Who says horror doesn’t deserve full access? A resounding no one—at least not at HBO Max, which is making a significant and celebrated move toward greater accessibility. The horror prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, is now streaming with a dedicated American Sign Language (ASL) version, created entirely by Deaf artists.
This initiative is a powerful step forward, driven by the belief that all audiences, including the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, deserve to experience the full terror and nuance of a cinematic story.
IT: Welcome to Derry – What’s the Series About?
Based on Stephen King’s iconic horror novel It, IT: Welcome to Derry is a supernatural horror series that takes viewers back to the terrifying town of Derry, Maine, in 1962. The series explores the dark origins and history of the town’s demonic entity, a shape-shifting evil that often manifests as the menacing Pennywise the Clown.
The story follows a group of young people who find themselves facing the sinister forces at play in Derry after a boy disappears. As they investigate and confront the horrors, the show delves into themes of fear, racism, and the secrets that bind the town’s residents to its ancient, pervasive evil. Expect plenty of unsettling visions and unexplained phenomena as the prequel lays the groundwork for the familiar events of It.
Full Access, Full Horror: The ASL Version
This groundbreaking ASL version of IT: Welcome to Derry is a monumental effort. Unlike standard closed captions, which are often limited or inaccurate, an integrated ASL version provides full linguistic and emotional access for those whose first or preferred language is ASL. It goes beyond simple dialogue translation to capture the tone, suspense, and non-manual markers (like facial expressions and body language) essential for conveying the horror genre’s full impact.
The incredible talent bringing this version to life includes Deaf ASL interpreters Justin Jackerson, Nakia Smith, Otis Jones, and Sophia Morales, all directed by Leila Hanaumi. As noted by Justin Jackerson in a recent post: “Who says horror doesn’t deserve access? So proud to make it possible for you to experience Welcome to Derry: IT in a fully interpreted ASL version created by Deaf artists.”
This is representation matters in action—not just providing access, but ensuring that access is provided authentically by members of the Deaf community.
The Ongoing Need for Accessibility
While this initiative is a massive win, it highlights the ongoing and critical needs for accessibility within the streaming and media industries for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community:
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Beyond Captions: Accurate, synchronized, and complete closed captions (CC) or subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) are the baseline, but they are not the end goal. ASL is a distinct language from English, and for many in the Deaf community, it is their primary language. Captions alone are a barrier to full comprehension.
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Sign Language Integration: Dedicated ASL versions, like the one for Welcome to Derry, need to become a standard, not a novelty. This is the gold standard of linguistic access.
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Authentic Production: The involvement of Deaf artists, interpreters, and consultants (like those for this series) is crucial. They bring the necessary cultural context and linguistic expertise to ensure the ASL interpretation is high-quality, authentic, and emotionally resonant.
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Accessibility for All Content: Every new movie, series, and even live event on streaming platforms should have an accessibility plan that includes high-quality ASL interpretation and captions. Currently, the availability remains inconsistent across platforms and titles.
This effort by HBO Max and the talented Deaf artists is a powerful call to action for the entire industry. It demonstrates that with commitment and collaboration, we can tear down communication barriers and make shared cultural experiences, even the scariest ones, truly universal.
