Blindness News

Audio Described Television Programming on WXXI-TV

As a further service to Rochester's visually impaired community, WXXI television offers a large number of its programs with descriptive video (DVi or D)))).The programs listed below include descriptive video for the month. Programs with descriptive video provide concise descriptions of sets, scenery, costumes, action and other important visual elements between the dialogue of the program.Digital television standards provide for two types of main audio, and six types of associated audio services, one of which is for people with vision disabilities. In order to access D))) programs in the digital world, you will need to have either a digital television with additional associated audio services or a converter box with enough associated audio services. As long as you are equipped with one of these two options, any program that contains D)))/audio description, the description will be heard along with all of the regular program audio. For more information on how to access D))) programs, call WXXI at 325-7500.In July 2019 WXXI Television had to change frequencies. If you are having trouble receiving WXXI televisions programming over air, using an antenna, you may need to rescan to access the new frequencies. (This is NOT necessary if you subscribe to cable.) Here's a short video to help you rescan your over the air television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVxI6L9eCvk

Disney+ Honored by American Council of the Blind for Achievement in Audio Description

WXXI Reachout Radio | By rphinney

Published July 17, 2020 at 9:56 AM EDT

Disney+ has received the 2020 Achievement Award in Audio Description from the American Council of the Blind (ACB), a United States-based organization that strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. The streaming service was honored for its commitment to adding audio description tracks to its entire slate of original programming, including the features Lady and the Tramp and, most recently, Hamilton, as well as to a significant portion of its extensive back catalog dating back to the late 1920s, including classic titles such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella. Disney+ is the only streaming service to have such a large number of titles available with audio description from inception of the service.

Audio descriptions recreate a film's visual experiences by offering immersive and intricate descriptions of what's happening on screen in an audio format, in tandem with the dialogue and audio from the movie. This level of detail and immersion enables blind and visually impaired individuals to engage with their favorite stories in a way that would not be possible with a standard viewing experience. In honoring Disney+, ACB recognized the streaming service's high standards for audio description scripts and the outstanding quality of the voicing and audio mix, as well as the team's considerable outreach to the blindness community for insights and feedback that informed their process.

“For Disney+, we’ve put a major emphasis on accessibility and inclusiveness at every step of the way—from the design of each screen to the technical architecture of how the app is built, and of course, the content itself,” says Mitch Ginsburg, Product Manager for Disney+. “While receiving this award is certainly a proud achievement for The Walt Disney Company and for Disney+, creating an accessible and inclusive experience is more than just a one-time project. It is a principle which we aim to follow in all that we do for Disney+.”

To read more about this recognition, click here.

Learn more about Disney+.