FCC Releases Report on Industry Accessibility Compliance
If you’ve wondered about legislation and policies addressing accessibility in media and technology, you’ll be interested in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) biennial report to Congress. The report was submitted in accordance with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The report:
assesses industry compliance over the past two years with sections 255, 716, and 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). These sections require telecommunications and advanced communications services and equipment, and Internet browsers built into mobile phones to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,
addresses accessibility barriers to new communications technologies and the effect of the accessibility-related recordkeeping and enforcement requirements under section 717 on the development and deployment of such technologies, and
provides information about the number and nature of, and actions taken to resolve, complaints alleging violations of sections 255, 716, and 718 for the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023.
If you've been a fan of the audio described broadcasts of the Paralympic Games, learn how NBC made these the most accessible games ever. Don't miss commentary from ADP co-chair Kim Charlson! Access the full article here. And if you still want more, check out the conversation between ADP co-chairs Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson and the NBC staff and describer. (Posted Sep 13)
As a part of the SOVAS (Society of Voice Arts and Sciences) 2024 That’s VoiceOver event, voice actors are invited to register for the second annual Audio Description Audition Jam! Voice Actors worldwide are invited to register and audition. Auditions must be recorded by your own means and submitted as an MP3 file. Final submissions must be uploaded no later than October 5, 2024, at 11:59pm PST. Five (5) finalists will be notified by October 14, 2024, to be confirmed for the final audition round. The final audition round will take place live, onsite at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott before a live audience on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1:10 PM PST.
Two finalists will be selected as the winners and each will receive two jobs (projects); one for Deluxe and one for Audio Eyes. See official rules/eligibility requirements for more information and submit your audition at https://sovas.org/audio-description-audition-jam/. Good luck! (Posted Sep 3)
Paralympic Games with Audio Description
Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Paralympic Games, taking place August 28-September 8. NBC is following up its stellar audio description of the Olympics with an expanded team of describers and unprecedent coverage. Learn How to Watch and/or read the press release. (Posted Aug 28)
ADP Conference Audio Recordings Available
If you missed the ADP Conference in June, or just want to listen again, visit the Conferences page for links to recordings of all the virtual sessions. Learn about audio description for dance, in education, and at Prime Video. Enjoy a discussion of the pros and cons of AI in AD, and meet blind film critics who share their thoughts on movies and the AD they love. (Posted Aug 27)
Happy New (School) Year!
Whether you're a youthful student, an imaginative teacher, or a seasoned lifelong learner, audio described resources are a part vital of an accessible education plan. Our friends at the Described and Captioned Media Program, Dicapta, and Bridge Multimedia offer myriad accessible resources, training, and services for students, parents, and teachers. Check out guidelines for accessible presentations and Universal Design for Learning best practices to ensure your materials and lesson plans are accessible from the start. Enjoy world-class documentaries on ReelAbilities Stream - every title is audio described!
Best wishes for a school year filled with excitement, exploration, accessibility, and audio description! (Posted Aug 23)
Using United Airlines Inflight Entertainment with a Screen Reader
If your last-minute summer vacation plans include a flight on United Airlines, check out this article for a guided tour of United's inflight entertainment accessibility options. The touch-screen entertainment system offers a screen reader to help passengers find podcasts, music, and movies with audio description (popcorn not included). Read the article at Even Grounds ("Accessible Travel for Blind People"). (Posted Aug 22)
The Paris Olympic Games: Behind the AD
Don't miss an ACB Community Event all about audio description at the Olympics! Thursday, August 22, 7:30pm ET: 2024 Summer Olympics with Audio Description.
For sixteen days, blind Americans enjoyed access to primetime coverage on NBC of the 2024 Parris Olympics with extensive audio description. Join us for 90 minutes of recap of this amazing event, including special guests from both NBC and the audio description company. Listen on ACB Media 6.
(Previous article) Did you enjoy the audio description of the Paris Olympics? Listen to this interview from WBUR Boston with two of the live audio describers from Descriptive Video Works on their preparation and experience voicing the description. How one company helps visually impaired Olympics fans enjoy the games. (Updated Aug 21)
The Paris Olympic Games: July 26 - August 11
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games have begun, and NBCUniversal’s coverage is more accessible than ever before, with enhanced closed captioning, expanded audio description, and improved digital content accessibility. User comments on the AD are very positive so far. Here are some resources to get you started:
Paramount Global, Nickelodeon, and DCMP Form Multi-Year Partnership
Paramount Global and The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) have announced a partnership that ensures hundreds of hours of Nickelodeon’s hit animated and live-action series will be accessible to families with young viewers and students with disabilities. Read the details! (Posted Jul 30)
Spend Your Summer with the ADP
Wondering what to do this summer? Don't worry - the Audio Description Project is here for you. Mark your calendars now so you don't miss a moment of the excitement!
June 27-29: The ADP Conference. Concluded. Audio available later this summer.
July 20-August 4: Audio Description People's Choice Award, final voting now open. See article above. The winners will be revealed at the Awards Gala on Thursday, November 14, at 7:30pm ET.
September 9-13: The Audio Description Institute. Go back to school and learn the fine art of writing audio description.
And of course there's always our one-of-a-kind master list of audio-described titles when you're in the mood to relax with some great accessible media. Enjoy! (Updated July 20)
ADP Achievement Award Winners Announced
On July 10, at the ACB Annual Conference in Jacksonville, FL, we announced the winners of the annual Audio Description Project Achievement Awards. Read the complete list of award winners! You can also watch the presentation on YouTube. Congrats to all the winners, and thanks for your contributions to audio description. (Posted July 10)
In Memoriam: Brandon Cole
Perhaps Brandon Cole's legacy as an award-winning accessibility consultant and advocate is best embodied in his handle, @superblindman. He was especially well-known for his contribution to video gaming. Read Descriptive Video Works post honoring Brandon. (Posted Jul 12)
NBCUniversal Announces Enhanced Accessibility for the Olympics
The Paris Olympic Games take place July 26 - August 11, and NBCUniversal continues its commitment to accessibility by providing more audio description than has been available for any previous Games. According to the press release, "All coverage on NBC, including daytime, primetime, and late night, and the Gold Zone whip-around show on Peacock, will feature audio description provided by Descriptive Video Works. In a first for a U.S. broadcaster, audio description services for NBC coverage will be provided in stereo, enhancing the quality of sound for viewers." For more details, access the full press release. (Posted Jul 2)
Described Videos That Feature a Person with a Disability
We have created a list of titles featuring one or more persons with a disability. The titles may or may not be available to view at any particular time; but by clicking on each title, you will be advised of where you may find them. The pointer to Described Videos That Feature a Person with a Disability is in our Reference listing below. (List Updated on June 28)
Change in "Mandated" TV Networks for AD
Beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027, the top five national nonbroadcast networks will be HGTV, Hallmark, TLC, TNT, and TBS, with TNT replacing the History network (source). As always, Fox News, ESPN, and MSNBC have an exemption from the audio description rules due to airing primarily live and near-live programming. The 4 broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) are unchanged. (Posted Jun 27)
Audio Described Films for Pride Month
Celebrate Pride Month with over 150 movies about the joys, sorrows, challenges, and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community. Feel free to let us know about titles we've missed. (Updated Jun 29)
The following films have audio description tracks, though they may not all be available right now. Click title links to find out if and where they are available for viewing.
ACB and the ADP extend our sincere condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of Bill Stark, founder of the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and a leader in the development of accessible media. Bill helped make thousands of educational videos accessible to Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, visually impaired, and deaf/blind students. We are grateful for all he has done, and we are honored to partner with DCMP to continue the work Bill started and advanced so greatly. Read more about Bill's life and legacy. (Posted Jun 25)
Call for Nominations for the 2024 Audio Description People’s Choice Award - Closes Sunday May 19!
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces that the Audio Description People’s Choice Award is open for nominations. The winners will be revealed during the 2024 ACB Audio Description Awards Gala, which will take place virtually on Thursday, November 14th, at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrates inclusivity and recognizes the entertainment industry’s role in providing access to film and television through audio description for people who are blind or have low vision. The Audio Description People’s Choice Award, now in its third year, is a unique opportunity for fans to get involved by showing their support for the audio description they love the most.
