General Accessibility Tool:
Audio Described Media
Definition: Audio Described Media
Audio described media make accessible the visual images of theater, media, and museum exhibitions for people who are blind or have low vision. It is a free narration service that describes what the sighted person takes for granted—theatrical images that a person who has low vision formerly could only experience through the whispered asides from a sighted companion. In theaters, in museums, and film and video presentations, audio description is commentary and narration that guides the listener through the presentation with concise, objective descriptions of new scenes, settings, costumes, body language, and “sight gags,” all slipped in between portions of dialogue or songs. It has been found to be a significant technique for making the arts more accessible for an important but underserved constituency. Audio description also can be viewed as an aesthetic advance for the visual and performing arts.
Adapted from Audio Description Associates Website, www.audiodescribe.com