Audio Description Should be Universal--Commentary by Robert Kingett

A Commentary by Robert Kingett, June 16, 2010.

"No Johnny, don't do it!"

Johnny takes the gun from James, runs to the trap door, and opens it.Johnny races after them.

"I'm going to get you!"

James climbs up the ladder quickly with Johnny right on his heels.

"You can't do this!"

James closes the trap door after climbing out of it.

What was that? That was an example of audio description. Audio description for the blind and or visually impaired is just a narration slipped in between dialogue to explain what  is happening, who looks like what, and what text says on the screen. It is very helpful in movies such as star wars, or the passion of the Christ where the movie is nothing but subtitles.

This service is quite rare and that is a bit weird considering how many years it has been around. Audio description has been around since 1990 and has slowly evolved since that period. This is a huge shame. Without audio description, we blind would be like the deaf watching a movie without subtitles. You do not want to have some blind person whispering in your ear "what's happening? What is going on? Who's talking?"

Though we can usually pick up what is happening sometimes we just can't.I do not know about you but I have to have audio description in order to see what I am listening to. In 2002, audio description was made into a law regarding television. Major TV networks had to provide at least 4 hours of audio description a day, culminating into 32 hours of audio description a week. If that were me I would say "okay, Sure, No problem!" but instead all the networks in the industry became infuriated all because blind people wanted to watch a little bit of TV, and took it to court claiming that it's a buffer on the freedom of speech. What if that is not what the writer intended? Oh no!

That is taking away freedom of speech. Here is why that claim does not even make a little bit of sense. Audio description only describes surface actions. Meaning facial gestures, scene changes, physical actions, and what the people look like and what clothing they have on. They do not interpret the story. They just describe stuff. But wait! That is taking away freedom of speech because I do not want that to be called a shirt, I want it to be called something my character says! Oh yeah? Try closing your eyes and watching a movie. I bet you will not care what things are called because you will not be able to see them.

I almost never watch TV anymore mainly because most programs do not even carry audio description. Sure TNT, FOX, and PBS have it, but different shows are described in different states. For example, in my home state of Florida fox claims to have Simpsons with audio description. I try it only to discover it is not available here in Florida. When I go to California however to visit my aunt and uncle, I can sit back and laugh with them as the Simpsons do witty actions on the screen. I can hear what is going on, and I can participate in an activity that I should already be able to do by right alone. The Florida division should have passed the SAP signal through!

To be honest I do not even think many blind people will buy a TV anymore, since we have internet and stuff now. I do not know about you, but I love having audio description. If I do not, I get frustrated and just do not even watch TV, and turn to the fewer audio description videos on the web.

Historically, DVD's did not even have audio description either. Sure, a select few did, but that soon changed in 2009. When Sony and fox agreed to release DVD's with audio description. This isn't enough however. What about the eclipse movie that's released by a different company? Will blind people be left out on that one? Having to share the described version from the UK across the internet?

They may have to.

There should be more DVDs with audio description. In the UK at least 100 DVD's a year have audio description. Here in the United States only three or even four are released with audio description a year. I do not buy DVDs anymore because there is a site where I can just download them free of charge. I just find it a waste of cash to buy a DVD that I cannot even watch. How hard is it to put an audio description track on the DVD? I bet more people would use and listen to that then the audio commentary track where the director is talking about how awesome the movie is.

Ever wonder why the passion of the Christ was so popular in stores? It was because it was the one thing that blind people could watch independently.  If more movie producers join the cause I bet you, DVD sales would shoot up like rockets. Like for example. Twilight, the popular movie based off the book, would have hit the roof, I bet you, if it had audio description.Sure, it is available in theaters with audio description, but that is a nightmare in its own category.

Audio description is available in some, in fact very few, movie theaters across the United States. When I do go and try to use the headsets that should have the description I usually hear static. I then try and ask the manager what the problem is. He does not even know what it is supposed to do. I then learn through someone else that "oh, audio description is only available in theater three."

Okay? So in order to see the new Harry Potter movie with audio description I have to look and wait on the movie to play in that one area, or section or whatever? No thanks. I would rather just skip the movie.

I mean all I am saying is that it should be more available than it is now. We as disabled people have rights, and one of those rights is to entertainment. I want to be able to go to a movie by myself and independently watch it. I want to be able to pick up any DVD I wish because I want to. I do not want to have to wait for the next audio described DVD to be released. I should not have to invite my sighted friend over only to use him as a describer. We both should, by law, and the Americans with disabilities act. Have equal access to the same information and entertainment. That includes videos on the web, which have NO audio description.

If more people use audio description, get on the ball with it, and start making it more accessible, we will not have to use alternative methods. We can finally go see any movie that our sighted friends are seeing, and everyone can have a good time. We should have that right naturally. It did not happen however, so now it raises a new question. When will we have equal access? It could not happen quickly enough.