Introduction
Access to media is a fundamental human right that should be available to everyone, regardless of their ability. For people with visual impairments, traditional forms of media consumption can be a challenging experience. Audio description services can serve as a solution to this access barrier, providing blind and visually impaired people with a more inclusive media experience. This guide will explore the world of audio description, the different types of media offering audio description, and the various resources available to help make entertainment accessible to all.
Breaking the Access Barrier: A Comprehensive Guide to Audio Description
Audio description is a secondary audio track that narrates the visual components of a show or movie for people with visual impairments. This service bridges the gap between the audio and visual aspects of entertainment, providing a more immersive experience for listeners.
Audio description is available in various types of media, including TV shows, movies, documentaries, and even live theatre performances. Certain platforms offer audio description by default, while others require assistance from a specialized service provider for it to work.
Below are the different types of media that offer audio description:
TV shows and Movies
Lots of modern TV shows and streaming services offer audio description services to the blind and visually impaired. The USA’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates audio description for various TV shows and movies, which broadcasters must comply with. Audio description on broadcast television started back in 2002, and since then, the FCC has increased its mandate for more shows. Cable and streaming services have also added the feature, providing access to a plethora of audio-described titles.
Examples of streaming services that have integrated audio description into their platform include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. In contrast, cable providers like Comcast and AT&T’s DirecTV offer the service to their subscribers on certain channels.
Documentaries
Documentaries are an excellent way to learn about a variety of topics, but without visual cues, people with visual impairments are at a disadvantage. However, some documentaries are accompanied by an optional audio description track that explains the visuals. Services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video include plenty of audio-described documentaries in their streaming libraries.
Theatre Performances
It’s not always possible to provide audio description for live theatre performances. But in some cases, pre-recorded audio description is available to describe the visual aspects of the performance. The audience members can listen to the audio over a headset throughout the show. National Institute Of Theatre Offering Accessibility (NITOA) has made it possible for blind and visually impaired theatre lovers to attend accessible plays by providing audio description.
How to Access Audio Description for the Blind and Visually Impaired
There are multiple challenges to accessing audio description as a person who is blind or visually impaired. The absence of a unified technology standard and across-the-board adoption of regulations stands out as the main challenge. Despite the hurdles, there are still plenty of ways to access audio description, including assistive technology, specialized service providers, and accessible media editors.
Challenges Faced by Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
People living with visual impairments are confronted with challenges accessing the same services and information that sighted individuals have. The plethora of devices, apps, and interfaces means that there’s no one solution to accommodate all users with visual impairments. The use of magnifiers and screen readers like Apple’s VoiceOver or Amazon’s Screenreader are some of the most common tools employed to make audio description accessible.
Assistive Technology for Accessing Audio Description
To access audio description effortlessly, people with visual impairments can use assistive technology designed explicitly for the blind or visually impaired. Screen readers and magnifiers are the most common assistive technologies used by individuals with visual impairments. Screen readers can read aloud text on the screen, while magnifiers enlarge text, graphics, and images. Some platforms that offer audio description also have an assimilated screen reader that provides a seamless experience to users.
Audio Description Service Providers
Audio description service providers are specialized companies dedicated to making audio description accessible to everyone. Most service providers cater to individuals with visual impairments, providing high-quality audio description services for various media types. A few service providers include Audio Eyes, VITAC, and Descriptive Video Works.
Accessible Media Editors
Accessible media editors are a relatively new type of technology that makes audio description more accessible. Accessible media editors incorporate user sound preferences with descriptive text, providing a customizable audio description experience. Some audio editors are free to use, while others require a subscription. Examples of accessible media editors include TellMe TV, the Descriptive Video Exchange (DVE), and YouDescribe.
Making Entertainment Accessible: Top Audio Description Resources for Everyone
Access to audio description resources has never been easier. Numerous websites offer help to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, providing audio descriptions for various media types.
Overview of Top Audio Description Resources Online
Some of the top audio description resources available online include:
1. Audio Description Project
The Audio Description Project is the best resource for individuals who are in search of where to find audio description services. It features relevant news and information about audio description, including film festivals, live performances with audio description, and new services.
2. Netflix
Netflix has been recognized for its commitment to making entertainment accessible to everyone. The company offers a variety of titles with audio description services to improve accessibility. A specific section is set up for these titles under “Audio Description,” within the video details page.
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime offers audio descriptions services on selected titles on its platform. The platform has unique accessibility settings, which can equally help viewers navigate and customize the platform’s interface. There are simple navigation options that assist individuals with visual impairments with a few clicks.
4. RBDigital
RBDigital is a platform that provides audio-described books, usually in the form of audiobooks. With a relatively easy-to-navigate interface, RBDigital is a great resource for people who want to listen to books in their leisure time.
