CGLR Webinar: More Than an Accessibility Feature: Same Language Subtitling (SLS), Learning, and Literacy

What can same-language subtitling (SLS) realistically contribute to children’s literacy — and where are its limits? In this exploratory session, leaders from research, media, technology, and policy will examine what the strongest evidence supports, where SLS functions best as a scaffolding strategy, and what responsible implementation in U.S. children’s media could look like. This webinar hosted by the Campaign for Grade Level Reading will build on a 2022 session which highlighted early efforts to promote SLS in India and the measurable gains in child and adult literacy those efforts were delivering. Joan Ganz Cooney Center Senior Fellow Diane Gifford joins an all-star panel featuring Jess deMonsabert (Scholastic), Brij Kothari (Billin Readers), Tony Lee (Google), Susan Neuman (NYU), Jessica Rosenworce (MIT Media Lab), Wendy Sap (Bridge Multimedia), and Rubin Soodak (Fred Rogers Productions – and former Cooney Center Well-Being by Design Fellow!). David Lowenstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Lionstone Consulting Group, will moderate the discussion.
March 3, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm