Hamilton County launches Closed Captioning initiative

Collaborative effort encourages local businesses & organizations to activate closed captioning on TVs

In honor of Disability Awareness Month, Hamilton County Tourism is sharing a closed captioning initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility across the county.

According to the National Deaf Center, approximately 3.6 percent of the U.S. population considers themselves deaf or hard of hearing. The Hamilton County Closed Captioning Project is a community-wide initiative designed to provide real-time captions on public TV screens, allowing individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to have equal access to important information, entertainment, and services.

This effort was coordinated among the following entities: the cities of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield; Hamilton County Government; Hamilton County Tourism; Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association; Hearing Loss Association of America – Indianapolis Chapter; Invest Hamilton County; Noblesville Chamber of Commerce; OneZone Chamber of Commerce; and Westfield Chamber of Commerce.

This group has managed a series of informational initiatives that include letters, emails, and a social media campaign. These communications encourage local businesses and organizations to turn on closed captioning on all their TVs and provide step-by-step instructions for different TV models and streaming devices. Participating businesses then receive a window cling indicating they have closed captioning activated on their screens.

A wide variety of local businesses have participated to date, including all the restaurants within Wolfpack Restaurant Group.

“At Wolfpack Restaurant Group, we believe dining out should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, without exception,” Wolfpack Restaurant Group Co-Founder Nyla Wolf said. “By providing closed captioning across our Hamilton County Wolfies Grill locations, we’re taking decisive steps toward putting that experience within reach for every single guest who walks through our doors. Our restaurants aren’t just dining establishments – they’re where community thrives and ensuring our deaf and hard of hearing guests feel fully welcomed isn’t just good business – it’s fundamental to who we are. We’re proud to champion this initiative and invite other restaurants to join us.”

The project is part of a broader effort from Hamilton County Tourism to share information and accommodations that allow every visitor and resident, regardless of ability, to enjoy the full breadth of Hamilton County’s cultural, entertainment, and business offerings.

Click here to learn more.