“In the first two years of the Audio Description People’s Choice Award, more than a thousand people participated. This is a unique opportunity for all AD fans to support the shows, writers, and voice talent they count on to make media more accessible,” said Scott Thornhill, ACB Executive Director.
The selection process for the Audio Description People’s Choice Award takes place in two phases. First, ACB will accept nominations in two categories, film and series, from May 4 through May 19. Second, the top titles in each category will compete for the grand prize during a two-week voting period from July 20 to August 4.
Nominee selections must follow the nomination criteria to be eligible for the finalist vote; then use the People’s Choice Award nomination form. To vote by phone, call 202-559-2042. This fall, join us at the 2024 Audio Description Awards Gala for an exciting evening featuring celebrity guests as we applaud audio description! Learn more at www.ADAwardsGala.org. (Posted May 4)
Another Milestone: 11,000 Described Videos!
It's just a number, but it's a BIG number! In the last seven months we have added another thousand described videos to our Master AD List. We are also up to over 4,000 videos available in the USA with description in languages other than English. (Posted Apr 16)
Meet the 2024 BADIE Essay Contest Winners
The Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are proud to announce the winners of the 2024 BADIE awards. Celebrating the Benefits of Audio Description In Education, the contest invites students who are blind or have low vision to watch an audio described (AD) video and write an essay evaluating the quality and usefulness of the AD. This year’s winners are:
Grand Prize
Lyla Duffy, Washington
Review of I Am Ruby Bridges
Seniors (ages 16 to 21)
First place: Charles Johnson, Washington
Review of Little Bighorn: The Native American View
Second place: Cai Tague, California
Review of Vibrations
Third place: Agatha Holloway, Washington
Review of Getting a Job! For Students Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired: Introduction to Getting a Job!
Juniors (ages 11 to 15)
First place: Avett Maness, Ohio
Review of Chip Taylor Communications Musical Moment
Second place: Errion Gary, Ohio
Review of I Am Ruby Bridges
Third place: Zara Gandhi, Ontario, Canada
Review of It's Okay To Be Smart: How Blind People See With Sound
Sophomores (ages 7 to 10)
First place: Emi Constandache, California
Review of Star Wars, Episode 9
Second place: Deisy Jimenez, Ohio
Review of Mary Fisher
(Posted Apr 16)
Call for Nominations for the 2024 ADP Awards
What do a chef, a museum, and a very large telescope have in common? They were all recipients of a 2023 ADP Award! The ADP Awards recognize achievement in audio description in seven categories, including media, performing arts, museums, the public sector, and research and development. Nominations will be accepted from January 8 to April 21, 2024, and the winners will be announced in July at the American Council of the Blind’s Conference and Convention.
Who Can Submit a Nomination?
Everyone! You are welcome to nominate yourself, your local theatre or museum, or a well-known institution. Complete and submit the nomination form today.
Who Is Eligible for an Award?
Any person, organization, or institution that fits in one of the categories below and is involved in the research, development, production, design, creation, and/or delivery of great audio description is eligible.
What Are the Criteria?
The most important criterion is that the person or organization consistently develops, creates, and/or makes available high-quality audio description. But we encourage you to consider other vital accessibility and inclusivity elements, such as how easy it is to access the audio description; whether the website and/or physical spaces are accessible; and to what extent people on the blindness spectrum are involved in the creation of audio description, as writers, editors, sound engineers, or testers. You’ll want to include these details in your nomination.
What Are the Award Categories?
There are seven categories. The same individual or organization may not be nominated in multiple categories.
Media
Performing Arts
Museums, Visual Art, Visitor Centers
Public Sector (government agencies – federal, state, or local)
International (people and organizations working primarily outside the US)
Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Audio Description Research and Development
Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description
Submit Your Nomination!
Help us celebrate the people and organizations that are contributing significantly to the growth of audio description. Submit your nomination on-line before April 21, 2024
Voices of Inclusion: Pioneering the Fusion of Dubbing and Audio Description
You know what dubbing is, and you know what audio description is. For a person with visual impairment, both must be available simultaneously to full enjoy a foreign film. Read this article by Dicapta CEO Maria-Victoria Diaz to learn more. (Posted Apr 9)
CMT Music Awards - Audio Description
OK, Country Music fans, Sunday's CMT Music Awards on CBS Sunday April 7th starting at 8pm (in each time zone) will be audio described. The show will also be carried live on Paramount+ AD, but the streamed version later should have it (though perhaps not right away...). (Posted Apr 4)
ACB and ADP Recognize Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re proud to honor Dr. Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl (pronounced FAN-STEEL), a lifelong advocate for people who are blind or have low vision and a pioneer in the fields of accessibility and audio description.
Margaret, who was almost entirely blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, was on the leading edge of the accessibility movement. In the early 1970s, after earning her Ed.D. degree, she garnered support and funding around the Washington, D.C., area and founded the Metropolitan Washington Ear, an organization that continues to provide services today.
In the early 1980s, Margaret and her husband Cody developed The Ear's audio description program, the first ongoing description service in the world. Margaret and Cody, along with a core group of Ear volunteers (including Dr. Joel Snyder, the founder of the Audio Description Project) began offering description at Washington's Arena Stage and other area theaters.
Margaret also worked to help make television accessible; for those efforts, she was awarded a national Emmy Award in 1990.
In 1991 Margaret took another innovative leap by launching one of the nation’s first dial-In newspaper services. Years later, she testified before the Federal Communications Commission about access for individuals with disabilities, which led to the requirement for broadcasters to adopt audio description technology through the secondary audio programming channel.
This Women’s History Month, please join ACB and the Audio Description Project in remembering and honoring the incredible impact Margaret had on the everyday lives of people on the blindness spectrum. If you’re interested in learning more about Margaret’s life and achievements, visit the Metropolitan Washington Ear’s website
Public Comment Period for the Draft Audio Description Specialist Certification Criteria Closing March 31
The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) is establishing the Certified Audio Description Specialist (CAUDES) certification to formally recognize individuals who are proficient in audio description best practices across a wide range of formats and venues. Areas of practice include, but are not limited to, prerecorded media, performing arts, interactive displays, live events, museums, and education. The ACVREP is inviting the public to provide comments and feedback on the draft criteria for the CAUDES certification. View the criteria documents. The 60-day public comment period will close on March 31, 2024. Written comments can be submitted to comments@acvrep.org, putting CAUDES in the subject line. Related: Audio Description Specialist Certification With Kim Charlson & Lolly Lijewski (Outlook on Western Radio). (Updated Mar 29)
Choreographer and Access Advocate Jess Curtis
Choreographer and access advocate Jess Curtis died suddenly in the San Francisco area on March 11. Not only was Jess an innovative choreographer for his company "Gravity," he actively explored ways in which his work benefited from the involvement of people who are blind or have low vision. He championed the use of audio description to make dance accessible. Read a tribute article by KQED. Photo by Sven Hagolani. (Posted by Dr. Joel Snyder on Facebook, Mar 14)
Vudu is Now Fandango at Home
The transactional streaming service Vudu, owned by Fandango Media (which is in turn jointly owned by NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery), has changed its name to Fandango at Home. At least for now, the website is still vudu.com, which is pointed to from fandango.com (which is for movie tickets). We have changed the name in our navigation links (above). (Posted Mar 14)
NAACP Image Awards Airing with Description
For the first time in BET history, audio description will be available for a live telecast. The NAACP Image Awards airs live on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET, CBS Television Network, BET Her, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop, Smithsonian Channel™, TV Land, and streaming on Paramount+. It is not clear that all networks will carry description, though we know that Paramount+ will not. (Posted Mar 14)
Cardinal Rule Press Now Offers Children's Illustrated Books with AD
A second company is now offering some children's illustrated books with audio description. You can visit Cardinal Rule Press to read about the books and get links to Amazon to order. They are also listed on our Other Media page, along with Imagination Storybooks. (Posted Mar 7)
Audio Description Podcast with Tabitha
Canadian podcasters at AD Banter sit down with ADP Project Coordinator Tabitha Kenlon to discuss audio description, her background, and the Audio Description Project. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript. As a reminder, all the individual podcasts about audio description and all the ones dedicated to AD are listed on our Podcasts page. (Posted Mar 11)
12-Year-Old Provides AD for London's National Theatre
In late January 2024, a 12-year-old girl wrote and delivered the audio description for 80 users at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre in London for Roald Dahl’s ‘The Witches.’ Read the story and/or listen to a 16-minute RNIB podcast with describer Eleanor and National Theatre's Head of Accessibility. (Posted Mar 3)
SAG Awards Described on Netflix Stream
This year's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards show on Saturday, February 24, was live described on Netflix by Descriptive Video Works. The streamed version is also audio described: https://www.netflix.com/title/81703507. (Updated Feb 25)
Google's Guided Frame Commercial ... with AD
During Sunday’s Super Bowl, a commercial for Google’s Pixel Guided Frame highlighted the importance and value of accessibility in consumer technology. Bridge Multimedia provided the audio description for this important message. ACB applauds technology companies that are prioritizing accessibility to create a more inclusive experience for all. Check out the commercial with audio description titled “Javier in Frame,” on YouTube. Read a USA Today article about the commercial. (Posted Feb 13)
Lights, Camera, Description! New Deadline: February 19th
The American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are accepting entries for BADIE, or the Benefits of Audio Description in Eduction, an essay contest for blind and visually impaired young people (ages 7 to 21), from now through February 19th. It’s a great chance for students to engage with accessible learning materials, unleash their inner film critic, and compete for fun prizes. (Updated Feb 9)
Watch any audio-described film (there are more than 6,000 educational titles to choose from!).