In-depth Review of Each Resource’s Features and Benefits
Each of the above audio description resources has its own set of features and benefits. As a result, one must understand each of these features to choose the most appropriate resource.
1. Audio Description Project
The Audio Description Project offers the latest news and information concerning audio description. Users can search for a range of media to get a synopsis of what’s available with audio description and where. The platform equally makes a list of accessible theatre performances and art exhibitions that offers audio description services.
2. Netflix
Netflix has a wide variety of titles with audio description services, including films, shows, and documentaries. Under the “Audio Description” section, users can access various titles with an English description and other language choices. Netflix also allows users to customize video playback quality and enable subtitles.
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video offers audio descriptions on selected titles and ensures that the video quality and access settings are customizable. This feature is not just limited to access for the visually impaired but includes other adaptive features that make the platform more accessible to those with other types of disabilities.
4. RBDigital
RBDigital offers a vast library of audio-described books from popular authors and publishers. Its user-friendly interface makes it effortless for users to navigate through the various genres, including mystery, suspense, romance, drama, and more.
How to Choose the Best Audio Description Resource for Your Needs
Choosing the best audio description resource depends on the individual’s taste and needs. Factors to consider when choosing an audio description service include the type of media, the frequency of description, and the platform’s flexibility to adjust the tone of voice and volume. For instance, Netflix offers a wide range of titles with audio description services, while Amazon Prime Video prioritizes flexible accessibility settings for disabled individuals.
10 Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of Audio Description
For individuals with visual impairments, simple optimizations can help maximize their user experience for audio description services. Here are ten tips to make the best of audio description services:
1. Enable Audio Description
Sounds obvious, but this is the first step in uncovering new features on streaming platforms or during a movie or TV show.
2. Understand the Frequency of Description
Some media introduce audio descriptions in short snippets while others feature lengthier, more profound descriptions. Get familiar with the frequency of the audio description; some people prefer longer periods of description, while others prefer briefer periods with less interference in the media content.
3. Control the Volume of Audio Description
Listeners can also lower the volume of the audio narration to ensure that they never lose the plot or sound effects in the show or movie.
4. Adjust the Tone of Voice
Some service providers offer an option to change the tone of voice of the narrator. In contrast, others offer different accents to choose from, which can vary the experience.
5. Practice
Getting comfortable with audio description takes practice. It’s essential to keep sampling titles with audio description until an optimal preference is found.
6. Get Recommendations from Friends
Getting recommendations from friends with similar tastes can help uncover new audio-described titles to watch.
7. Engage with the Community
Communities like Audio Description Discussion and Information Group or Audio Vault can keep you up-to-date on audio description news and provide helpful conversations to see what other people are enjoying.
8. Reach out to Audio Description Service Providers
Audio description service providers can give personalized recommendations after consulting with you to match your particular audio description needs.
9. Explore Accessibility Options on Devices
Most modern devices that interface with audio, like phones and tablets, have a plethora of accessibility features to expand your audio experience.
10. Look for New Audio Described Content
Audio-described content can be found in all sorts of mainstream and niche areas. Keep looking for more titles, and service providers to be on the cutting edge of what’s available.
The Growing Need for Audio Description: Policies, Standards, and Future Solutions
Current policies about audio description vary depending on the country and platform. However, there’s an ever-growing need to make mainstream media more accessible for everyone, including blind or visually impaired individuals. Here are some developments in the works:
Overview of Policies and Standards Related to Audio Description
Efforts to make audio description more widely available include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The former requires any business that serves the public to provide “reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities and could include audio description. The latter requires video programming distributors to provide captions and video description for broadcast television.
Efforts to Make Audio Description a Universal Standard for Media Accessibility
Organizations such as the World Blind Union (WBU) and the Audio Description Association (ADA) are working to make audio description a universal standard. Some countries have already adopted audio description mandates into law. In the United States, the FCC mandates audio descriptions for various titles on broadcast television. The UK, Australia, and Canada have similar regulations.
Future Solutions and Developments in Audio Description Technology
Future developments in audio description technology include machine learning algorithms that describe images and automate audio descriptions for any video content. Companies like Google and YouTube have partnered with museums and galleries to develop fully-automatic, high-quality audio descriptions as another means of making the content accessible for the blind and visually impaired.
Conclusion
Accessibility issues for individuals with visual impairments are becoming a pervasive problem across several countries. However, modern technology offers a range of audio description resources to improve media accessibility. In this comprehensive guide to audio description, we have highlighted the benefits of audio description, the different resources available, and factors to consider when choosing the best audio description resource. By optimizing your audio settings and exploring new audio-described content, media consumption can remain an enjoyable, inclusive experience for everyone.
