Bridge Multimedia, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), has reached a milestone in educational media accessibility: over 7,000 episodes of educational and informational (E/I)* television for children and families have now been made accessible through audio description and captioning. These programs air across major networks, cable channels, and free streaming platforms, ensuring learning opportunities for children with disabilities nationwide.
Since receiving its first Tech Access grant in 2012, Bridge has collaborated closely with OSEP to make high-impact media for all students and their families. Research shows that video instruction increases student engagement by up to 25% and can improve academic performance by nearly 10% (Zhu, 2022). Yet the cost of making this content accessible is surprisingly low.
“A recent financial inventory revealed that making an educational TV episode accessible breaks down to less than one-thirtieth of a penny per special education student,” the Bridge Team noted. “And with most episodes co-viewed by parents or caregivers, that tiny investment delivers a massive learning return for millions of American households.”
The initiative has expanded into accessible gaming as well. Bridge’s My STEM Adventure app and a suite of educational video games based on the PBS Kids series Cyberchase—played more than 4 million times in a single year—demonstrate the power of universal design in emerging media formats.
Dr. Wendy Sapp, Bridge’s Chief Research Officer and Tech Access Sr. Project Director, added: “E/I programming* represents the highest standard in children’s media. These seven thousand accessible educational videos—covering STEM, literacy, and more—are now a national asset for students with disabilities. This success reflects OSEP’s strategic vision and unwavering support.”
Bridge remains committed to developing universally designed, high-quality educational media that supports learners of all abilities across the United States.
Looking forward to continued collaborations and innovations,
Matt Kaplowitz, Wendy Sapp and the Bridge Team
* Educational & Informational (E/I) children’s television programming is the gold standard for children’s and family television. It is determined and overseen by the Federal Communications Commission.