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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
How Students Can Enter:
- Browse the free DCMP library at https://dcmp.org/.
- 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.
Go to http://badiecontest.org for complete details and to submit your entry!