20 June 2008
MD Foundation supports improved access to Audio Descriptive in electronic media
The MD Foundation has added its voice to the call for improved access to Audio Descriptive (AD) in the electronic media. It has made a submission to the Federal Government's Enquiry on Access to Electronic Media for the Hearing and Vision Impaired. This enquiry is being conducted by the Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. It is considering the issue of access to television (both free-to-air and subscription), cinema and downloadable media. In particular it is looking at captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired and audio description for the blind and vision impaired.
Audio description is the descriptive narration of all the visual elements of a TV program, movie, DVD, performance or other media, giving access to people who are blind or vision-impaired, without interfering with the original soundtrack. To achieve this, narrators and producers, working together, blend the narrative elements of the production with the video using specialised equipment. AD may be pre-recorded and delivered as an option for television programs or DVDs, or it may be performed live, for example, for a theatrical performance.
For more information, the Department's discussion paper is available on their website www.dbcde.gov.au or go to the website of Media Access Australia at www.audiodescription.com.au.