SHARP televisions manufactured after December 20, 2016 have additional accessibility features for customers with visual or hearing impairments. SHARP televisions have assistive technologies enabling blind or visually impaired customers to audibly access essential television functions, on-screen text menus and functions, and video descriptions through an audio output. Closed Captioning is another assistive technology, which makes the audio accessible for hearing impaired customers by displaying the text on the television screen.
Essential Functions
Essential functions such as power on/off, volume adjustment, channel/program selection, display channel/program information, setup, cc control, cc options, video description control, display configuration, playback functions, and input selection are made audibly accessible to customers with visual impairment.
Physical Control
Dedicated buttons on the remote control are used to activate closed captioning (CC), and video description (NRT). Customers can also access video description delivered as SAP by pressing the MTS button on the remote.
Closed Caption
Closed captioning assists the hearing impaired by displaying the audio portion of the program as text on the television screen. Please note that the movie or video must support closed captioning in order for the text to display on the screen.
Closed captions can be turned on or off from within the Accessibility category of the Settings menu or by pressing the CC button on the remote.
Audio Guide
Audio Guide is a text-to-speech screen reader that assists blind or visually impaired customers with navigating the user interface and onscreen menus. It is available in US English only and when activated, Audio Guide will read out text, menus and other onscreen items.
Audio Guide can be turned on from within the Accessibility settings by selecting the Menu Audio on or off.
Video Description
Video description is the insertion of audio narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the program's dialogue, which make video programming more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox will provide programming with video description in required markets. Some broadcasters will make video description available as secondary audio service (SAP) for selected programs. Check your local TV station schedule for video description program schedules.
Video Description can be turned on or off from within the Accessibility settings by selecting video description on or off or by pressing the NRT button on the remote. For video description programs made available through SAP, press the MTS button on your remote to access secondary audio carrying video description audio.
Accessibility Contact
For questions or concerns related to accessibility on the SHARP TVs, please call 1-888-935-8880 or send an email to
accessibility@sharptvusa.com