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Bridges Blog Extracurricular Resources Recreation Resources Series: Spotlight September 2023

Audio Description Project of the American Council of the Blind (ACB)

Spotlight September

Our September Spotlight series highlights high-impact projects and resources offered by two blind consumer organizations: the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

  • September 5: ACB Audio Description Project
  • September 12: NFB Self-Advocacy Toolkits and Resources
  • September 19: ACB Media Network and Publications
  • September 26: NFB Publications and Media and Free Materials

In this first segment of the series, we explore an incredible and unparalleled source of information about audio description: the ACB’s Audio Description Project.

What Is Audio Description?

Audio description is a feature built into a video that provides verbal descriptions of visual elements of a visual production. This post focuses on videos produced for entertainment purposes, like movies and television shows.

Other videos benefit from audio description, including education-related and how-to videos and recordings of meetings and conferences held via distance technology. Often, the audio description needed in these videos is based more on voicing text-based information presented on the screen rather than describing characters’ actions.

Find out more about audio description for both entertainment and educational/employment purposes in the Bridges Resource Library’s Audio Description entry.

About the ACB’s Audio Description Project (ADP)

In 2009, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) took the helm of the then-seven-year-old volunteer-driven project: Audio Description International (ADI). In doing so, ACB provided resources to sustain the work and an environment where this project could grow into the treasure trove of audio description that it is today. Find out more on the ACB Audio Description Project’s All About Audio Description web page.

ACB’s Audio Description Project provides general information, updates lists of available audio-described videos, and provides tools for aficionados to discuss and dream.

Social media, listservs, and more

ADP on social media:

Social media not sponsored by the ADP, but mentioned on its website:

More informational web pages from ADP:

Audio Description Training and Education Resources from ADP

Audio Description Project Conferences web page

Includes links to sessions from the June 2023 Audio Description Conference as well as links to sessions from past ADP Conferences.

Training resources

Great information for training to become a professional Audio Describer as well as background information about AD. Includes:

ADP’s Lists of Available Audio-described Videos in Theaters, on DVD, on TV, and from Streaming Services

The ADP provides regularly updated and searchable lists of videos that are available from many major streaming services. Note: While most videos are in English, the ADP has a web page dedicated to “Non-English AD.”

ADP Master List

ADP’s Master List is aptly named. This list encompasses a plethora of titles (as of September 3, almost 10,000 titles) available from a dizzying array of sources – both free and fee-based. and links to sub-lists. Each title on the Master List shows where it can be found. Just check out this listing of 101 Dalmatians:

Additional lists

In addition to its Master List, the ADP provides pages dedicated to movies in theaters and on DVD, it provides information about audio-described videos on television and from major streaming services. Not only can you narrow your search by video type (movie or television), but you may also sort by genre and by year. Moreover, the audio-described videos on this list contain hyperlinks that take you to that video on that steaming service. Please find below the list – straight from the ACB ADP Master List web page.

Streaming services

Audio Description in Real Life

Performing Arts venues

The ADP’s “Performing Arts with Audio Description” web page catalogs these venues throughout the country and sets forth the information on a state-by-state basis. Here is Maryland’s entry:

Other venues with AD

ADP’s “Audio Description at Museums, Parks, Exhibits, and More!” web page sets forth information about audio description services available at museums, parks, and more such venues across America. Unfortunately, Maryland does not have an entry in this section, so we set forth information about our neighbor to the south: Washington, D.C.:

  • International Spy Museum offers an audio described tour.
  • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (aka The Kennedy Center) will provide audio description for most of its performances if requested at least three weeks in advance.
  • Library of Congress is now offering a touch tour twice a month.  Press Release. News article.
  • National Gallery of Art:  Audio tours providing vivid descriptions of works of art are conducted by Picture This on the fourth Wednesdays and Saturdays of each month starting at 1:00 PM in the rotunda of the gallery’s West Building. The tours last about an hour.
  • Smithsonian museums have limited audio description available in the form of information specialists and docents.  Ask at the information desk.  Films have description, but you need to request earphones.  Specific museum accessible information call-in numbers follow:
  • African Arts: 202.633.4600
    • African Arts: 202.633.4600
    • Air and Space Museum – Both Locations: 202.633.1000 (Request 3 weeks in advance)
    • Anacostia Museum: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
    • Arts and Industry: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
    • Freer Gallery: 202.633.4880
    • Hirshhorn Museum: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
    • Museum of American History: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
    • National Museum of the American Indian: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
    • National Postal Museum: 202.633.2991
    • National Zoo: 202.633.2922
    • Sackler Gallery: 202.633.4800
    • Smithsonian Castle: 202.633.1000 (follow the prompts)
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will provide a special guided tour for blind and visually impaired visitors upon request.  You can download the Audio Tour of the Museum’s Hall of Witness and Hall of Remembrance in advance for your own device, or ask to borrow one at the museum.
  • George Washington Memorial Parkway has wayside signs with tactile elements and some audio components.  If you wish to experience a tour with audio components, contact the park ahead of time. 
  • White House offers an audio tour, which features welcoming remarks from Mrs. Obama followed by a room-by-room audio description of the highlights and features of the White House.  The audio tour must be requested at the time the tour reservation is made through a member of Congress, at least 21 days in advance.  Read the Press Release!  

Visit the ACB Audio Description Project Early and Often

As you can tell, the ACB’s Audio Description Project contains up-to-date information and valuable resources on all things related to audio description. Please take the time to explore the ADP, and consider breaking your trips into several visits – there is so very much available.

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridge’s Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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