Write an evaluation of the film’s audio description, commenting on the ways the audio description enhanced or detracted from your experience.
Visit http://badiecontest.org to submit your entry. There you'll also find guidelines and prize details, tips on writing a good review, and information about how audio description is created.
Categories:
Sophomore – ages 7–10
Junior – ages 11–15
Senior – ages 16–21
Alternate Assessment – students with non-traditional matriculation records
Deadline and Prizes:
The deadline for contest entries is February 11, 2024.
Winners will be notified by the end of March 2024.
There will be first, second, and third place winners in each category, as well as a grand prize winner who will be awarded an iPad mini and invited to read his/her essay at the American Council of the Blind's National Conference and Convention in July 2024.
Teachers of first-place winners also receive prizes.
And the Nominees Are… How and Where To Find the 2024 Academy Awards Nominations with Audio Description
If you’re a movie fan, you probably can’t wait to watch the Oscars on March 10. To help you get ready, we've compiled a list of nominated films in all categories and where to find the ones with AD. Grab your popcorn and choose your own winners! Note that streaming services and movie theaters change what films they offer; this list is accurate as of January 23, 2024, and will not be updated. See our list of nominees; then use our Find A Video page to look for where a title may be available with AD in the future. Please note that we have a separate page on Best Picture winners since 1927. (Updated Jan 24)
Why the Communications, Video, and Technology Act Matters
In this article, ADP Project coordinator Tabitha Kenlon tells us "Three Reasons to Love the CVTA" and urges you to advocate for it. Read: Why the CVTA Matters. (Posted Jan 21)
Webmaster's Year-End 2023 Report
As we march into 2024, I would like to reflect on some of the progress we have reported on the ADP Website throughout the past year. We started the year with 8,717 titles available with audio description, and we ended the year with 10,604, an increase of nearly 22%. Here are some of the key events during the year that helped increase that number.
HBO Max became Max and integrated the content of discovery+, much of which was described, though not on discovery+ by itself.
Paramount+ merged Showtime into its content (currently with 52 titles described).
Disney+ is in the process of merging Hulu content in, though Hulu (like discovery+ but unlike Showtime) is expected to remain available separately.
We began listing described titles for Tubi, with smaller listings for Pluto TV, ReelAbilities Stream, and Magellan TV.
Prime Video continues to dominate the titles with AD at 5242. Netflix comes next at 2494, followed by iTunes at 2137.
Vudu had the greatest percentage increase in AD titles, followed by Max and Hulu.
136 DVDs and/or Blu-ray or 4K discs were released with AD tracks. That's a larger number than the three Covid years, but we are unlikely to get back to the 170s of 2018/19. There were 1715 described DVDs available at YE 2023..
There were 182 movies with AD in Cinemas this year (some from 2022 still running in January), a bit fewer than last year.
The number of videos available in the USA with non-English description continues to grow. Currently we list 3777 titles in 59 languages.
We welcomed a new ADP Project Coordinator in January with expanded responsibilities. Tabitha Kenlon fit the bill with an excellent resume of experience.
A lot of attention was paid to refining the Master AD list. Enhancements included adding the year of release to all videos (including DVDs), correcting those years of release for many services (to make the Master listing consistent), adding or correcting studio names for titles, etc.
For 2024, we are looking to website revisions to make it easier to find what you are looking for, among other changes. Thank you for your interest in the Audio Description Project.
– Fred Brack, ADP Webmaster, January 2024
It Takes a Village ...
Your ADP webmaster would like to take a moment to thank all the contributors who make the contents of this website meaningful. That includes Timothy Wynn, who compiles the daily TV listing; Vicky Vogt, who sends me all the cinema titles weekly; Tabitha Kenlon, our ADP Project Coordinator, who has written many of the articles for this page and advises on other topics; Joel Snyder, ADP Founder, who contributes here, there, and everywhere; ADP Steering Committee chairs, Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson; and the chairs and members of our six committees. And of course I couldn't compile all those streaming service described titles without the cooperation of the major streaming services themselves and their assigned interfaces.
– Fred Brack, ADP Webmaster
2023
2024 Audio Description Institute Schedule
The ACB's Audio Description Institute teaches you everything about audio description and prepares you to be an audio describer. In 2024, the class dates will be April 8-12, 2024 and September 9-13, 2024. The classes will meet from 1 pm to 5 pm Monday through Friday and be taught virtually using Zoom. Registration for the April class will open on February 1, 2024, and will be announced here and via our social media platforms. For now, you can view the ADI Announcement from a previous class for more information. (Posted Dec 6).
Replay of the Audio Description Awards Gala
Did you love the Audio Description Awards Gala on November 14? If so, you can catch it again and love it even more! And if you missed it, don't despair - it is still available! The Awards Gala is a fabulous celebration of audio description and inclusion. Here's how you can access the show right now. The Awards Gala is available on:
Visit ADAwardsGala.org for more information and to make a donation to help the ADP continue its advocacy for audio description. (Updated Nov 20)
ADP in Conversation Community Event Recording Now Available
It takes a team to create audio description, and that team is increasingly composed of both sighted and blind professionals. On November 11, the Audio Description Project and the ADNA Presents podcast sponsored the third in a series of ACB Community Events that brings together people who are blind or have low vision to discuss their careers in audio description. Panelists included Colleen Connor, Brandon Cole, and Krishna Washburn. If you missed the discussion (or loved it and want to listen again), here’s the recording. Note: The recordings are all accessible via our Podcasts page. (Posted Nov 17)
Don’t Miss the Audio Description Awards Gala
It’s almost time for the most inclusively glamorous awards show of the year. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) presents the third annual Audio Description Awards Gala on November 14 at 7:30 PM ET. Join hosts Marilee Talkington and Conchita Hernandez Legorreta as they welcome special guests from the arts, entertainment, and sports worlds to recognize outstanding achievement in audio description. Haga clic aquí para la versión en Español. (Updated Oct 26)
Awards will be presented in categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Innovation, Popular Entertainment, Gaming, Live Events, Spanish Media (USA), and International. The winners of the Audio Description People’s Choice Awards will also be announced.
