Web Site Accessibility Blog

Sesame Street has just released a new video, “Sesame Street – Friends to the Rescue.” The Children’s Television Workshop has created a show to help children understand what happens during storms, as Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and the rest of cast of Sesame Street prepare for a big storm coming their way. This is to coincide with the upcoming hurricane season and hopes to answer some of the children’s fears from seeing last year’s hurricanes.

The wonderful thing about this video release is that there will also be accessibility features built-in to allow blind and visually-impaired children to “see” what is happening through descriptions of the visual elements. The program will include detailed and vivid explanations of facial expressions, colors, costumes, gestures and actions.

Sesame Street has been one of the most innovative children’s programming. All jokes aside, I remember growing up watching it, as Sesame Street came on TV a year before I was born. Now I see the joy my children get out of watching Sesame Street, while I trip over their Elmo toys.

Funny, as I was writing this, Microsoft Smart Tags are asking me if I would like directions to Sesame Street. “Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?” is now firmly in my mind, and I think I will hear the theme in my head for the rest of the evening.