During a recent London Knights game at Canada Life Place, Laurie Chappell, a devoted Knights fan who is hearing-impaired, faced challenges understanding a video message displayed on the big screen regarding inclusion and accessibility due to the absence of closed captions. Chappell, 65, underwent an inner-cochlear implant seven years ago to address her hearing loss, which was diagnosed in 2004. She relies on lip-reading and captions for communication.
Following multiple attendance at Knights games during the playoffs, Chappell reached out to the Knights, the OHL, and Canada Life Place management to advocate for closed captioning on all pre-recorded video content shown during games. She emphasized the importance of captions for herself and other hearing-impaired fans to grasp the context of ads, interviews, and other in-game content displayed on the big screen.
Chappell suggested implementing live captioning as a positive step, acknowledging the process may require incremental changes. Despite initial challenges regarding technology limitations due to sponsored video content, Chappell persisted in her efforts by engaging with Canada Life Place and the Ontario Hockey League.
The OHL, in response to inquiries from CBC News, indicated they are actively exploring closed captioning for in-game video content. However, technical complexities across arenas and varying video production partners pose challenges to establishing a consistent league-wide solution. The league is currently gathering information from other organizations to identify best practices and expects further clarity after consultations with clubs and technology providers in the coming months.
Chappell highlighted the advanced accessibility measures taken by other teams and leagues compared to the OHL, citing experiences at Detroit Tigers and Montreal Canadiens games where live captioning was available for various in-game content, including play-by-play commentary and national anthems. With a significant portion of the Canadian population experiencing hearing loss, Chappell emphasized the urgency of addressing captioning issues to enhance the game experience for all fans.