Special guests include:
Shawn Levy, director of All the Light We Cannot See
Barbara Hinske, author of the Guiding Emily book series
Marla Runyan, two-time Olympian and Paralympian in track and field
James Rath, accessibility advocate and filmmaker
Sheridan O’Donnell, writer/director
Precious Perez, pop, R&B, and Latin singer/songwriter
Lavender Darcangelo, singer, activist, and America’s Got Talent contestant
The Awards Gala will have captioning and audio description, and there will be a simultaneous full Spanish translation. The English AD is written by Joel Snyder (Audio Description Associates, LLC) and voiced by Ren Leach. The Spanish AD script writer is Andrea Gimenez, with narration by Oscar Javier Cuesta. Dicapta provides the Spanish dubbing, and captioning is by VITAC.
The Awards Gala will be available on multiple platforms:
Mark your calendar and visit ADAwardsGala.org for more information. You can also make a donation there to support ACB’s Audio Description Project and help us keep advocating for more and better audio description. We’ll see you on the virtual red carpet on November 14!
Exercise Your Creativity and Help Make National Park Brochures Accessible
Join the 2024 Descriptathon in February 2024 and help make national parks more accessible! ACB, the National Park Service, and UniDescription (UniD) are recruiting volunteers to create audio descriptions for selected national park brochures. Teams are composed of people who are sighted and people on the blindness spectrum, all of whom will collaborate to describe maps, paintings, and visual images within park brochures. All meetings are held remotely, so you might find yourself learning about a park in your state or across the continent. (Posted Oct 24)
UniD is the only initiative of its kind in the world, making the Descriptathon a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute to a path-breaking accessibility project. The first Descriptathon was held a decade ago, and since then ACB members have established an impressive record of participating as the number of parks and teams has grown.
Descriptathon is a gamified way to learn about audio description. By participating, you’ll investigate ideas about media accessibility and engage with questions such as: What is audio description? Who uses it, and how? Why is it so important? How does it differ from other types of writing and communication? What are the best practices and top pro secrets?
The Descriptathon will be a full-day event, taking place February 6–8, 2024 (volunteers are expected to attend all three days). Participants will likely spend ten hours of prep time in the five weeks before the kick-off on February 6 (approximately two hours a week). During this prep time, team members will learn about audio description, how to use the UniD tool to describe their brochure, and get to know their teammates. Four to six hours might be needed to finalize the brochure description after the three-day event.
Providing a fun way to practice audio description, Descriptathon is tourney-style and features small teams and light-hearted competitions (there are even Hawaii-oriented prizes). As enjoyable and rewarding as it can be, the Descriptathon is an intense three-day workshop that requires attention and dedicated engagement. Each team produces an audio-described brochure that will be made available to the public. UniD’s goal is to describe the world, and you can help!
For more about UniD and to download the free app, visit https://unidescription.org/. If you’d like to participate in the tenth Descriptathon in February 2024, contact Tabitha Kenlon, Audio Description Project Coordinator, at tkenlon@acb.org.
Consumer Reports "Watching TV While Blind" Discusses Accessible Television
Did you know that there are several streaming services offering movies with audio description tracks for free? Sometimes you don't even need to sign up. Here they are: (Posted Oct 16)
Prime Video (some content free if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime)
Visit Smithsonian Museums Wherever You Are
Explore American history and art through audio description, in person or online. Here are a few Smithsonian museums that provide description on their websites (Posted 10/5):
ADP in Conversation Community Event Recording Now Available
It takes a team to create audio description, and that team is increasingly composed of both sighted and blind professionals. On September 9, the Audio Description Project and the ADNA Presents podcast sponsored the first in a series of ACB Community Events that brings together people who are blind or have low vision to discuss their careers in audio description.
If you missed the discussion (or loved it and want to listen again), here's the ADP in Conversation recording. Panelists include Satauna Howery, voice talent; Fern Lulham, voice talent and broadcaster; and Rebecca Odum, AD quality control specialist. (Updated Sep 19)
Survey on Audio Described Videos
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the National Institutes of Health, has created a series of audio described (AD) videos. As the world's largest biomedical library and a leader in biomedical informatics/computational health data science research, NLM is committed to enhancing information accessibility for all, so they are conducting a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of their AD videos and to improve the user experience. (Posted Sep 19)
Can You Tell Me How To Get Audio Description?
Yes, we can! Sesame Workshop and Dicapta have recently announced a collaboration that will improve accessibility for shows like Sesame Street, Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck, Plaza Sesamo, and “The Feelings Garden.” Read the press release and explore the Sesame Workshop YouTube channel and the Plaza Sesamo YouTube channel. (Posted Sep 15)
Even More New Streaming Services with AD Titles
We've now added SIX new services to our Other Media listing, which we use for the services which supply a relatively small number of audio described titles. We have added a few titles from Broadway HD, Curiosity Stream, Magellan, MGM+, Pluto TV, plus 40 titles from ReelAbilities Stream. (You can rent a free title from ReelAbilities by the use of code "rffacb" (all lowercase) by December 31.) In addition, Philo is now passing through audio description on six networks, including Hallmark. We will add additional services as we find them. (Updated Sep 8)
10,000 Titles with Audio Description!
Audio description has come a long way since the ADP title catalog started keeping track in 2010. Then, there were 101 DVDs with AD and streaming services didn't exist. Now there are 10,000 titles across multiple platforms and in multiple languages. All major streaming services have more than doubled the number of titles available with AD over the last few years; for example, in 2016, iTunes and Netflix provided a combined 750 titles, and they now offer more than 2,000 each. The ADP thanks everyone who has helped create these 10,000 titles – the producers, writers, voice talent, sound engineers, quality control, consumers, and advocates. We can’t wait for the next 10,000 titles, so keep listening and keep advocating! (Posted Sep 6)
AD Spotlight: Interview with Sam Gould of Open Door Theater
Sam Gould was a guest on the ADP Conference's panel about AD for Kids. In an interview that recently aired on WGBH, she discussed joining Open Door Theater, a theater program committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment, more than 20 years ago. Now, she is the president of the nonprofit and remains dedicated to providing an accessible theater experience for all. Listen to the Gould interview. (Posted Sep 1)
Celebrate Labor Day with Audio Description
In 1894, Labor Day became a national holiday to recognize workers. The workplace has been a favorite setting for Hollywood producers nearly as long, so here are a few job-related films and series to enjoy this Labor Day. (Posted Sep 1)
Barbershop: The Next Cut: DVD, iTunes, Prime
Being John Malkovich: Prime
The Big Short: DVD, iTunes, Prime, Vudu
The Devil Wears Prada: iTunes, Prime
Grey's Anatomy [Series]: ABC, Hulu
His Girl Friday: Prime
The Intern: DVD, iTunes, Prime
A League of Their Own [Series]: Prime
Moneyball: DVD, iTunes, Max, Prime, Spectrum Access
Ocean's 8: DVD, iTunes, Prime
Ocean's Eleven (2001): Prime
The Office [Series]: Peacock, Prime
Remember the Titans: Disney+
Singin' in the Rain: Max, Prime
The Social Network: DVD, iTunes
Two Weeks Notice: iTunes
The West Wing [Series]: Max
You've Got Mail: Prime
Pluto TV (Free) Now Offers AD
It's been in the works for awhile, but Pluto TV has announced its initial list of audio described content. You need to sign up, but the service is free (ad-supported). Currently, they support web access, iOS devices (like the iPhone), and Android. You'll find their list of titles (from Arrival to World War Z) at Pluto TV's audio described titles or the ADP List of Pluto AD titles. Note that it's slim pickins on the series episodes for now, so focus on the movies. (Added Aug 30)
ADP Conference Podcasts Now Available
If you missed the ADP Conference in June, or loved it so much you want to listen again and again, you're in luck! All seven sessions are available as podcasts, thanks to the hard-working ACB Media team. We also appreciate all our facilitators, hosts, and panelists who helped make it such a great conference. Later you can return to find these links on the Conferences page also. Happy listening! (Posted Aug 24)
The BADIE committee was joined by a special guest at its August meeting. Polly Goodwin, an audio description writer, voice talent, and advocate based in Australia, shared her experience starting a similar AD essay contest for young people there. The committee loved her ideas – keep reading for Polly's story. (Posted Aug 21)
Quantity (As Well As Quality)
by Polly Goodwin
Audio Description in Australia is expanding. Not long after I arrived from the UK (although nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the excellent advocacy of various organisations and individuals too numerous to mention), the government provided funding for the two main free-to-air television channels to provide audio description for some of their broadcast content. Audio description is available on our home-grown streaming service "Stan," and of course we have access to the audio described content available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other international streaming services. A recent exploratory trip to Australia's largest home entertainment retailer resulted in an eye-watering purchase of a huge range of audio described dvds, and cinema chains offer – if not always follow through on – audio described screenings.
