The Audio Description Project
An Initiative of the American Council of the Blind
Formerly AD International
Welcome to the Audio Description Project Website!
Here you will learn everything about Audio Description, from what is it, to samples, to who does it, to how and where it is available in various media. You can also join our online discussion, follow us on Facebook, and be notified of updates to this page by typing your email address in the following box and pressing the Submit button.
The 2013 Audio Description Institute
Registration Now Open
If you would like to be an audio describer or improve your skills, then come to the Audio Description Institute at the ACB's Annual Convention in Columbus on July 10-12. 25 people attended last year, and we've got a good crowd already preregistered! So register now! Read more about the AD Institute. (Updated May 7)
2013 Audio Description Awards
Nominate Someone Now!
Please take advantage of this annual opportunity to nominate individuals and organizations for the 2013 annual Audio Description Awards in one of six categories. For reference, you can take a look at the 2012 ADP AD Award Winners. TO NOMINATE SOMEONE: use our online nomination form. To READ ABOUT the awards or print a hardcopy nomination form, visit the 2013 Awards document. (Updated May 1)
Audio Description Podcast
We now have a 24 minute podcast (audio MP3 file) entitled, Audio Description: Where and How? Produced by ADP webmaster Fred Brack, this podcast covers all four major opportunities for listening to audio description: live theatre, television, movies, and videos (DVDs and Blu-ray discs). Sections of the podcast are also excerpted throughout this website on the four applicable topic pages.
The podcast is accessed via the Audio Description tab, where you'll find a link to listen to it or download it and offer feedback, or use this link now: AD Podcast. (Posted April 10)
Video Description Schedules
In addition to the fine listing of described TV shows provided by Sebastian Andrade-Miles, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is now providing an online service customized by zip code and service provider. Start on their Described TV Listings page, enter your zip code, then choose your service provider on the next page, along with date and start time. You can then narrow your choice by Children's, Movies, or Other. There is a link for feedback to the AFB on this new service on the first page. (Posted Mar 12)
Audio Description Public Service Announcements
Recently Arts Access, based in Raleigh, NC, was able to get a local NBC affiliate, WNCN, to put together a 30-second PSA (Public Service Announcement) promoting live audio description. The spot features clips from NC Theatre's production of Broadway's Spamalot, with a voice-over by audio describer (and ADP webmaster) Fred Brack, description by describer Paula Marston, and a brief appearance by Fred's wife, Kathy, obtaining a receiver from equipment manager Thom Haynes. View the PSA.
The American Foundation for the Blind has also produced a PSA featuring TV host Jeff Corwin, but that one discusses video description. Watch the AFB PSA (or alternate MP4 format).
It's always surprising how many people with visual impairment know nothing about audio description or video description, so hopefully these spots will encourage others to work with local TV outlets to promote the availability of description! (Posted Mar 5)
Audio Described DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
The latest audio described videos are When Billy Broke His Head (a disability documentary rereleased with description) and Mama:
Previously announced 2013 described videos are: Jack Reacher, The Guilt Trip, Broken City, Adventures in Zambezia, Parental Guidance, Lincoln, Les Misérables, This is 40 Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi, Rise of the Guardians. Playing for Keeps, Wreck It Ralph, Chasing Mavericks, Monsters Inc (Ultimate Collector's Edition), Flight, The Man With the Iron Fists, The Sessions, Skyfall, As Goes Janesville, Paranormal Activity 4, Hotel Transylvania, To Rome With Love, Won't Back Down, Taken 2, and Frankenweenie.
The complete list of the 86 described videos released last year can be found on our 2012 Described DVDs page.
You'll find ALL the DVDs and Blu-ray discs released with audio description since 2001 by clicking the DVDs link at the top of each web page. Join us on Facebook to receive announcements that way, or use the page-change notification link above. (Updated May 14)
Sign the Movie AD Petition
Want more audio described DVDs and Blu-ray discs? (For instance, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, and Anchor Bay have NONE.) Sign the petition - please! (Posted Jan 2)
Reference
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The Audio Description Project's website collects and provides information on audio description in all its forms: live theatre, television, movies, DVDs, and more. Started in 2002 by AD International, funding and direction for this website now come from the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project (started in March 2009). Read more about this site ...
Audio Description (AD) is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theatre, television, movies, and other media to enhance their enjoyment by consumers who are blind or have low vision. AD is the insertion of audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters, and action taking place in such media, when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation. Read more about audio description ...
Dedicated organizations around the world facilitate the offering of audio description in select movie theaters, videos, live theatre, and television programming, and this website attempts to expose their fine work to as many interested viewers as possible. Thank you for visiting!
