With theaters reopening or permitted to increase capacity, now is the time to tell the theater industry that you prefer the option of open captions alongside closed caption equipment for all showings!
We Have Support!
For the first time ever, a state senator is publicly supporting this petition! Colorado Senator Joann Ginal District #14 will be watching for both in-state AND out-of-state signatures, so please sign and share the petition at https://tinyurl.com/ocmoviesnow! Senator Ginal recently sponsored an open caption bill in Colorado that has been postponed for the 2021 legislative session, and no further action is to be taken until 2022.
Returning to Theaters
Since the pandemic, the movie industry has been releasing new movies via streaming or you could go to the theater to watch on a large screen. As more vaccinations are completed, and theaters are allowed to open with greater capacity, we still have concern about device failures and now, the risk of unsanitary devices.
The general public can’t empathize, and understand, those who rely on captions through closed caption devices for they do not need to use the devices to fully enjoy the magic of movie going. Let’s join together educating individuals and national organizations about the difference between closed caption devices and open captions at the movies, who benefits from open captions, and why we prefer open captions.
For instance, open captions help children, adults, economically disadvantaged, and minority language speakers, to become better readers:
3PlayMedia Closed Captioning Improve Reading and Literacy
Updated June 22, 2020
Why children should be watching TV with the subtitles
By The Conversation September 2, 2020
People with Auditory Processing Disorders can benefit:
Assistive Technology for Auditory Processing Disorder
By The Understood Team
Captions help people with Autism:
Autistic Spectrum, Captions and Audio Description
By the Learning Center.
Captions are also a universal accommodation:
California State University, Fullerton Disability Support Services
Let’s grab every opportunity to educate from coast to coast and ask everyone to sign and share this petition that is at https://tinyurl.com/ocmoviesnow. When you are ready to go back to the movie theaters do you want your only choice to be wearing or using closed caption equipment? Let the petition be our voice to show support of having open captions. Feel free to add comments why you prefer open captions so Senator Ginal can read your story!
Thank you!