It seemed the perfect time to try to bring the Audio Description Project's wonderful Benefits of Audio Description in Education (BADIE) essay contest to the Antipodes. With the generosity and support of Joel Snyder and the committee, the fabulous backing of Vision Australia, and an energised committee of users, parents, educators, and describers, we trialled an Australian version of the initiative last year….and learnt a lot!
Firstly, as our winning entrant, Morgan, proved, we have some passionate and avid users of audio description. "Good description needs to use space between the dialogue well," wrote Morgan, summing up what all we describers should repeat to ourselves before each and every job. Not only did Morgan critique a number of programmes' audio description (script and voice), she also advocated for audio description as a human right for children and young people who are blind or have low vision, that should be available on all services worldwide (amen to that, Morgan!).
Morgan highlighted some of the challenges she faced trying to locate audio described content – either because it wasn't available (even where closed captions were), or through lack of advertising.
This brings me to the second lesson we learned: we still have a way to go to raise awareness of what audio description is and why it matters amongst children who are blind or have low vision and their families here in Australia. Promoting the initiative last year, I came into contact with a lot of families, and many of them, particularly those with no previous experience of blindness other than their child's, had not heard of audio description. Whilst that did mean I had the joy of showing them their first piece of audio described content (clips from Frozen), it was a clue we may have started the initiative with too ambitious an ask (reviews of audio description). The relatively low entry numbers we received confirmed that we need to step back and focus on getting our kids aware of, and using, audio description first.
Back to School with Audio Description
As students and teachers prepare for another academic year, enjoy some films and series about school, from kindergarten to college. Don't worry – there won't be a test! (Posted Aug 11)
10 Things I Hate About You: Disney+, iTunes
Abbott Elementary [Series]: ABC, Hulu, Max
The Breakfast Club: iTunes, Netflix, Prime
Bring It On: Prime
Clueless: Google Play, iTunes, Paramount+, Prime
Dead Poets Society: iTunes
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Disney+, iTunes, Prime
Ferris Bueller's Day Off: iTunes, Paramount+, Prime, Vudu
Footloose: DVD, iTunes, Prime
Friday Night Lights: Prime
Good Will Hunting: Prime
Grease: Google Play, iTunes, Max, Prime
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: iTunes, Max, Peacock, Prime
High School Musical: Disney+
Kindergarten Cop: Prime
Mean Girls: Google Play, iTunes, Netflix, Paramount+, Prime
Monsters University: DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime
October Sky: Prime
Old School: Paramount+, Prime
School of Rock: Paramount+, Prime
She's the Man: Prime
Tall Girl: Netflix
Wednesday [Series]: Netflix
ReelAbilities Stream
ReelAbilities Stream is "an accessible streaming platform, featuring films celebrating the lives and stories of people with disabilities," including audio description for all titles. The titles were previously presented at ReelAbilities Film Festivals. Like iTunes and certain other services, it is transactional based (pay-per-view), rather than a subscription service. Read an article about the ReelAbilities service. They offer 40 or more
described titles. View our listing of ReelAbilities Stream titles. Want to try the service for free? We have arranged for our website patrons to get one title for free ($3.99 value) by the use of code "rffacb" (all lowercase) by December 31, 2023. You will find a link to the ReelAbilities Streams titles on our Other Media page. (Posted Aug 8)
An Update from the ADP Performing Arts Subcommittee
The Performing Arts, Museums, and Parks Subcommittee continues to raise awareness of and advocate for audio description through a combination of virtual and in-person activities. (Posted Aug 8)
Believing that participating in public attractions is an effective way of demonstrating the importance of inclusive arts, members of the committee organized a field visit to Chicago's Pullman National Historical Park in June. The group enjoyed a guided tour and gave feedback to park staff on how to further improve accessibility. The committee is proud to have played an instrumental role in creating the audio description for the brochure of the Pullman National Historic Park through the UniDescription Project.
The committee is working to educate venues across the country about audio description. Committee members are collaborating with museums such as the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to ensure that accessibility and audio description will be available in their facilities.
Work also continues on the promotion of two resolutions related to audio description in live theatre that were adopted at the 2022 American Council of the Blind convention (2022-14 Equal Access to Live Theater with Audio Description and 2022-26 Dates for Live Theater Presentations of Audio Described Performances). These resolutions relate to providing live AD (as opposed to playing recorded description), and encouraging theatres to increase the number of performances with AD. The committee plans to contact major theatres and professional organizations and hopes to start a conversation about the provision of audio description for live events.
Vote Now for the 2023 Audio Description People's Choice Award
The Audio Description People's Choice Award final voting period is now open! There are two categories (film and series) with five finalists in each. You can listen to samples with audio description for the finalists, then cast your ballot online, or vote by phone by calling (202) 596-7041. Voting closes on August 15 at 11:59pm ET.
Just in time for the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26, 2023), here's some promising news from Capitol Hill. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16) announced on July 25th that the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act has been reintroduced. This legislation would update and strengthen existing accessibility regulations secured through the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to stay up-to-date with the proliferation of new technologies, from video conferencing platforms to artificial intelligence, that have become prevalent since the CVAA became law in 2010.
The CVTA builds upon the success of the CVAA and ensures individuals with disabilities have equal access to mainstream communication platforms and the technology services needed to participate in professional, educational, recreational, and civic spaces. The CVTA bolsters standards for television programming and emergency communication, expands accessibility requirements – including closed captions and audio descriptions – to online platforms and video conferencing services, and equips the federal government with the ability to improve accessibility of emerging technologies.
The American Council of the Blind and the Audio Description Project are pleased to announce the 2023 winners of the ADP Awards. These awards honor the people and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the quality, availability, and understanding of audio description. View the awards video.
The winners are:
Achievement in Media (Individual): Debra Erickson, Executive Chef and Founder of The Blind Kitchen. The Blind Kitchen provides accessible cooking tools to help people who are blind or have low vision cook safely, independently, and confidently.
Achievement in Museums (Individual): Karen Bergman, for her work at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Karen's descriptions include historical context and make visual art accessible in exciting new ways..
Achievement in Museums (Organization): The North Carolina Museum of Art and its "Sensory Journey through Art" program. These virtual events are designed for adults who are blind, have low vision, or have a learning need that would benefit from a sensory-style experience.
Special Achievement in Museums. Dr. Michelle Edwards of the National Museum of African American History and Culture for her development of a series of virtual tour programs called History Alive.
Achievement in the Performing Arts (Individual): Bonnie Barlow, who has provided live description of more than 258 plays and events, from Amadeus to Wicked, and from ballet to the rodeo.
Achievement in Performing Arts (Organization): The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which provides live audio description at their Broadway series, along with personalized accessibility assistance.
Public Sector Award: The Space Telescope Science Institute for its description of the images relayed by the James Webb telescope.
International Award: MovieReading, a unique technology that enables audio description (and captioning) to be downloaded to a patron's individual device.
Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description: Dr. Joshua Miele. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to AD over time by leading, inspiring, or providing service to others. Dr. Miele works as an adaptive technology designer and creates solutions to everyday accessibility problems.
If it's too hot to go outside, stay in and catch up on VocalEye's Almost Live events. You'll find filmed theatre with audio description, author readings, described visual art, music, and even time travel. VocalEye is a Canadian nonprofit that works to provide greater access to theatre, arts. and cultural events for people of all ages who are blind or have low vision. Explore Almost Live.
(Posted Jul 21)
Audio Description Makes Theatre, TV and Movies Accessible
"If you think the visual performing arts are only for sighted people, you're missing out on a world of entertainment. That's because audio description turns theatre, television, and movies into inclusive experiences. It provides narration for the visual elements of a production, such as scene changes, settings, costumes, physical movement, and more." Read the whole article, based on an interview with Kim Charlson, co-Chair of the ADP. (Posted Jul 14)
July Is Disability Pride Month
Celebrate Disability Pride with these audio described movies.
