Make Closed Captions Mandatory in Public Venues
Imagine being left out of medical instructions, storm warnings, or even a simple game at a bar because captions weren’t turned on. This happens every day to millions of Americans. Captions are safety, captions are equality, captions are for everyone.

 
The Issue
What are closed captions (CC)?

Closed captions are on-screen text displaying dialogue, sound effects, and other auditory information. They allow Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to have equal access in public spaces where sound is essential: hospitals, restaurants, bars, gyms, airports, road alerts, and other venues.

Captions are not a luxury. They are an accessibility requirement. Without them, millions of Americans are shut out from critical communication in everyday life.

 
Why This Matters
Captions are for everyone.
While captions are vital for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, many others benefit:

English language learners
Children learning to read
People in noisy spaces (restaurants, gyms, airports, bars)
Veterans with service-related hearing loss
Older adults with age-related hearing changes
People with auditory processing disorders, ADHD, or autism
Anyone trying to follow along when sound is unclear or unavailable
Captions turn confusion into clarity — they let people participate equally in conversations, entertainment, safety alerts, and news.

 
Limited and Unequal Access
In many places, captions are only turned on when someone specifically requests them, often requiring an awkward interaction that puts the burden on the Deaf or hard-of-hearing customer. Sometimes, staff don’t even know how to turn captions on.

This is unacceptable. Accessibility should not depend on luck, guesswork, or someone’s willingness to “make a scene.”

 
Public Safety
Captions aren’t just about entertainment; they are about safety. Road alerts, storm warnings, and public health announcements must be captioned to reach everyone. Missing information in an emergency can be life-threatening.

 
Voluntary Is Not Enough
Yes, some venues voluntarily turn on captions. But voluntary means inconsistent. Voluntary means captions could disappear at any moment. Voluntary means millions left out.

Legislation is needed to require captions in public venues permanently.

 
Who Already Does This?
Several states and cities have passed laws requiring captions in at least some public spaces. It’s time for the rest of the country to follow suit.
Specifically:

California – San Francisco (city ordinance, captions on in public spaces)

Illinois (2019) – State law requiring captions in facilities like hospitals and patient rooms

Maryland – Statewide proposals and open caption movie law; efforts for default-on captions in public places

Massachusetts – Boston (city ordinance, captions on during business hours)

New Mexico – Albuquerque (city ordinance, captions on in public areas during business hours)

New York – Rochester (city ordinance, captions always on in public places); state bill proposed for default-on captions

Oregon – Portland (city ordinance, captions always on)

Utah – Salt Lake City (city ordinance, captions on by default in all public places, 2023)

Washington (2021) – State law requires captions to be on by default in places of public accommodation (including hospitals)

 
What We’re Asking
We call on legislators, hospitals, restaurants, bars, gyms, airports, transit authorities, and public venues to:

Mandate closed captions on all public TVs and displays.
Require captions on road alerts and emergency announcements.
Train staff so captions can’t be denied or “forgotten.”
Captions are simple, low-cost, and already built into every modern TV and display system. Accessibility is just a button away.

 
Add Your Voice
By signing this petition, you’re showing lawmakers and decision-makers that accessibility is not optional. Captions are a basic civil right.

After signing, PLEASE SHARE!! Simple URL: https://www.change.org/p/captionsforall

CAPTIONS ARE FOR EVERYONE. Accessibility is safety. Accessibility is equality. Accessibility is NOW.

 
Problems and Complaints When Captions Are Missing:
Missed medical instructions in hospitals or doctors’ offices
Inability to follow emergency or road alerts
Exclusion in restaurants and bars when TVs are muted or too loud
Isolation in gyms, airports, and waiting rooms
Dependence on staff who may not know how to turn captions on
Frustration and loss of dignity from always having to “ask” for access
Unequal access to public health and safety information
Loss of trust in institutions that should be inclusive
 
People Who Benefit From Captions
Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals
Kids learning to read
People with autism or who are neurodivergent
English language learners
Veterans with hearing loss
Older adults experiencing hearing changes
People with auditory processing disorder
People with tinnitus, hyperacusis, or Ménière’s disease
People recovering from traumatic brain injury
Those with ADHD or other attention-related differences
Individuals with aphasia or other speech/language challenges
Families with sleeping babies or roommates needing quiet
People in noisy environments like gyms, airports, or bars
People with dyslexia or other learning differences
Low vision individuals who rely on multimodal input
Literally anyone who prefers captions on (millions of streaming users already do!)