The 2018 BADIE Contest

The 2018 BADIE Contest is open from September 11 to December 1, 2017.

Anyone present at the July 5, 2017 morning General Session of the American Council of the Blind's Annual Conference and Convention, or who listened to its proceedings on ACB radio, would have been awed by the poise and charm of 17 year old Abby Moreno, who was the grand prize recipient of this year's Benefits of Audio Description in Education (BADIE) contest.  Ms. Moreno won the prize for her essay that reviewed and evaluated the audio described film Faith, which told the story of a young blind woman's aspirations as a musician.  Abby read her essay aloud to the General Session and also addressed those who assembled for this year's Audio Description Seminars on the value of audio description in her life.  She was accompanied by her justifiably proud parents and TVI (Teacher of the Visually Impaired).

BADIE is co-sponsored annually by the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project (ACB ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP).  The mission of the American Council of the Blind's (ACB) Audio Description Project (ADP) is to promote and advocate for the use of high-quality Audio Description in television, movies, performing arts, museums, educational materials and other venues where the presentation of visual media is critical to the understanding and appreciation of the content.  Its goals are to sponsor a broad range of activities designed to build awareness of audio description among the general public as well as its principal users, people who are blind or have low vision.  The ultimate goal of the DCMP is for accessible media to be an integral tool in the teaching and learning process for all stakeholders in the educational community, including students, educators and other school personnel, parents, service providers, businesses, and agencies.   Below, and excerpted from the DCMP website, you will find information about this year's contest.  Much of the text addresses young people directly, but there's also information here for parents and teachers of the visually impaired.  Please help us publicize the contest far and wide.

The Benefits of Audio Description In Education (BADIE) contest wants you to experience media with audio description and then tell us about what you've experienced!  You have a chance to win prizes for yourself and your teacher AND recognition for your school.  And ... a chance to hold the awesome title:  A BADIE award winner!

How to Enter

• You, your classroom teacher or TVI, and perhaps your entire class choose an audio described film from the more than 6,000 titles available through DCMP.  Have your teacher set-up a free DCMP account at:  www.dcmp.org/signup.  Alternatively, you can borrow an audio described video or film from your talking book library or your local public library.  Hundreds of audio described commercial videos are also available for purchase and are listed at the ADP's website at:  adp.acb.org/dvds.html.
• Watch the described film or video and write your review.  Please refer to our Top Tips for Writing the Ultimate Film Review below.
• Register for the contest and submit your review at http://listeningislearning.org/badie_entry-form.html.

There are four contestant entry categories: Sophomore (ages 7 to 10), Junior (ages 11 to 15), Senior (ages 16 to 21), and Alternate Assessment*.  Select your age category based on what your age will be on December 1, 2017.

* The Alternate Assessment category refers to students whose participation in their general statewide assessment program (testing in Math, Science and Language Arts) is not appropriate, even with accommodations.  Alternate Assessment student performance is evaluated at three levels of complexity.  Student achievement is reported through performance levels described as emergent, achieved, and commended.  Access Points are academic expectations written specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

If you'd prefer, you can send your recorded or written entry (in regular or large print or braille) via email or postal mail (submissions from outside the United States are fine).  You still need to register for the contest using the link above.  Entries should be sent to:

ACB-DCMP Benefits of Audio Description In Education
1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311 USA
email: jsnyder@acb.org
phone: 202 467-5083

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES:  Friday, December 1, 2017.

Additional Information

• You can enter the contest as many times as you like!
• Contest winners in each category will be chosen by January of 2018 and the grand prize winner will receive an iPad Mini!
• Each first place student winner will receive a $100 iTunes gift card.
• Each second place winner will receive a $50 iTunes gift card.
• Each third place winner will receive a $25 iTunes gift card.
• Each supporting teacher who has a first place-winning student will be awarded a $100 Amazon gift card.
• All prizes are provided by The American Council of the Blind.
• All who enter the contest will be awarded certificates of participation.
• Review last year's winning entries!

Top Tips for Writing the Ultimate Film Review

1. Keep it short: 250 words maximum.

Tell us which specific parts of the audio description gave you the most vivid sense of what was happening in the film. How did the audio description make you feel? How did it help you learn? Which description did you like best, and which did you not like? Why?

2. Write in the present tense.

For example: "the main character of the film is called" or "when the film starts, he or she does this or that."

3. Make it fun!

Just because you're writing a review doesn't mean it can't be fun to read. Make it as entertaining as possible for your readers.

4. Dish the dirt.

Say exactly what you think (but say it well). Tell the reader whether you loved or hated the film or video but be certain to say why. The judges want to hear your personal opinion.

5. Don’t tell the story.

You only have 250 words so don't waste them telling the story. Readers only need to know the outline of the plot and a little bit about the main characters.

6. Be a reporter!

If you can, take notes while you're watching the film (write down memorable quotes, significant moments, etc.).

7. Make time.

The best reviews are written while the film is still fresh in the mind, so do try to get your ideas down as soon as possible after seeing the film.

8. Edit!

Don't forget to reread your review, edit it, then prepare a finished version.

9. No cheating!

Make sure your work is original and not copied from another source in any way.

9. Meet your deadline.

Even the most famous and best paid film critics in the world have to get their reviews done on time so don't forget your deadline: December 1, 2018.
Good luck!