(Posted Jul 7)
Becoming Helen Keller - Prime Video
Best and Most Beautiful Things - iTunes
Born on the 4th of July - Netflix
Champions - DVD, Google Play, iTunes, Peacock, Prime Video, Vudu
CODA - Apple TV+
Crip Camp - Netflix
Deaf U [series] - Netflix
El Deafo [series] - Apple TV+
How To Train Your Dragon - DVD, Netflix, Prime Video
Invitation to Dance - iTunes
Maniac [series] - Netflix
Margarita with a Straw - DVD
The Miracle Worker - DVD
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements - Max
Murderball - Peacock
My Left Foot - Spectrum Access
Pick of the Litter - DVD, Hulu, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
A Quiet Place - DVD, Google Play, iTunes, Paramount+, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Ray - DVD, iTunes, Prime, Spectrum Access
Run - Hulu
Special - Prime Video
The Theory of Everything - iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
What the Deaf Man Heard - Spectrum Access
Celebrate Independence Day with Audio Description
When you get tired of barbecues and fireworks, relax with an audio described movie about America's past, real and imagined. (Posted Jun 30)
All the President's Men - Prime Video
The American President - Prime Video
An American Tail - Prime Video
Apollo 13 - iTunes, Prime Video
Born on the Fourth of July - Netflix
Forrest Gump - iTunes, Prime Video
Hamilton - Disney+
Harriet - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Hidden Figures - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime Video
Independence Day - iTunes, Prime Video
Lincoln - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video
National Treasure - iTunes, Prime Video
Reservation Dogs [series] - Hulu
Saving Private Ryan - DVD, Google Play, Paramount+, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Paramount+ Merges with Showtime
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Paramount+ officially merged with Showtime. Everyone on the Premium tier (now $11.99/month) gets full access to everything on Showtime, while those on the Essential tier (now $5.99/month with ads) do not. (Read the details on TechHive.) We are listing Showtime programing which has AD with the regular Paramount+ titles, but we tag each one with "(Showtime)" as a comment, AND we provide a button to just list the Showtime titles. We no longer list AD titles on the Showtime app, which is expected to disappear by year-end. (Posted Jun 27)
Introducing Audio Description on Tubi!
The free ad-supported streaming service tubi began offering audio described content in June, and we are now listing their described shows on their own page. They are off to a substantial start
(over 100 titles) and have many Tubi Originals, too. Check out our listing of Tubi titles with AD! (Posted Jun 25)
Pride, Audio Described
Celebrate Pride Month with movies about the joys, sorrows, challenges, and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community. With compelling plot-lines and engaging characters, these films and series demonstrate diversity, unity, and humanity. We can't list all the great LGBTQ+ movies here, but these should get you started. (Posted Jun 17)
Brokeback Mountain – Prime Video
Bros – DVD, iTunes, Prime Video, Vudu
But I'm a Cheerleader – iTunes, Prime Video
Call Me By Your Name – DVD, iTunes, Netflix, Prime Video
Carol – Prime Video
Disclosure – Netflix
Everything Everywhere All At Once – iTunes, Paramount+, Prime Video, Showtime, Vudu
Fire Island – Hulu
Heartstopper [series] – Netflix
The L Word: Generation Q [series] – Prime Video
Love, Simon – DVD, iTunes
Milk – Max
Muxes – Max
Queer as Folk [series] – Peacock
We're Here [series] – Max
Registration Now Open for the Audio Description Institute
The Audio Description Institute will take place virtually on August 14–18, 2023, from 1pm to 5pm Eastern. Participants will learn about and practice the key principles of writing effective audio description. The course is created and led by Dr. Joel Snyder, founder of the Audio Description Project; he'll be joined by sighted and blind AD professionals. Class size is limited and registration closes on August 4. The course fee is $550 (scholarships are available). Click here for complete details and enroll today! (Posted Jun 13)
Tom Hanks Films with Audio Description
Start your summer with a splash! Break out your cloud atlas, hop the Polar Express, or go on a Hawaiian vacation. Whether you're saving Private Ryan or Mr. Banks, cracking the Da Vinci code, or fighting Charlie Wilson's war, Tom Hanks will get you through anything that's extremely loud and incredibly close, including sleepless nights in Seattle and on Apollo-13. So if it's not a beautiful day in the neighborhood, escape the inferno and the news of the world, tell your troubles, "catch me if you can," and enjoy these audio described Tom Hanks movies. (Posted Jun 9)
Splash - Disney+, iTunes
Turner and Hooch - Disney+
Sleepless In Seattle - Prime Video
Forrest Gump - Paramount+, iTunes, Prime Video
Apollo 13 - iTunes, Prime Video
Toy Story - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Saving Private Ryan - DVD, Google Play, Paramount+, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Toy Story 2 - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Road to Perdition - DVD, Paramount+, Prime Video
Catch Me If You Can - Max, Prime Video
The Ladykillers - iTunes
The polar Express - iTunes, Prime Video
The Da Vinci Code - Prime Video
Charlie Wilson's War - Netflix, Prime Video
Angels and Demons - Prime Video
Toy Story 3 - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime Video
Hawaiian Vacation - Disney+
Larry Crown - DVD
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Prime Video
Small Fry - Disney+
Partysaurus Rex - Disney+
Cloud Atlas - iTunes and Prime Video
Captain Phillips - iTunes, Netflix, Spectrum Access
Saving Mr. Banks - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Spectrum Access
Bridge of Spies - DVD, iTunes
Sully - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video
Inferno - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Mark Felt: The Man Who Bought Down the White House - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video
The Post - DVD, iTunes
The Founder - Netflix, Prime Video
Toy Story 4 - DVD, Disney+, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood - DVD, iTunes, Spectrum Access
Greyhound - Apple TV+
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - Prime Video
News of the World - DVD, iTunes, Prime Video, Spectrum Access
Finch - Apple TV+
Elvis - DVD, iTunes, Max, Spectrum Access
Pinocchio - Netflix
A Man Called Otto- DVD, Google Play, Netflix
frndly TV Now Offers AD
frndly TV is a family-friendly live TV streaming service with 30 channels including 3 Hallmark channels, History, Lifetime, A&E, CuriousityStream, and the Weather Channel for $7 per month ($2 more for a DVR). They now support audio description on select channels, including Hallmark and History. Some networks offer on-demand streamed content. (Posted Jun 9)
Call for Nominations for the 2023 Audio Description People's Choice Award
The Audio Description People's Choice Award is now open for nominations! This is a unique opportunity for fans to get involved by showing their support for the audio description they love the most.
The selection process for the Audio Description People's Choice Award takes place in two phases. First, ACB will accept nominations in two categories, film and series, from June 6 through June 26. Second, the top titles in each category will compete for the grand prize during a two-week voting period from July 25 to August 8.
The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrates inclusivity and recognizes the entertainment industry's role in providing access to film and television through audio description for people who are blind or have low vision. Join us at the 2023 Audio Description Awards Gala for an exciting evening featuring celebrity guests as we applaud audio description! Learn more at the Awards Gala website. (Posted Jun 6)
BADIE Winners Announced!
