Boston now requires captions on TVs in restaurants, bars, gyms
BOSTON — Restaurants, bars, banks, gyms, and other public venues in Boston with televisions are now required to turn on the closed-captioning function to increase access for people with disabilities.
"Improving communications access in public spaces across Boston is critical to Boston truly being for everyone," said Mayor Michelle Wu, who signed a City Council-passed ordinance on Friday. "This ordinance removes barriers for people with disabilities, and I am grateful to the Disabilities Commission, Disability Advisory Board and the entire Boston City Council for their leadership and advocacy."
In 2020, then-board member Wesley Ireland raised the issue of requiring that live transcripts of a program's audio content be shown scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, TV stations broadcasted municipal press conferences, public health updates, and other information that wasn't available to the deaf community, people with hearing disabilities, and people who speak a language other than English.
"This has been a long time coming," said Dustin Feldman. The Chelsea man is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids.
At bars or restaurants typically, Feldman says he's just trying to read lips on the TV. "You can't always catch them, but there is important stuff happening," he explained. "You don't know what's happening and it's scary for people that are deaf or hard of hearing or anybody really."
King's Seaport manager Tyler Heineman said he supports the move. "Anybody who is hearing impaired is welcome to come watch a game," he said.
Feldman said this is a necessary step for making city public spaces more inclusive.
"There is nothing worse than missing out you know?" he explained. "Even if a friend is talking to you in a loud environment and you don't hear them and they're like 'oh I'll tell you later'...That feeling is hurtful," he said.
The ordinance took effect immediately when Mayor Wu signed it. However, many bars, and restaurants in the city were learning of it for the first time from WBZ.
City councilor Ed Flynn's office said the coming weeks will be spent making sure bars, restaurants, gyms and banks have the resources they need.
At least a half-dozen cities and one state have instituted a similar captions requirement.
"I am excited to see Boston joining the ranks of other big cities like Seattle and San Francisco to require captioning on public facing televisions," said Ireland, board chair. "It is an equity issue I have faced in the past and it is finally addressed."