrific
- Arthur
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
- Donkey Hodie
- Alma’s Way
The initiative was spurred by PBS KIDS’ aim to reach kids across the country with accessible, high-quality content. This effort included research-based* considerations on what they know about their audience (kids 2-8) — they are learning to read, but many are not yet independent readers. For those younger Deaf and hard-of hearing (HoH) kids, they cannot simply access the audio content of a story via captions, but are in need of and benefit from seeing the ASL translations.
PBS KIDS and Bridge Multimedia closely studied the optimal ASL placements and integrations within programming through user testing. PBS KIDS can discuss the key takeaways and findings, and outline what goes into creating offerings like this ASL-integrated content overall, with every detail in this process needing to be extremely intentional.
The attention to detail researched and taken into consideration went from placement of the ASL interpreter on-screen (moved around based on proximity to the character who is actively speaking and wearing props, such as glasses, to look more like the character they were interpreting) to facial features on animated characters that indicate the ASL playlist on the website.
For example, an initial design for the animated Deaf and HoH character did not include eyebrows. Following input from expert advisors indicated that eyebrows are an important aspect of facial communication that Deaf and HoH people rely on, making them one of the most critical features of such a character, resulting in a redesign of that character (seen at top).
PBS has been making accessible media since public television pioneered closed captioning more than 50 years ago, and for nearly 30 years, PBS KIDS has been building on that legacy, making quality kids’ content available for free to all young viewers and their families. The new ASL offering is the latest example of the ways in which PBS KIDS aims to serve children across the country, however and wherever they consume content.
PBS KIDS offers many accessibility features and settings to address a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities, sensory-related preferences, and access to content. I’ve shared more examples of this important work below my signature.
*“Younger children who are Deaf are learning and typically using sign language as their primary language” (dos Passos Canteri et al., 2015).
