If you’ve wondered about legislation and policies addressing accessibility in media and technology, you’ll be interested in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) biennial report to Congress. The report was submitted in accordance with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The report:

• assesses industry compliance over the past two years with sections 255, 716, and 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). These sections require telecommunications and advanced communications services and equipment, and Internet browsers built into mobile phones to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities,
• addresses accessibility barriers to new communications technologies and the effect of the accessibility-related recordkeeping and enforcement requirements under section 717 on the development and deployment of such technologies, and
• provides information about the number and nature of, and actions taken to resolve, complaints alleging violations of sections 255, 716, and 718 for the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023.

Access the full report here. (Posted Oct 9)

If you've been a fan of the audio described broadcasts of the Paralympic Games, learn how NBC made these the most accessible games ever. Don't miss commentary from ADP co-chair Kim Charlson! Access the full article here. And if you still want more, check out the conversation between ADP co-chairs Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson and the NBC staff and describer. (Posted Sep 13)

Read this illuminating article about describing dance in the Bay area of Los Angeles through the late Jess Curtis' organization, Gravity. (Posted Sep 9)

As a part of the SOVAS (Society of Voice Arts and Sciences) 2024 That’s VoiceOver event, voice actors are invited to register for the second annual Audio Description Audition Jam! Voice Actors worldwide are invited to register and audition. Auditions must be recorded by your own means and submitted as an MP3 file. Final submissions must be uploaded no later than October 5, 2024, at 11:59pm PST. Five (5) finalists will be notified by October 14, 2024, to be confirmed for the final audition round. The final audition round will take place live, onsite at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott before a live audience on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1:10 PM PST.

Two finalists will be selected as the winners and each will receive two jobs (projects); one for Deluxe and one for Audio Eyes. See official rules/eligibility requirements for more information and submit your audition at https://sovas.org/audio-description-audition-jam/. Good luck! (Posted Sep 3)

Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Paralympic Games, taking place August 28-September 8. NBC is following up its stellar audio description of the Olympics with an expanded team of describers and unprecedent coverage. Learn How to Watch and/or read the press release. (Posted Aug 28)

If you missed the ADP Conference in June, or just want to listen again, visit the Conferences page for links to recordings of all the virtual sessions. Learn about audio description for dance, in education, and at Prime Video. Enjoy a discussion of the pros and cons of AI in AD, and meet blind film critics who share their thoughts on movies and the AD they love. (Posted Aug 27)

Whether you're a youthful student, an imaginative teacher, or a seasoned lifelong learner, audio described resources are a part vital of an accessible education plan.Our friends at the Described and Captioned Media Program, Dicapta, and Bridge Multimediaoffer myriad accessible resources, training, and services for students, parents, and teachers. Check out guidelines for accessible presentationsand Universal Design for Learningbest practices to ensure your materials and lesson plans are accessible from the start. Enjoy world-class documentaries on ReelAbilities Stream- every title is audio described!

Best wishes for a school year filled with excitement, exploration, accessibility, and audio description! (Posted Aug 23)

If your last-minute summer vacation plans include a flight on United Airlines, check out this article for a guided tour of United's inflight entertainment accessibility options. The touch-screen entertainment system offers a screen reader to help passengers find podcasts, music, and movies with audio description (popcorn not included). Read the article at Even Grounds ("Accessible Travel for Blind People"). (Posted Aug 22)

Don't miss an ACB Community Event all about audio description at the Olympics! Thursday, August 22, 7:30pm ET: 2024 Summer Olympics with Audio Description.

For sixteen days, blind Americans enjoyed access to primetime coverage on NBC of the 2024 Parris Olympics with extensive audio description. Join us for 90 minutes of recap of this amazing event, including special guests from both NBC and the audio description company. Listen on ACB Media 6.

(Previous article) Did you enjoy the audio description of the Paris Olympics? Listen to this interview from WBUR Boston with two of the live audio describers from Descriptive Video Works on their preparation and experience voicing the description. How one company helps visually impaired Olympics fans enjoy the games. (Updated Aug 21)

Paramount Global and The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) have announced a partnership that ensures hundreds of hours of Nickelodeon’s hit animated and live-action series will be accessible to families with young viewers and students with disabilities. Read the details! (Posted Jul 30)