Apple today announced a new accessibility feature for the Apple TV app that allows viewers to view supported films and television shows with on-screen sign language interpretation in the bottom-right corner of the screen. The experience was designed and tested by deaf and native signers.
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. The feature is available in the Apple TV app on devices running iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and visionOS 27.2 or later.
American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be available for Being Heumann, which chronicles the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann. The movie begins streaming in the Apple TV app on Friday.
In addition to Being Heumann, interpretation for American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) will be available for the movie F1. Later this year, Way of the Warrior Kid and Greyhound will follow, with more Apple Original titles to come. When turned on in Apple TV app settings, the Sign Language option will appear on supported Apple Original titles.
Apple says that titles with sign language interpretation will be labeled with a Sign Language icon, making it easy to determine when the option is available. Viewers can enable the feature in Apple TV app settings, then press the Sign Language button while watching. Search will also make it easier to find titles that feature sign language with simple phrases like “with ASL.”
“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. Accessibility is a core value at Apple, and we’re proud to continue creating experiences that allow more people to enjoy the content they love.”
Being Heumann
In Being Heumann, Judy Heumann (Ruth Madeley) — scrappy, defiant, and done being treated like a burden — turns her outrage into a revolution. 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. The film marks the second collaboration between Apple Original Films and writer-director Siân Heder, who directed the multi-Academy Award-winning film CODA, which made history as the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to receive the Best Picture honor.
Being Heumann premieres globally on Apple TV on Friday, November 13. Viewers can add Being Heumann to their watchlist on Apple TV.
About Apple TV
Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in 170 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone; iPad; Apple TV 4K; Apple Vision Pro; Mac; popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others; Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices; Chromecast with Google TV; PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles; and at tv.apple.com, for $14.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.
