What Exactly is Audio Description—and Does It Really Make a Difference?

Audio description is a form of narration used to provide information about key visual elements in media work for the benefit of blind and visually impaired consumers.  While expensive, audio description is becoming more mainstream as it is now becoming common to find many Broadway theatre productions as well as Hollywood feature films offering it.  Museums are also beginning to use AD as they install and promote new artist exhibitions. To see the difference for yourself, here is the regular 45-second TravelAbility Summit video and (close your eyes) here it is with audio description.  

Our take: One museum complained that they installed audio description for three exhibits and no one used the service in the first three months.  Any newly accessible feature will require promotion to the audience that will benefit. In this case, they should consider promoting it through local blind advocacy groups as word will spread from there virally through the “blind vine.” The cost? We used Video Caption Corporation, which exhibited at one of the Abilities Expo events and fee was $225, which was their minimum.