Description Key for Educational Media

• “Instruction through Verbal Description” [WMV] from the NFB’s National Center for Blind Youth in Science
  
  A brief “how-to” video intended for teachers of students who are blind of visually impaired. While not specifically geared toward media describers, the video contains some tips that may be useful to anyone describing for students who are blind or visually impaired. (A WMV-capable video player is required to play this exmaple.)
• “Effective Practices for Description of Science Content within Digital Talking Books” (a.k.a. STEM Description Guidelines)
  
  A resource for describing the still images and graphics commonly found in academic textbooks, prepared by WGBH’s Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). NCAM provides free webinars to those interested in implementing these guidelines, as well as an on-demand archived webinar (in Quicktime MOV format) available to anyone, at any time.

• Merriam-Webster Online (www.merriam-webster.com)
  
  From an online dictionary and thesaurus to pronunciation guide, the Merriam-Webster Web site is a handy guide for anyone with a question about language or word choice. For quick and easy reference, you can download one of Merriam-Webster’s browser plugins so that this comprehensive resource is never more than a click away.
• The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (www.bartleby.com/61/)
  
  Another dictionary Web site, which also includes a thesaurus and pronounciation guide. Like Merriam-Webster, audio pronunciations are provided alongside phonetic spellings of queried words.
• Voice of America Pronunciation Guide (names.voa.gov)
  
  This guide is a resource that will help English speakers pronounce difficult foreign names (both people and places). Includes a searchable database of names, with results provided phonetically and as MP3 clips.
• Voice of America Word Book (www.VOASpecialEnglish.com)
  
  The Word Book has a core vocabulary of 1,500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Developed for the English as a Second Language population, users are encouraged to discover and learn about “Words and Their Stories.”

• Roget’s Descriptive Word Finder by Barbara Ann Kipfer, Ph.D.
  
  A “dictionary and thesaurus devoted exclusively to adjectives,” containing thousands of entries (in 572 categories) for describing people, places, and things, organized by theme and topic.
• The Describer’s Dictionary: A Treasury of Terms and Literary Quotations by David Grambs
  
  Similar to Roget’s Descriptive Word Finder, The Describer’s Dictionary serves as a categorized reference of “vivid” words and phrases, along with passages from classic English and American literature to serve as inspiration for those who wish to “paint pictures with the English language.”
• Descriptionary by Marc McCutcheon
  
  From the Facts on File Library of Language and Literature, Descriptionary is “the book for when you know what it is, but not what it’s called.” Another dictionary/thesaurus hybrid of sorts, this book categorizes words (and definitions) under subject headings for quick reference.
• Ultimate Visual Dictionary by DK Publishing
  
  6,000 photographs and 1,000 detailed visuals provide a visual link between subjects and systems and their components. From the Universe to Modern Architecture, 670 illustrated and annotated pages go beyond traditional dictionary definitions to dissect and explain how things work.

Note:This information was excerpted with permission from the Standards for Audio Description and Code of Professional Conduct for Describers by the Audio Description Coalition (ADC). Visit the ADC Web site (www.audiodescriptioncoalition.org) to download the Standards for Audio Description (free registration required) and for more information about the ADC.

1. Audio describers shall respect the privacy and confidentiality of the client (the entity engaging the services of the describer) and the individual(s) the client is serving (the consumer(s) of the audio description).
   • The audio describer’s obligation is two-fold: to the organization engaging the services of the describer (client) and to the user(s) of the audio description (consumer(s)).
   • In some situations the audio describer may have direct contact with the consumer. In this case, the describer is placed in a confidential relationship with that individual and as such must maintain that individual’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
     
     (1) For example, in a theatre, the consumer who is blind may be on a date, with their family, or in any of a number of social situations. The describer should respect this and only initiate contact or conversation with the individual as necessary to ensure that the audio description services are delivered and received.
     
     (2) For example, an organization engaging a describer may be doing so under a contract or grant, thus the describer would be violating the client’s confidentiality if they were to discuss the work, whether or how much they are being paid, etc., outside of what is necessary to seek advice and counsel from a fellow describer.
2. Audio describers shall accept only those assignments for which they possess the requisite skills and knowledge.
   • There are many different media to which audio description may be applied and not every describer is trained or knowledgeable about description in all media.
     
     For example, an audio describer may be trained and have the requisite skills and knowledge to describe live theatre performances but not dance, or opera, or film and video, or museums and exhibits.
3. Audio describers shall conduct themselves professionally and in a manner appropriate to the situation in which they are providing audio description.
   • Audio describers shall dress and behave in a manner that is appropriate to the specific environment in which they are providing audio description.
     
     For example, audio describers describing the audio/visuals at a business conference should dress and behave in a business-like manner. Audio describers who must climb a ladder to reach the audio description booth in a small live theatre should dress and behave accordingly.
   • Audio describers should avoid accepting assignments where the content to be described would make them uncomfortable. Before accepting any assignment, audio describers should try to ascertain whether it will place them in an uncomfortable situation and decline the assignment.
     
     For example, if an audio describer is asked to describe a program that contains nudity, sexual acts, violence, etc. and the describer feels this will make him/her uncomfortable, the describer should not accept this assignment. If the describer were to accept the assignment, s/he may fail to fulfill his/her obligation to the client and consumer(s) by editing or censoring things s/he is uncomfortable describing.
4. Audio describers shall demonstrate respect for the diversity of clients, consumers and colleagues.
5. Audio describers shall maintain ethical business practices.
   • Audio describers shall promptly notify clients should problems or conflicts arise with assignments they have accepted.
   • When paid for their services, audio describers shall charge appropriate fees and present professional invoices on a timely basis.
6. Audio describers shall take every opportunity to improve and develop their skill.
   • Audio describers shall attend workshops and conferences.
   • Audio describers shall mentor and be mentored by other audio describers.
   • Audio describers shall take every opportunity to listen to and experience other audio described activities.