NFL's American Sign Language Coverage at the Super Bowl: What Needs to Change

As a football fan with a physical disability, I had been eagerly awaiting this year's Super Bowl. However, just like the deaf and hard-of-hearing (HoH) community, I found myself disappointed with the lack of accessibility in the American Sign Language (ASL) coverage. This said, I have to give credit where credit’s due and congratulate Justina Miles on her absolutely stunning performance, as she absolutely KILLED it!

Last year, the NFL promised to make history by having ASL artists perform during the halftime show. While this was a significant step towards inclusion, the fact that the ASL performance was only available online was a letdown. This year, things were almost the same, and the ASL coverage was once again limited to YouTube.

Equity and accessibility are closely linked, and both are essential for ensuring that everyone can participate fully in society. When it comes to events like the Super Bowl, it's important to recognize that not everyone has the same level of access. For individuals with physical disabilities, accessibility features like barrier-free seating, elevators, and accessible washrooms are essential to participating in events like the Super Bowl. Without these features, it can be challenging, if not impossible, for them to enjoy the experience and feel included in the festivities.

In the same way, the lack of accessibility for the deaf community, such as limited or no ASL coverage during the Super Bowl, can make it challenging for them to participate in the event fully. This can be incredibly frustrating and disappointing, especially for fans who look forward to this event each year.

The three pre-game songs signed by different deaf artists were a great initiative, but the lack of picture-in-picture (PiP) and captions made it challenging to follow the performances. It's crucial for the NFL to make sure that the ASL coverage is easily accessible to everyone, including those with physical disabilities.

One simple solution could be to add the pre-game ASL coverage as a PiP during the game. This way, fans who are deaf and HoH can watch the game and the ASL performance simultaneously without having to navigate to a different platform. Moreover, ensuring that captions on the YouTube channel work correctly as I also learned that they were not in sync.

While the halftime show's visuals might make PiP difficult for the ASL performance, there is always room for improvement. The NFL can take smaller, more reasonable steps towards making their ASL coverage inclusive. It's essential for the NFL to recognize that accessibility is not just a nice-to-have feature; it's a basic requirement for ensuring equal participation for everyone.

I hope the NFL takes immediate steps to address the accessibility issue in their ASL coverage during the Super Bowl.