Audio Description to Allow Blind To “See” Eclipse

Aug 19, 2017

Reposted from the American Council of the Blind

The Audio Description Project announces an opportunity for blind people world-wide to experience the upcoming total eclipse of the sun.

On Monday, August 21, the sun will disappear from view for many in the U.S., and the sky will go completely dark. Through the use of succinct, imaginative and vivid language — audio description — the event will be accessible to the millions of people who are blind or have low vision, or anyone who wishes to experience a verbal version of the visual.

Between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm (MDT) on August 21, Dr. Joel Snyder will host “A Total Eclipse—Audio Described!” on ACB Radio. Snyder, the director of ACB’s Audio Description Project, will present an hour of songs (“Ain’t Got No Sunshine,” “Here Comes The Sun,” “Blinded by the Light,” “When The Sun Goes Down,” etc.) interviews and special guests—with the main event being described live from the Tennessee School for the Blind between 12:15 pm and 12:45 pm (MDT).

Trained audio describer, Nashville-based Julia Cawthon will describe the eclipse as it happens and provide a vivid “translation” of the visual event into words for the benefit of anyone who tunes in.

“Audio Description uses the spoken word to provide access to visual images that would otherwise not be accessible to people who are blind or have low vision,” stated Kim Charlson, president of the American Council of the Blind. “Audio describers help make so many aspects of our culture accessible. We’re delighted to sponsor this program on August 21 and help people experience this important event.”

To access the broadcast, go to acbradio.org/interactive and select “Click Here to Play.” Then be sure to select the link that opens the player that you use to listen to music or stream internet radio stations.

You can also listen on any telephone by dialing 605-475-8130 and select option 4. If you are using an iOS device such as an iPad or iPhone, install “ACB Link”; open the app, select the radio tab and then tap on the menu button. Select “live streams” and “ACB Radio Interactive”, select the play button and the stream will launch.

The Audio Description Project is an initiative of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), along with the Mid-Tennessee Council of the Blind, the Tennessee School for the Blind and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Additional information about ACB’s Audio Description Project is available at acb.org/adp.

 

If you have a question about this or any other article, please contact us at statelibrary@wyo.gov

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