How a Minneapolis translator is bringing Pokémon to life in ASL

There’s a new partnership between streaming services and Signup Media offering free, in-screen American Sign Language translation to dozens of movies and TV shows. Minneapolis translator Everett Glenn, who recently signed 45 hours of “Pokémon Horizons,” is part of the effort.

Ever since TV broadcasters developed closed captioning in the 1970s, text has been the default standard for media accessibility. But captions aren’t equally accessible for everyone. They can present challenges for Deaf children who haven’t yet learned to read, as well as adults with limited English literacy. 

This represents a significant barrier. Of the more than 430 million Deaf people globally, 34 million are children. Research...