Comcast has thrown its support behind viewers with disabilities by creating a dedicated accessibility customer support team as well as opening an accessibility product and development lab.
As part of October’s National Disability Awareness Month, Comcast is also offering a special collection of disability-themed programming on its VOD platform.
“Accessibility is the measure of how effectively people with disabilities can use and enjoy the programming, products and services we deliver and how successful we are at making these solutions available to the widest possible audience,” said Tom Wlodkowski, vice president of accessibility for Comcast. “Comcast and my team are laser focused on developing new innovative solutions that enhance the user experience for these customers as well as utilizing these same technologies to ultimately enhance and improve how all of our customers interact with our services.”
Comcast subscribers can contact a dedicated support team of 22 agents trained on all things related to Comcast accessibility, in the new Comcast Accessibility Center of Excellence for help on specific and general support issues.
Customers can access the center directly by calling 855-270-0379 seven days a week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. (ET). Customers can also contact an Accessibility Center of Excellence representative via chat.
Comcast said its Comcast Accessibility Lab was both a working lab for the development of accessible products and features and a showcase of assistive technologies used by people with disabilities to interact with mainstream mobile, online and desktop user interfaces.
Comcast is also using the lab for focus groups and usability testing with communities of people with disabilities to learn more about how customers can use its services as well as to help educate its employees about accessibility.
Co-located with Comcast Labs in Philadelphia, the space features solutions such as cable TV’s first talking program guide that the company plans to launch next year.
The programming featuring disability themes runs through Nov. 8. Some of the shows include: Children of a Lesser God, High Ground, I Am Sam, Mr. Holland’s Opus and Radio; TV shows including CSI (CBS), Friday Night Lights (Xfinity Streampix), Glee (FOX), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), The Michael J Fox Show (NBC), Parenthood (NBC), Project Runway (Lifetime), Push Girls (Sundance) and Switched at Birth (Xfinity Streampix); as well as specials including Bio: Heather Mills (Bio Channel), Lives Worth Living (PBS), Moto X (ESPN) and multiple interviews with Paralympics athletes (NBC Sports).
