ACB Focus: Audio Description
American Council of the Blind, Inc.

20240628 1530 Academic AD - Audio Description and Higher Education

Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2024, on ACB Media 3

June 28, 2024

20240628 1530 Academic AD - Audio Description and Higher Education Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2024, on ACB Media 3 Panelists discussed the importance of audio description in higher education and its advantages as a learning and teaching tool. Edited By: Michael Babcock

20240628 1230 Developments in Spanish Language Audio Description

Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2024, on ACB Media 3

June 28, 2024

20240628 1230 Developments in Spanish Language Audio Description Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2024, on ACB Media 3 Panelists discussed recent progress in the creation, availability, and distribution of audio description in Spanish in the US. Edited By: Doug Hunsinger

20240627 1530 Audio Description and Dance

Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 2

June 27, 2024

20240627 1530 Audio Description and Dance Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 2 Attendees learned about Techniques and Strategies for Expanding Understanding of Types of Dances. Panelists shared firsthand and research-based strategies and techniques for providing audio description for dance performances. Edited By: Doug Hunsinger

20240627 1230 Audio Description at Prime Video

Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 5

June 27, 2024

20240627 1230 Audio Description at Prime Video Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 5 Over the last 24 months, Prime Video has been collaborating with customers and advocacy groups to make our content more accessible by improving the availability and quality of audio description. We continue progressing towards our north star of making high-quality Audio Description as commonly available as Captioning. In this session, we presented our learnings on this journey and the evolving mental models on quality across scripting, mixing, and voicing of Audio Description.

  • Speakers:
  • Christopher Nooney, Principal Product Manager, Technology, Prime Video
  • Dr. Josh Miele, Principal Accessibility Researcher, Amazon Devices and Services

Edited By: Darcy Burnard

20231114 American Council of the Blind’s 2023 Audio Description Awards Gala Broadcast on November 14

As Broadcast on November 14 on ACB Media

November 15, 2023

The American Council of the Blind Announces the 2023 Audio Description Awards Gala Recipients

Alexandria, Virginia – The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces the individuals and organizations honored at the 2023 Audio Description Awards Gala held November 14. Created in 2021 to recognize achievement in audio description in entertainment and educational media, the Awards Gala featured celebrity guests, film clips, and multiple award categories. For the first time, the Gala was broadcast in English and Spanish.

Hosts Marilee Talkington and Conchita Hernandez Legorreta welcomed guests from the arts, entertainment, and sports worlds to celebrate accessible media, books, and video games.

Awards were presented to:

  • Jim Stovall – AD Visionary
  • Netflix – AD Game Changer: Innovation
  • Naughty Dog/Sony – AD Game Changer: Gaming
  • Imagination Storybooks – AD Game Changer: Education
  • Hallmark Media – AD Game Changer: Popular Entertainment
  • Paramount – AD Game Changer: 100% Access
  • Warner Bros. Discovery – Outstanding Achievement: Live Events
  • Semillitas – Outstanding Achievement: Spanish Media (USA)
  • BBC iPlayer – Outstanding Achievement: International Media - Wednesday (Neflix/IDC) – People’s Choice Award (Series) - Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24/Deluxe U.S.) - People’s Choice Award (Film)

Sponsors of the Awards Gala include: Amazon, Microsoft, Warner Bros Discovery, Fox Corporation, Paramount, Spectrum, VITAC, and the National Association of Broadcasters. Supporters of the Audio Description Project include Sony Corporation of America and the Walt Disney Company.

The Awards Gala was broadcast with captions and audio description and in Spanish. The English AD was written by Joel Snyder (Audio Description Associates, LLC) and voiced by Ren Leach. The Spanish AD and Spanish dubbing was created by Dicapta's team; the AD script writer was Andrea Gimenez, with narration by Oscar Javier Cuesta. Captions were provided by VITAC.

The Awards Gala is available on:

Visit ADAwardsGala.org for more.

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is a national member-driven organization representing Americans who are blind or have low vision. For more than 60 years, ACB has been a leader in national, state, local, and international advocacy. With 68 affiliates, ACB strives to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity, and the quality of life for all people who are blind or have low vision. For more, visit www.acb.org.

20231114 3rd Annual ACB ADP Awards Gala Pre-Show

Originally Aired November 14, 2023

November 15, 2023

Pre-Show to the 3rd Annual American Council of the Blind Audio Description Project Awards Gala. Aired on ACB Media immediately preceding the November 14, 2023 original airing of the ACB ADO Awards Gala.

The Pre-Show is packed with information about the Gala and Audio Description. The first hour features excerpts from the ACB Media programs VisAbilities, Tuesday Topics and Sunday Edition featuring the Audio Description Project co-chairs Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson as well as Tabitha Kenlon, the ACB Media Project Coordinator. Hour 2 of the Pre-Show is the third of the Audio Description in Conversation series hosted by Tabitha Kenlon and Roy Samuelson with a panel of 3 blind professionals with careers in Audio Description.

20230703 1600 Film Screening-One Step at a Time-A Journey of Hope, Commitment and Resiliency

Originally Broadcasted July 3, 2023, on ACB Media 4

September 1, 2023

20230703 1600 Film Screening-One Step at a Time-A Journey of Hope, Commitment and Resiliency Originally Broadcasted July 3, 2023, on ACB Media 4 Blind Filmmaker Michael McCulloch, Houston, TX, set the stage for his documentary and answered questions after the viewing. One Step at a Time chronicles McCulloch's trek of the 26-mile Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The film premiered in February 2021 at the ReelAbilities Houston Film and Arts Festival and won the Best Cinematography Award at the Sports, Fitness and Recreation Festival in Toronto in August 2022. Edited By:  Tim Cumings

20230624 1430 Audio Description Across the Globe

Originally Broadcasted June 24, 2023, on ACB Media 5

August 20, 2023

20230624 1430 Audio Description Across the Globe Originally Broadcasted June 24, 2023, on ACB Media 5 Several years ago, ACB collaborated with the World Blind Union in a survey of audio description practice worldwide. This panel highlighted AD activity in New Zealand/Australia, South Africa, and in the UK. Moderator: Dr. Joel Snyder, ACB Audio Description Project Founder and Senior Consultant, Takoma Park, MD Edited By:  Doug Hunsinger

20230624 1130 Audio Description for Kids

Originally Broadcasted June 24, 2023, on ACB Media 5

August 20, 2023

20230624 1130 Audio Description for Kids Originally Broadcasted June 24, 2023, on ACB Media 5 Whether kids are relaxing with a book or movie or doing a homework assignment, audio description provides vital opportunities for engagement with the world of ideas. Panelists discussed resources to help parents and teachers integrate audio described content into the lives of their children and students. Moderators: Carl Richardson, Co-Chair, ACB Audio Description Project, Brighton, MA Dr. Tabitha Kenlon, ACB Audio Description Project Coordinator, Alexandria, VA Edited By:  Janet Ingber

20230623 1600 AD Across the Arts

Originally Broadcasted June 23, 2023, on ACB Media 4

August 20, 2023

20230623 1600 AD Across the Arts Originally Broadcasted June 23, 2023, on ACB Media 4 While film and TV might be the most well-known audio described art form, many arts and entertainment venues use AD as well. Live theatre and dance performances, museums, parks, and even the circus provide AD to increase accessibility. Panelists shared some of the challenges and the excitement of bringing all the arts to life for people who are blind or have low vision. Moderator: Dr. Tabitha Kenlon, ACB Audio Description Project Coordinator, Alexandria, VA Edited By:  Michael Babcock