Apple TV is adding sign language interpretation for a handful of supported streaming titles, beginning with the Apple original film Being Heumann, which premieres on Friday.
With iOS 27.2, you’ll find new options for American Sign Language and British Sign Language within Apple TV’s app settings. When you select one of these languages, a new button will appear on supported Apple original titles indicating sign language availability. You can also turn off or change your language selection directly within the player.
Titles that support sign language interpretation will have a sign language icon displaying an image of a hand. This icon appears on the title page of a show or movie, next to other accessibility options like closed captions and audio descriptions.
Being Heumann is an apt pick for debuting this accessibility feature. The film centers on the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann (Ruth Madeley) and her leadership in the historic 1977 protest that helped advance equal rights and protections for Americans with disabilities. Sign language support will also roll out to other Apple TV titles starting with F1 The Movie, followed by Greyhound and Way of the Warrior Kid (which debuts Nov. 25) later this year.
Apple TV is adding a dedicated collection called Movies & Shows with American Sign Language to make it easier to browse supported content. That collection will include movies where sign language is part of the story, such as 2021’s Oscar-winning film CODA. You can also look up “with ASL” in the app’s search bar to find relevant titles.
“We believe everyone should be able to enjoy great stories and entertainment,” Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, said in a statement. “Bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences.”
A rising tide of sign language support
Apple TV joins a handful of other streaming platforms with sign language options, including HBO Max and Prime Video. Netflix also features sign language interpretation for dozens of kids and family titles through a partnership with SignUp Media, which built a Chrome extension that overlays an interpreter onto supported shows and movies. SignUp is also available on select Disney Plus and Peacock content.
While closed captioning can help some deaf and hard-of-hearing people better understand what’s happening on screen, many viewers prefer watching with sign language interpretation, which can better convey emotion and expression.
“For the deaf community, our first language is ASL,” Nakia Smith, a deaf storyteller and an interpreter for the HBO Max series It: Welcome to Derry, told me in an interview earlier this year.
Unlike closed captioning, which has become nearly ubiquitous across streaming and television, sign languages like ASL are slowly making their way into more entertainment spaces, from sports broadcasts to awards ceremonies and red carpets. But there’s still a long way to go.
The challenge is that sign language interpretation requires skilled human professionals who can capture context and nuances, which takes time and resources. More companies appear to be making the effort. And while some studios are exploring AI to automate captioning, the complexity and diversity of sign languages suggest this will remain a largely human-driven endeavor for the foreseeable future.
For its part, Apple worked closely with the deaf community, partnering with Directors of Artistic Sign Language to ensure they matched the tone of the films and maintained authentic representation.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to see our beautiful language authentically represented onscreen,” Daniel Durant, who appears in Being Heumann and who directed the film’s sign language interpretation, said in a statement. “Bringing this experience to life required a lot of care to ensure every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story. I’m proud to have been part of Being Heumann and thrilled to see Apple TV supporting greater accessibility for Deaf audiences.”
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