The ADP's BADIE essay contest received dozens of entries from students across the country. Our judges were impressed by the writing skills and the engaging critiques of audio description in educational and entertainment media. We thank everyone who submitted an essay. Read the complete list of winners and learn more about the BADIE contest. (Posted May 26)
HBO Max Becomes Max
On May 23, 2023, HBO Max merged with discovery+ to become Max. The new service will provide more than 6,500 hours of audio described content, including favorite lifestyle brands like Magnolia, TLC, and HGTV, as well as HBO Originals and Max Originals. Each show's content details page will indicate whether audio description is available, and the Audio Description Library makes it even easier to find shows with AD. For more details about subscription plans and improved accessibility features, such as screen reader, color contrast, and magnification support, read the official announcement from Max. Additionally, users can access Max's Search function and the Max Audio Description Collection to find both new and old shows. Our listing of Max AD Titles is now fully updated with over 900 titles, over 160 of them new. (Updated May 25)
What TV is Like for the Visually Impaired
'"It was … a totally different program," he says. "It's just so good."' That was Thomas Bryan's experience having watched a show in a motel room without audio description, then seeing a recording of the same show back home with audio description. Read about Thomas' experience. (Posted May 23)
Announcing the ADP Conference Schedule
The ADP Conference is taking place virtually from Thursday to Saturday, June 22–24. There will be seven panels, covering serious topics like the CVTA and AD certification, and slightly more light-hearted discussions of AD for kids, AD across the arts, and AD around the globe. Visit the ADP Conference page for complete details on all the panels, and mark your calendars now! (Posted May 19)
ReelAbilities To Launch New Streaming Service
Since 2007, ReelAbilities has been organizing film festivals dedicated to sharing the lives and stories of people with disabilities. It has announced plans for a new transactional-based streaming service (effectively pay-per-view), promising a "gold-standard level of digital accessibility," including audio description. The service is set to debut in July, which is Disability Pride Month. Read an article about the ReelAbilities service, or sign up for more information (including a free video rental). (Posted May 19)
May the Fourth: Star Wars with AD
Happy Star Wars Day! There aren't enough hours on May the Fourth to watch even half of the films and series from the franchise that first took us to a galaxy far, far away more than forty years ago. But with all this audio description, we don't blame you for trying. The list below is not comprehensive – check out ADP's title catalog for even more! (Posted May 4)
The coronation of Britain's King Charles III took place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, with audio description provided by both CBS and NBC.
If you'd like contextual information to help better understand the ceremonies and traditions, visit the Countdown to the Coronation series on YouTube. (Posted May 3, but updated here to remove the live roadcast details. No legal copies of the broadcast exist.)
PS: If you are in the UK, you may enjoy The Coronation Concert on the BBC iPlayer. Sorry, only works in the UK. (Added here May 13)
Website and Social Media Survey
The Audio Description Project team wants to know what you love and what you'd change about our website and social media. We're here for you, so let us know how we're doing by taking a short survey. Thanks in advance – we can't wait to hear from you as we continue to make the ADP even better! The deadline is Monday, May 8. (Updated May 2)
Showtime AD Now Available With Paramount+
Later this year Paramount+ and Showtime will formally combine; but right now, for just $2 more than a Paramount+ subscription, you can add Showtime to Paramount+ as a bundle. Audio description of Showtime programming in the bundle is now rolling out, and we have added the first 12 described Showtime titles to our Paramount+ listing. There are many more to come. See Paramount+ AD Titles. (Posted Apr 29)
How Streaming Services List Titles with AD
A new addition to our Streaming Services page is information on how each streaming service that offers AD lists those titles; that is, do they have their own listing of titles with AD (we show you the URL), and do they mark those titles online with an AD icon? (Posted Apr 29)
Last Call! Submit Your Nominations for the 15th Annual ADP Awards
Help the ADP recognize outstanding contributions to the field of audio description! Each year at the ACB Convention, we honor exemplary individuals and organizations through the ADP Awards. Visit our Call for Nominations page to learn more about the award categories, previous winners, and how you can submit your nominations. The deadline is Friday, May 5. (Updated Apr 28)
Touch Tours in Houston
A theater in Houston is working to ensure that everyone can enjoy their performances by giving visually impaired guests the opportunity to tour the stage, try on costumes, and touch the props, allowing them to experience plays in a new way. NBC News' Maura Barrett has the story. (Posted Apr 14)
AD for the FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA has announced that this year's Women's World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand starting July 20, "is set to be the most inclusive edition of the tournament to date." Audio description will be provided at the stadiums for soccer (or football) fans who are blind or have low vision. Read more by visiting FIFA's website. (Posted Apr 11)
DCMP Nominated for Webby Award
ACB and the ADP congratulate our friends at DCMP on their nomination for a Webby Award! We team with DCMP to present the BADIE essay contest, which encourages students to write about their experiences with the educational audio described material DCMP provides. Read more about the significance of DCMP's Webby Award nomination and vote through April 20 for DCMP for the People's Voice Award! (Posted Apr 7)
The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) has been a leader in the field of media accessibility for more than 30 years. DCMP develops and adapts new technologies to create and distribute educational media for students with disabilities-and their teachers and parents. In partnership with top content creators, DCMP streams fully accessible media through its targeted distribution to schools.
The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1996, The Webbys is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), a 2000+ member judging body. The Academy is comprised of leading Internet experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries, and creative celebrities-and Associate Members who are former Webby Winners, Nominees, and other Internet professionals.
DCMP's work has been singled out by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences as one of the five best in the world in the category of Websites and Mobile Sites - Accessible Technology. This nomination places DCMP among the top 12% of the nearly 14,000 projects entered, and they are in competition for The Webby Award and The Webby People's Voice Award.
While The Webby Award is chosen by the Academy, The Webby People's Voice Award is voted on by the public. Both awards are a mark of international distinction for Internet excellence. Vote for DCMP for the People's Voice Award!
ADP Update: Advocacy in Action
ACB and the ADP have multiple initiatives that advocate for and provide education about audio description in film, television, streaming services, live events, museums, parks, the workplace, and schools. Get the latest on efforts to improve the quality and availability of audio description, and find out how you can get involved. Read our Advocacy article. (Posted Apr 4)
Nobody Does It Better: James Bond Movies with AD
Put on your white dinner jacket, get your vodka martini ready – shaken, not stirred – and enjoy the gadgets, car chases, stunts, one-liners, villains, and narrow escapes that make James Bond films instant classics. In order of release, here's a list of all the 007 movies that currently have audio description. (Posted Apr 1)
Are you a baseball fan? Are you counting the hours until opening day? If you can't wait to hear the umpire yell, "play ball," the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd, here are some movies with audio description for you to enjoy until it's time to root, root, root for your home team! (Posted Mar 21; icon by Icons8)
The deadline to submit an essay is Friday, March 31. Listen to a podcast about BADIE and then learn how to enter. The contest is a great way for young people (ages 7 to 21) to engage with accessible learning materials, unleash their inner film critic, and compete for fun prizes. BADIE is sponsored by the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP). (Updated Mar 29)
AD for St. Patrick's Day
Celebrate all things Irish with a movie! Here are a few options:
Audio Described replaysof The Oscars are available via the free ABC app. Once AD has been activated for the first time, additional shows or clips from shows will have AD on. In the app, the Oscars have been divided into separate clips. AD was not observed on the ABC website, however. (Posted Mar 13)
Check Out the Latest from UniD
UniDescription (UniD), which works to create audio described brochures of America's parks, recently added the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to its catalog. ACB and the ADP partner with UniD to form teams of park employees and ACB members to ensure accurate and helpful description. Learn more about UniD, or virtually visit the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. (Posted Mar 7)
Audio Description Spotlight: The Intrepid Museum
Learn about the NYC Intrepid Museum's exciting opportunities online and in person for people who are blind or have low vision. Read the Intrepid Museum article. (Posted Mar 3)
Audio Description Spotlight: AD and Dance
In mid-April, Art Spark Texas and Gravity Access Services will host a workshop to develop a vocabulary for describing movement and dance. Interested? Learn more about the training and registration. (Posted Feb 17)
And the Nominees Are ...
If you would like to watch the movies nominated for Best Picture or any other Academy Award category, ADP Media Committee Chair Carl Richardson has compiled a complete list of where to find the nominee's films, if they are audio described. View our list of Academy Award Nominations With AD.
