By Janelle Parker, NC Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
During Thanksgiving break, one family’s quiet afternoon turned into an unexpected lesson about inclusion.
In a busy home filled with laughter, conversation, and the smell of cookies baking, a mother of school-age children decided to relax with a holiday sitcom special. Because she wears hearing aids, she switched on the closed captions and off the sound, preferring to read the dialogue rather than strain to hear it.
A few minutes later, her children and their friends walked through the living room and froze at the sight of a silent television.
“Are we in trouble?” one whispered. “Why is it muted?”
Laughter followed as the children explained that their mother wasn’t upset—she simply reads TV. Soon, the group found themselves watching along, following the captions and catching jokes more easily than before. What began as confusion became a shared moment of understanding—and a powerful example of how accessibility tools can foster inclusion for everyone.
By the end of the week, a few of those neighborhood children had turned captions on at home, too. Their parents noticed that everyone followed programs more easily, and the habit quickly stuck.
From Living Room to Classroom
This small domestic scene illustrates a broader truth for educators: closed captions benefit far more than individuals with hearing loss. They are a simple, universal design strategy that enhances learning for all students.
When captions are activated during classroom videos or multimedia lessons, students can:
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Follow spoken information even in noisy environments.
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Strengthen spelling and vocabulary through repeated visual exposure to words.
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Connect auditory language to printed text in real time to improve comprehension.
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Stay engaged, particularly if they are multilingual or visual learners.
Captions transform passive viewing into active reading. The same feature that clarifies a sitcom punchline at home can support literacy, focus, and understanding in a science or history lesson.
A Small Step with a Big Message
Choosing to display captions communicates an important message: access belongs to everyone.
For teachers, enabling captions requires no special preparation, yet it demonstrates that inclusion is intentional. For students, it provides another pathway to understanding.
Families can model the same approach at home. Turning on captions during movie nights or homework sessions normalizes accessibility and helps all children recognize that communication happens in many ways. For students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, this small change can reduce frustration and increase confidence. For siblings and peers, it builds empathy and awareness.
A Habit Worth Sharing
Creating an inclusive learning environment doesn’t always require new technology or major investments. Sometimes, it begins with a single button—“CC.”
Educators and families can promote awareness simply by making captions part of everyday routines. Whether showing a short clip in class or watching a movie at home, that small choice helps every learner engage, comprehend, and connect.
If you’d like to explore more ways to help Deaf and Hard of Hearing children stay confident and included—at school or at home—please contact a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing from Equalize Sensory Services.
Together, we can make inclusion part of every learning environment.