Digital Accessibility

Audio Description

In order to make multimedia that is accessible to users who are blind or have low vision, it is necessary to consider including audio description (AD). Audio description is “the descriptive narration of 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.”

AD is commonly embedded on popular DVD and Bluray titles. Television networks also broadcast with AD available for the user to enable as a setting or preference.

History

Throughout history, we see analog examples of audio descriptions with our rich tradition of oral history. Radio broadcasts provided vivid descriptions of events such as sports games. Even today in sports, there are still commentators and radio broadcasters. Additionally, family members may describe plays and TV shows.

Benefits

There are many benefits of AD in addition to accessibility. They provide an avenue to both show and tell in order to reinforce knowledge retention. This adds to the curb cut effect where accessibility implemented with people with disabilities in mind tends to benefit others in various ways, providing universal access. In this example, listening is learning, which helps developing children.

Laws and Policy

Section 508 requires that purchasers purchase accessible content.

Many laws and policies are in place regarding audio descriptions. Most notably, the 21st Century Video Accessibility Act’s Title II requires that video programming be accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired with an accessible way to activate the AD. Additionally, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Success Criterion 1.2.5 states that prerecorded video content must have audio description in synchronized media.

Some examples of audio description are the trailers for the movies Frozen and The Princess and the Frog.

More Reading

• The Visual Made Verbal by Joel Snyder
• Verizon FiOS
• Comcast/Xfiniti
• AT&T
• Charter/Spectrum