The Oscars will be audio described from start to finish by Descriptive Video Works. Tune into ABC on Sunday, March 12, from 6:30pm (Eastern) for the Countdown to the Oscars pre-show and the awards ceremony at 8pm. The description team will include Nefertiti Matos Olivares (a blind describer), Erin Muroski, and Joseph V. Amodio. (Posted Mar 7)
Best of 2022
Visually impaired reviewer Mac the Movie Guy has been posting his Best of 2022 lists in various categories. Most of the titles he lists have audio description. Here are links to his lists (with new lists added as he publishes them, most recently Feb 11):
The next Audio Description Institute will be held virtually February 20-24, 2023, from 1-5 pm, taught by Dr. Joel Snyder and four other professionals. If you want the best training to become an audio describer (or a refresh) or a voiceover artist for audio description, this is it!Read the ADI brochure for more information and to sign up. Registration closes Feb 13. (Updated Feb 7)
Performing Arts, Museums, and Parks ADP Subcommittee Report
As part of the committee's collaboration with sites around the country to promote the use of audio description, the committee recently assisted in finding participants for the National Park Services annual Descriptathon and worked with the 9/11 Memorial Museum to add audio description. Read the full committee report. (Posted Feb 3)
A Master AD List for Non-English AD
We used to have a separate listing of over 2000 Netflix titles available in the USA with foreign (non-English) audio description tracks. And we had Disney+ titles with non-English AD tracks listed at the bottom of the Disney+ page. And now we are able to add Prime Video non-English AD to the list (plus a few Hulu titles) -- but where? It's time for a new, consolidated master list of foreign AD titles! See our Master List of Non-English AD Titles. We have added a sort-by-service option, so you can easily find only titles for services you subscribe to. (Updated Jan 31)
It's Showtime, Folks!
We are pleased to add a new streaming service's audio described programming to the ADP website. Welcome, Showtime, a Paramount Global company. AD is only available via the Showtime app (not on cable TV). Currently, AD is not available via the bundling option with Paramount+, but Paramount has assured us they are working on remedying that. We will let you know when that happens. Note that while the number of movies and series episodes is limited at present, we expect a significant increase in the future, along with additional device support. See our list of Showtime described programming. Paramount has announced that Showtime will be merged with Paramount+ "later this year." (Updated Jan 31)
Omnium Circus: "A Celebration of Diversity"
Omnium: A Bold New Circus transports the audience into a world of wonder: the stars of international circus celebrating that disability and diversity shine through the joy and excitement of Circus arts. You can enjoy "A Celebration of Diversity" on your schedule. Your ticket gives you access to the audio described performance from 10:00am to 11:59pm EST on the day of your choice and is available seven days a week for the one hour show. More information and tickets at Eventbright. (Posted Jan 24)
Section 508 Subcommittee YE Report
In his year-end 2022 report, committee chair Patrick Sheehan describes the committee's accomplishments, including nomination of the first ADP Public Sector Award to the Centers for Disease Control, and presentations on audio description for GSA's Interagency Accessibility Forum, which in part addressed the benefits and challenges of doing audio description in-house, plus the wonderful work done by the National Park Service on their UniDescription project. Read the 508 Report. (Posted Jan 15)
Tabitha Kenlon, New Audio Description Project Coordinator
The ACB has hired a full-time coordinator for the Audio Description Project. Tabitha Kenlon, PhD has a scholarly background and experience working in the arts. She taught in Boston and Dubai and recently completed an MSc International Relations at University College Dublin. She reports to Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, and will coordinate the work of all the ADP contractors (such as for this website) and volunteers. ACB Announcement. Welcome Tabitha! (Updated Jan 10)
At the end of 2021, I reported that we listed nearly 7000 video titles with audio description on this website (the only such listing in the world!). Now, a year later, that number is 8717, a 25% increase. The only new streaming service added during the year was Vudu, which like iTunes and Google Play Store, is a transactional streaming service as opposed to the eight subscription services that we list. Some interesting facts:
The service offering the most titles is Amazon's Prime Video, with 3950 titles, a 25% increase during the year. Netflix and iTunes follow in the 2000 title range.
The service offering the greatest growth in the number of titles was Peacock at exactly 100% (though the newest services tend to show higher numbers). They were followed by Apple TV, HBO Max, Hulu, and Paramount+, all between 50-60%.
200 movies were described in Cinemas this year, many more than last year.
124 DVDs were released with description tracks, about the same number as last year.
CBS committed to the description of all scripted prime-time series.
We revised the way we present DVDs with audio description, now with all options to explore all 1570 of them available on one page.
We saw many more live TV shows with AD than ever before, include Olympics, Paralympics, parades, and multiple award shows.
We lost two icons of audio description during the year: Chet Avery, who conceived of the idea of audio description in the 1960s, and Miles Neff, voiceover artist extraordinaire.
In 2023 I hope to introduce new title listings for two streaming services, and we'll see what happens with the Warner Bros Discovery merger of HBO Max and Discovery+. I will also be adding foreign language AD titles for Prime Video, just as we have for Netflix and Disney+ today. What additions or changes would you like to see?! (Posted Jan 1)
Fred Brack, webmaster (email link at the bottom of every page)
FCC Releases Report on Industry Accessibility Compliance
Paralympics AD: How Was It Done?
Audio Described Dance in the Bay Area
Wanted: Two Voice Actors for Four Jobs
ADP Conference Audio Recordings Available
Happy New (School) Year!
Using United Airlines Inflight Entertainment with a Screen Reader
The Paris Olympic Games: Behind the AD
The Paris Olympic Games: July 26 - August 11
Paramount Global, Nickelodeon, and DCMP Form Multi-Year Partnership
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ADP Achievement Award Winners Announced
Described Videos That Feature a Person with a Disability
Change in "Mandated" TV Networks for AD
Audio Described Films for Pride Month
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Call for Nominations for the 2024 Audio Description People’s Choice Award - Closes Sunday May 19!
Another Milestone: 11,000 Described Videos!
Meet the 2024 BADIE Essay Contest Winners
Voices of Inclusion: Pioneering the Fusion of Dubbing and Audio Description
CMT Music Awards - Audio Description
ACB and ADP Recognize Women’s History Month
Public Comment Period for the Draft Audio Description Specialist Certification Criteria Closing March 31
Choreographer and Access Advocate Jess Curtis
Vudu is Now Fandango at Home
NAACP Image Awards Airing with Description
Cardinal Rule Press Now Offers Children's Illustrated Books with AD
Audio Description Podcast with Tabitha
12-Year-Old Provides AD for London's National Theatre
SAG Awards Described on Netflix Stream
Google's Guided Frame Commercial ... with AD
Lights, Camera, Description!
And the Nominees Are… How and Where To Find the 2024 Academy Awards Nominations with Audio Description
Why the Communications, Video, and Technology Act Matters 
Webmaster's Year-End 2023 Report
2024 Audio Description Institute Schedule
Replay of the Audio Description Awards Gala
Exercise Your Creativity and Help Make National Park Brochures Accessible
Audio Description for Free!
Visit Smithsonian Museums Wherever You Are
Survey on Audio Described Videos
Can You Tell Me How To Get Audio Description?
Even More New Streaming Services with AD Titles
AD Spotlight: Interview with Sam Gould of Open Door Theater
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An AD Update from Down Under
ReelAbilities Stream
An Update from the ADP Performing Arts Subcommittee
Enjoy Audio Described Art with VocalEye
Audio Description Makes Theatre, TV and Movies Accessible
July Is Disability Pride Month
Celebrate Independence Day with Audio Description
Paramount+ Merges with Showtime
Introducing Audio Description on Tubi!
Tom Hanks Films with Audio Description
frndly TV Now Offers AD
Call for Nominations for the 2023 Audio Description People's Choice Award
BADIE Winners Announced!
HBO Max Becomes Max
What TV is Like for the Visually Impaired
May the Fourth: Star Wars with AD
The Coronation of Britain's King Charles III
How Streaming Services List Titles with AD
AD for the FIFA Women's World Cup
DCMP Nominated for Webby Award
ADP Update: Advocacy in Action
Nobody Does It Better: James Bond Movies with AD
An All-Star AD Line-Up
AD for St. Patrick's Day
Check Out the Latest from UniD
Audio Description Spotlight: The Intrepid Museum
See Mac the Movie Guy's 
Performing Arts, Museums, and Parks ADP Subcommittee Report
A Master AD List for Non-English AD
It's Showtime, Folks!
Omnium Circus: "A Celebration of Diversity"
Section 508 Subcommittee YE Report
Tabitha Kenlon, New Audio Description Project Coordinator
Description of Art