I started using the free Kanopy streaming service as an undergraduate student when my professor played a documentary in class and I realized I couldn’t see much of what was going on. It’s not uncommon for me to have trouble watching videos in classrooms as a student with low vision, but I wasn’t sure how I would find a copy of the documentary to watch on my own after class. Thanks to my library card, I was able to find the documentary that I needed for class and so much more. Here is an overview of the Kanopy streaming service and how I personally use Kanopy with low vision.
What is Kanopy?
Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video platform for public libraries and universities that offers films and documentaries for registered cardholders as well as professors and students. There are over 30,000 different films available ranging from classic films in the Criterion Collection to documentaries from all around the world. Kanopy is free for cardholders, students, and professors at participating libraries and universities, offering a variety of content that can be streamed on demand through their website, mobile applications, and streaming tools (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.).
Does Kanopy offer unlimited streaming?
Each institution offers its own streaming limits and policies for Kanopy use, which may also include restrictions on what titles are available for access. I’ve seen institutions that offer a set amount of credits/films that users can access each month, as well as others that offer unlimited streaming over a set period of time. Kanopy also provides users with the option to link multiple institutions or library cards to access additional titles or credits if desired.
Related links
What is Kanopy Kids?
Kanopy Kids is part of the main Kanopy service, and can be accessed by selecting More > Go to Kanopy Kids at participating institutions. Within the kids section, users can stream an unlimited amount of popular children’s shows, movies, narrated books, language learning resources, and educational resources. Some examples of Kanopy Kids content include PBS Kids shows, narrated books, movies, and Vooks storybooks.
Related links
- How To Find Accessible Picture Books For Low Vision
- TumbleBooks: Audio Narrated Picture Books For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Summer Reading Lists For Print Disabilities
How to set up Kanopy
Before using Kanopy for the first time, users will need to sign in with their library card or institution login as well as create a free Kanopy account (which requires a first/last name, email, and password). The exact process for setting up Kanopy access varies by institution, and access instructions are typically posted online.
Once a Kanopy account is created, users can add additional library cards or institutions by selecting More > Memberships > Add Library within the Kanopy app. Users can switch between institutions to view their catalogs or borrow titles.
Users may be prompted to re-authenticate or log in again with their library card/institution periodically to ensure that they still have access to their institution’s collection. This is something I experience more frequently with my college account compared to my local library.
Related links
- How To Create Secure And Easy To Remember Passwords
- How To Request Multiple Library Cards For Digital Content
Browsing Kanopy with low vision
Similar to Netflix, Kanopy displays images of available movies and titles, though it does not support Dynamic Text or large print font sizes. If I want to read a synopsis, I have to open either Speak Screen (text-to-speech) or turn on VoiceOver to listen to information read out loud, or open Zoom on-screen magnification to enlarge text. The same goes for the Browse menu for viewing categories— the small print is impossible to read, so I have to rely on these accessibility tools or use motor memory (for example, I know the approximate location of the Documentaries category).
The most common way that I browse Kanopy with low vision is with the Search tool, where I am looking for a specific title or specific topic. Since I can still see the preview images/titles, this strategy works well for me, but I definitely wish there was support for larger font sizes.
Related links
Watching Kanopy videos with low vision
My main reason for using Kanopy is to watch videos that my professors would talk about or show in class that I would not otherwise be able to see or watch in the classroom. With a sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises, and flashing lights, I often prefer to watch videos in a more “controlled” environment, where I can position my screen, control the volume, and watch content in a well-lit environment, taking breaks if needed. The same goes for watching documentaries or videos that friends recommend me— I know what I want to watch, and Kanopy gives me access to it in a format that works well for me.
There are a few options for watching Kanopy videos with low vision, including:
- Streaming Kanopy content on mobile applications, with the option to adjust the screen position, turn on a screen curtain, or adjust the viewing angle
- Casting Kanopy content to a Smart TV or larger screen for improved viewing, if a large screen is desired
- Opening Kanopy videos in a web browser, which can be useful for adjusting viewing angles
As of 2024, Kanopy does not offer any titles with audio description for blind/low vision viewers, but there are many titles that do offer closed captioning. Some Kanopy titles may be available with audio description on other platforms— I recommend searching the Audio Description Project website for more information.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Televisions
- The Audio Description Project (ADP) (acb.org)
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
Five ways I have used Kanopy with low vision
Looking for examples of how to use Kanopy in the classroom or in other settings? Here are five ways I have used Kanopy with low vision in different contexts:
- One of my professors provided a list of recommended videos and documentaries for students to watch independently that would connect to topics covered in our class. I found all of the titles on Kanopy and watched them ahead of modules so I could share insights in discussion posts. Watching these videos on my own made it easier for me to go back and re-watch certain scenes.
- As I mentioned in an earlier section, I’m sensitive to strobe and flashing lights. One of my instructors was planning to play a documentary that had several flashing lights in class, so instead of keeping my head down in class I watched it on my own with a web browser tab minimized to avoid looking at lights.
- One of my friends received an assignment where they had to watch a video of someone using sign language during a story time event. The lighting in the video made it impossible for my friend to see what was going on, so I suggested they reach out to their professor and use a Signed Storytime video from Kanopy Kids for their assignment instead. This worked out well, and my friend could access this video much more easily.
- Another friend and I really wanted to watch a documentary together, but conflicting access needs made it difficult to watch it in the same room. Streaming on Kanopy meant that we both could control our own devices, including adjusting the screen angle and volume while watching the documentary at the same time on our personal screens using a screen sharing tool.
- For a class on disability in media, I found several documentaries on Kanopy that matched the topics I was interested in studying, including titles I could not find on other streaming services.
Related links
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- Low Vision Assistive Technology For Discussion Board Posts
- Learning to Self-Advocate
- The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students
More resources on how I use Kanopy with low vision
- Looking for tips on watching videos with low vision? I share several strategies in How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See and How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
- Interested in more library resources for people with visual impairments? Check out My Favorite Digital Library Resources For Low Vision and Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
- Want more accessible video content? Browse Audio Description archives | Veroniiiica
Published August 6, 2019. Updated December 2024