Apple announced on Tuesday a new accessibility feature for the Apple TV app that gives viewers the option to watch supported titles with accompanying sign language interpretation.
The initial titles are Being Heumann, a film based on the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, and the movie F1, with interpretation in American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) available for F1. Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound will follow later this year, with more Apple Original titles to come.
Unlike a separate sign language version of a film, the option is built into the main title and toggled on like closed captions, with an interpreter appearing in a corner of the frame when enabled. Apple said it worked with a group of Directors of Artistic Sign Language to ensure each interpretation fits the tone of the film it accompanies, and that the experience was designed and tested by Deaf and native signers.
Apple said it is not using AI-generated interpreters, saying that is not what the Deaf community has said it needs.
“At Apple, we believe everyone should be able to enjoy great stories and entertainment,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences.”
“It’s incredibly meaningful to see our beautiful language authentically represented onscreen,” said Daniel Durant, who appears in Being Heumann and directed the film’s sign language interpretation. “Bringing this experience to life required a lot of care to ensure every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.”
Titles with sign language support carry a Sign Language icon, and viewers who turn on the option in Apple TV app settings will see a Sign Language button in the player controls while watching. Search phrases such as “with ASL” or “with BSL” surface compatible titles, and a “Movies & Shows with American Sign Language” collection gathers them in one place.
Being Heumann stars Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann, who in 1977 organized a sit-in in San Francisco with more than 100 disability rights protesters. The film is directed by Siân Heder, whose CODA made history as the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to receive the Best Picture honor.
The feature requires iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 or visionOS 27.2 or later, or supported third-party devices running the latest app software.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Sign language interpretation becomes a viewing setting rather than a separate product, putting access for Deaf audiences on the same footing as closed captions and audio descriptions.
- The launch title, Being Heumann, dramatises the 1977 San Francisco sit-in led by disability rights activist Judy Heumann, pairing the feature with the history of the community it serves.
- Apple's choice to use human interpreters rather than AI-generated ones follows what the company says the Deaf community has asked for, a stance that could influence how other streaming services approach sign language.
Background
Apple has long built accessibility tools directly into its devices and operating systems, and the Apple TV app is available across iPhones, iPads, Macs, set-top boxes, televisions and other streaming hardware. Sign language interpretation has rarely been offered as a switchable option within a film or show; where it exists, it has often been a separate release. The new feature extends Apple's accessibility work to its streaming catalogue, with interpretations created and tested by Deaf and native signers.
Key Perspectives
Apple (Sarah Herrlinger): says accessibility is a core value at the company, and that bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences.
Daniel Durant: the actor, who appears in Being Heumann and directed its sign language interpretation, says it is meaningful to see American Sign Language authentically represented onscreen, and that real care was required so every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.
What to Watch
- The Friday premiere of Being Heumann, the first title to carry the sign language option.
- The addition of Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound with sign language interpretation later this year.
- Which further Apple Original titles gain the option, and whether the catalogue of sign language-supported films keeps growing.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSarah Herrlinger said: “At Apple, we believe everyone should be able to enjoy great stories and entertainment. Bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences.”Apple Newsroom: ““At Apple, we believe everyone should be able to enjoy great stories and entertainment,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Bringing sign language interpretation to Apple TV is an exciting step forward in making the viewing experience more accessible and inclusive for Deaf audiences.”
- SupportedDaniel Durant said: “It’s incredibly meaningful to see our beautiful language authentically represented onscreen. Bringing this experience to life required a lot of care to ensure every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.”Apple Newsroom: ““It’s incredibly meaningful to see our beautiful language authentically represented onscreen,” said Daniel Durant, who appears in Being Heumann and directed the film’s sign language interpretation. “Bringing this experience to life required a lot of care to ensure every translation captured the emotion and meaning of the story.”
- SupportedApple TV app adds sign language interpretation as a built-in viewing option.TechCrunch: “Instead, Apple’s support for sign language is just a setting you enable that’s integrated with the main title, similar to how you could turn on or off closed captions.”
- SupportedThe feature debuts Friday alongside the streaming premiere of Being Heumann.Apple Newsroom: “The feature will be available on Friday, November 13, alongside the global streaming premiere of Being Heumann, a film based on the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, on Apple TV.”
- SupportedApple announced the new accessibility feature on Tuesday.TechCrunch: “Apple TV is making its content more accessible to Deaf audiences with the launch of a new Sign Language Interpretation feature, the company announced on Tuesday.”
- SupportedThe initial titles are Being Heumann and F1, with ASL and BSL interpretation available for F1.Apple Newsroom: “In addition to Being Heumann, interpretation for American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) will be available for the movie F1.”
- SupportedWay of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound will follow later this year, with more Apple Original titles to come.Apple Newsroom: “Later this year, Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound will follow, with more Apple Original titles to come.”
- SupportedThe sign language option is integrated with the main title rather than being a separate film; it can be toggled like closed captions, and an interpreter appears in a corner of the frame.TechCrunch: “Instead, Apple’s support for sign language is just a setting you enable that’s integrated with the main title, similar to how you could turn on or off closed captions. When a title with the sign language option is playing, an interpreter appears in the bottom right of the screen, translating the spoken words into signs.”
- SupportedApple is not using AI-generated interpreters, saying that is not what the Deaf community has said it needs.TechCrunch: “Notably, the company is not using any AI-generated interpreters, as Apple says that’s not what the Deaf community has said it needs.”
- SupportedApple said it worked with a group of Directors of Artistic Sign Language to ensure each interpretation fits the film’s tone.TechCrunch: “Apple says it has partnered with a group of DASLs (Directors of Artistic Sign Language) to ensure that the interpreter for each film fits the tone of the film.”
- SupportedThe experience was designed and tested by Deaf and native signers.Apple Newsroom: “Apple TV offers a sign language experience that’s designed and tested by Deaf and native signers.”
- SupportedIn San Francisco in 1977, Judy Heumann organized a sit-in with more than 100 disability rights protesters.Apple Newsroom: “In San Francisco in 1977, she and more than 100 disability rights protesters organize a sit-in to send a very loud message: The system is broken — not us.”
