The Calling Up Justice practice finds visual descriptions useful online and in real life. It describes visual information needed to understand the content, including text displayed in the video or in the physically shared space. In remote meetings the visual description allows those of us off camera to provide others with vital information for others to not create barriers to access. Adding an audio track to videos to describe visual information helps people listening in off camera or the Blind to fully participate. In live performance you can have an additional audio feed that describes what is taking place on stage. Supplementing with an visual description of the stage before the production can be very helpful. We try to keep our visual descriptions short, practical, and focused on serving those who most need them. below are a few resources on visual description.
Audio Description in Theaters: Making Theaters More Accessible https://www.afb.org/aw/14/12/15725
FCC: Audio description is audio-narrated descriptions of a television program’s key visual elements. These descriptions are inserted into natural pauses in the program’s dialogue. Audio description makes television programming more accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. https://www.fcc.gov/audio-description
AFB Accessibility Resources. Video Description
https://www.afb.org/consulting/afb-accessibility-resources/video-description
TDF’s Accessibility Programs provide audio description services at select Broadway performances.
https://www.tdf.org/nyc/42/vision-loss
The Kennedy Center Information for Patrons and Visitors who are Blind or have Low Vision
https://www.kennedy-center.org/visit/accessibility/visual/
VocalEyes Self-description for inclusive meetings
https://vocaleyes.co.uk/services/resources/self-description-for-inclusive-meetings/
Canada Blind/Low-Vision Theatre Accessibility Toolkit
https://www.nightwoodtheatre.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/BATT-Text-Content.pdf
Describing Dances: Increasing Access for Blind and Visually Impaired Audiences