Born hearing, but with progressive hearing loss, I now often prefer to use American Sign Language for communication. Having grown up speaking English and learning ASL later in life, I have a unique perspective on both the hearing and Deaf worlds. Like many members of the Deaf community, I have faced ongoing challenges in accessing adequate accommodations for mainstream media events. Most recently, while searching for a recording of the NASA Artemis II mission launch coverage that included an ASL interpreter, I spent far too long looking before realizing that nothing readily accessible was available.  It was this experience that inspired the creation of this petition.

Accessibility is not optional. Every citizen must be able to fully engage with and understand the events shaping our world. Currently, the Deaf community faces barriers that prevent full participation in many critical and historic moments. Closed captions remain the only standard accessibility feature offered for most media broadcasts. However, they are often frustrating because they can be inaccurate, frequently lag, and are sometimes interrupted by commercials. With the increasing use of automated live captions instead of trained stenographers, these problems have become even more pronounced, making it difficult to fully access and enjoy important events. Closed captions were an important first step, but they are no longer sufficient in a world where advanced technology makes many other accessibility options possible

This is why I am petitioning networks, government agencies, state broadcasters, and other media outlets to provide the option of on-screen interpreters. This accommodation is essential because interpreters provide immediate, accurate, and continuous access to information, something captions cannot fully replicate. Broadcasters can and should use today’s technology to offer on-screen ASL interpretation as an optional feature, similar to closed captions. This approach ensures full accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences while preserving an unobstructed viewing experience for those who do not require this accommodation. Additionally, this feature can be applied to pre-recorded content or content released after recording, ensuring accessibility across all forms of media.

More often than not, major broadcasts fail to provide adequate ASL interpreter options, even for high-profile events such as the Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, presidential events, and, more recently, NASA coverage of the Artemis II launch. Interpreters are frequently advertised but receive very little screen time, leaving Deaf and Hard of Hearing viewers without equal access to these important moments. Far too often, members of the Deaf community are promised sign language interpretation, only to be disappointed when broadcasts place interpreters off screen, show them in small segments, or remove them entirely during content they consider more important.

This is why I am asking you to join us in calling for this important change. You do not have to be Deaf or Hard of Hearing to support this movement. Anyone who believes in equal access can stand with us. Sign this petition today to request that all major broadcasters and media outlets include an on-screen ASL interpreter feature. Together, we can create a society where everyone has equal access to the information that shapes our lives, our learning, and our future.