Tuesday, January 6, 2009

WASHINGTON, January 5, 2009 -- The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the establishment of its Audio Description Project (ADP) to boost levels of description activity and disseminate information on that work throughout the nation.

Throughout 2009, the ADP expects to establish a broad range of activities that will build awareness of audio description among the general public as well as its principal users, people who are blind or have low vision. In addition, the ADP will:

- Offer training in audio description and work to establish standards for quality description in its various genres (media, live performance, museums, etc.);

- Encourage the growth of audio description with an emphasis on the involvement of AD users/consumers, especially youth;

- Disseminate information on audio description and provide general support for regional, state, and local forums;

- Encourage studies on audio description ? its efficacy as a technique for conveying visual images and its impact on literacy for children and others.

?Audio description uses words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative to convey the visual image from television, film, DVDs, theater, museums and many other settings,? stated Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind. "Without description, many elements of our culture are unavailable to us. Description helps people who are blind become more informed, more socially aware citizens. And that can lead directly to higher levels of employment.?

The Audio Description Project will be led by one of the first professional audio describers, an active promoter of description, and the leading trainer of describers world-wide: ACB life member Joel Snyder.

Audio describers provide services in various multi-media settings, including theater, television, video, film, exhibits, museums, and educational venues -- but also at circuses, rodeos, ice skating exhibitions and myriad sports events.

Description benefits children who are blind and others who have learning disabilities but it has been shown to boost literacy for all children.

For broadcast television, on film and videotape and on DVDs, description enhances the regular program audio, precisely timed to occur only during the lapses between dialogue. On televised programs in the United States, it is currently accessed via the Secondary Audio Program channel; after the digital conversion in February 2009, audio description should be available on supplementary audio channels.

For more information on audio description, visit: www.adinternational.org.

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization. Its members are blind, visually impaired, and fully sighted individuals who are concerned about the dignity and well-being of blind people throughout the nation.

Formed in 1961, the ACB is one of the largest organizations of blind people in the world, with more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates and a nationwide network of chapters and members spanning the globe.

For more information about the American Council of the Blind, contact: Melanie Brunson, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666, or visit the web site, www.acb.org.