Welcome to the Description Key!
Description is the key to opening a world of information for persons with a vision loss, literacy needs, or loss of cognitive abilities. The American Foundation for the Blind reports that 21.2 million Americans have vision loss. While description was developed for people who are blind or visually impaired, millions of others may also benefit from description’s concise, objective translation of media’s key visual components.
These guidelines are a key for vendors performing description for the DCMP, and cover a range of topics from preparing to describe to determining both what information needs to be described and how to describe it. The information is also applicable to vendors and other businesses [PDF] that provide description for broadcast television and other media. Thus, it will also be useful to media producers/distributors and others who are considering describing their products or learning about description. Some background information and rationale are included for the novice, as well as an evolving list of description resources to help improve the quality and efficiency of one’s description.
For those interested in a condensed version of these guidelines, a one-page PDF (tagged for accessibility), “Description Tip Sheet,” is available from the DCMP Clearinghouse.
A Definition of Description
Description is the verbal depiction of key visual elements in media and live productions. Also known as “audio description” or “video description,” the description of media involves the interspersion of these depictions with the program’s original audio.
The vocabulary and language structure used in the description of educational media should be consistent with that used in the program being described. It is also important to make a distinction between media that is produced for educational purposes and that which is produced purely for entertainment—the “key visual elements” of an educational program should be those that serve in conveying a specific learning goal.
DCMP Description Philosophy
It is vital that educational media be described in such a manner that an individual program’s educational content is accessible to students with a wide range of visual impairments. It is important to ensure that description does not distract viewers from the educational content of a production by being overly complex or, on the other hand, overly simplistic. It’s been long said that “pictures are worth a thousand words,” and it’s in choosing which of those words best convey otherwise inaccessible images to students with vision loss that the true skill of a describer is practiced.
Review by the DCMP
DCMP requires each contracted description vendor to provide a complete transcription of the description to aid in the review of (1) research, (2) language mechanics, and (3) grade-appropriate vocabulary. Each vendor must also provide a check dub (via FTP upload) in a digital multimedia container format (such as MPEG-4, WMV, or AVI), which makes possible a review of (1) voicing and recording quality, (2) presentation rate and timing, and (3) attention to visual detail not conveyed in the existing audio track.
Description scripts are analyzed alongside original scripts to ensure consistent and appropriate vocabulary use. Required edits will be noted on the description script, which is returned to the vendor, who then prepares the next review copy.
Once a review is completed with no further changes/edits necessary, the vendor provides DCMP with described master.
