The Audio Description Project (ADP) is a wide-ranging audio description promotion and production initiative with goals that include:
- Building advocacy on behalf of audio description;
- Offering a range of educational resources and working to establish nationally acknowledged user-focused guidelines for quality description in its various genres as well as a professionally recognized certification program for audio describers;
- Encouraging growth of audio description with an emphasis on the involvement of AD users/consumers, especially youth;
- Disseminating information on audio description and provide general support for regional, state, and local forums;
- Encouraging studies on audio description particularly with respect to its efficacy as a technique for conveying visual images and its impact on literacy for children and others.
One part of the project involves the recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of audio description. This year's ADP Awards include a call for nominations in nine categories. The deadline for nominations is May 23, 2021.
Application Categories
- Achievement in Audio Description – Media (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Media (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description - International
- Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description - Research and Development
- Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description
Nomination material, criteria and more information follows and is also available at: www.acb.org/adp
The Awards and Criteria for Selection of Recipients
- Achievement in Audio Description – Media (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Media (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Performing Arts (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Performing Arts (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers (Organizations)
- Achievement in Audio Description – Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers (Individuals)
- Achievement in Audio Description - International
- Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description - Research and Development
- Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description
The Achievement Awards are made to individuals and/or organizations for outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audio description programs in each of three areas: media, performing arts, and museums. Beginning in 2021, we are recognizing organizations and individuals in separate award categories for the Media, Performing Arts and the Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers achievement awards.
The Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Research and Development is made to an individual or organization for outstanding research that leads to the advance of audio description.
With the exception of the International Achievement Award and the Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Research and Development only US-based organizations or individuals are eligible.
On occasion, we will award Special Recognition Awards to organizations or individuals in the various Achievement Awards categories.
The Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description has been established as a tribute to the late Barry Levine, the highly-respected moderator of the Audio Description listserve, administered by the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Barry was not only an avid description user in both media and performing arts; he served so many others as the President of Audio Description International. He was a trusted friend and valued mentor; when he passed away suddenly in May 2009, the nation lost a forceful and impressive advocate for audio description.
The Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time, leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.
Past Recipients
Achievement in Audio Description - Media
- 2009 - Maria Diaz and Closed Caption Latina
- 2010 - WGBH and Media Access Group
- 2011 - Harry A. Jessell, TV News Check
- 2012 - Described and Captioned Media Program
- 2013 - Hollywood Access Services
- 2014 - Diane Johnson and Descriptive Video Works
- 2015 - Netflix
- 2016 - Fred Brack
- 2017 - ABC Digital
- 2018 - Rooted in Rights
- 2019 - Microsoft/Xbox
- 2020 - Disney +
Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts
- 2009 - Lisa Helen Hoffman and Geva Theater
- 2010 - Paper Mill Playhouse
- 2011 - Mimi Smith and Amaryllis Theater Company
- 2012 - Kentucky Center for the Arts
- 2013 - Steppenwolf Theatre
- 2014 - Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center
- 2015 - Jesse Minkert and Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences
- 2016 - Arts Access
- 2017 - Lori Ward, Tennessee Performing Arts Center
- 2018 - MindsEye Radio/Marjorie Moore
- 2019 - Hunter Gullickson and The Guthrie Theater
- 2020 - Broadway Sacramento
Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Arts/Visitor Centers
- 2009 - Elisabeth Axel and Art Education for the Blind
- 2010 - Beth Ziebarth and Smithsonian Institution
- 2011- Rebecca McGinnis and Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 2012 - National Park Service
- 2013 - The White House
- 2014 - Sandy Malmquist and the Connecticut Children's Museum
- 2015 - Meadows Museum of Art at the Southern Methodist University
- 2016 - Dole Institute of Politics/Audio Reader
- 2017 - none
- 2018 - Tennessee School for the Blind and Julia Cawthon
- 2019 - Hannah Goodwin and the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston
- 2020 - Michele Hartley-National Park Service
Achievement in Audio Description - International
- 2009 - Joan Greening and the Royal National Institute of Blind People, U.K.
- 2010 - Bernd Benecke and Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany
- 2011 - 20th Century Fox International, U.K.
- 2012 - Track One Communications, India
- 2013 - Accessible Media, Inc., Canada
- 2014 - Steph Kirkland and the VocalEye Descriptive Arts Society, Canada
- 2015 - Anne Hornsby, Mind's Eye, U.K.
- 2016 - Bos Soluções e Serviços Ltda., Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 2017 - ABLE, New Zealand
- 2017 - Dr. Anna Jankowska, Poland
- 2018 - Amos Be'er, Central Library of the Blind, Israel
- 2019 - Vera Arma, Italy
- 2020 - Vocal Eyes, U.K.
Special Recognition Achievement in Audio Description
- 2015- Sebastian Andrade-Miles - Glendale, CO
- 2016- Alice Austin, Eliot, ME, Mark Messersmith, The Visual Voice - Mountain View, CA
- 2017- Timothy Wynn
- 2018- Antonio Vazquez Martin, Aristia Producciones, Spain
- 2019- Montclair State University - Montclair, NJ
- 2020- Mary Hanks – Houston, TX, Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd. - New Zealand
Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description - Research and Development
- 2009 - none
- 2010 - American Foundation for the Blind
- 2011 - Dr. Joshua A Miele and the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
- 2012 - Dr. Philip Piety
- 2013 - Ryerson University and Dr. Deborah Fels
- 2014 - Dr. Louise Fryer
- 2015 - Accessible Media, Inc. "AMI Player"
- 2016 - Disney / Pixar "Disney Movies Anywhere App"
- 2017 - Actiview
- 2018 - Dr. Francisco Lima
- 2019 - Dr. Brett Oppegaard
- 2020 - United Airlines
Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description
- 2009 - Jim Stovall (Narrative Television Network)
- 2010 - Gregory Frazier and Audio Vision
- 2011 - Dr. Barry Cronin
- 2012 - Dr. Alan Woods
- 2013 - Rick Boggs
- 2014 - Dr. Joel Snyder
- 2015 - Dr. Pilar Orero
- 2016 - Dr. Francisco Lima
- 2017 - Diane Johnson, Descriptive Video Works
- 2018 - The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH (NCAM)
- 2019 - Jon P. Skaalen
- 2020 - Matthew J. Kaplowitz
How to Nominate
We urge you to recognize someone who has contributed significantly to the growth of audio description. Submitting a nomination is easy! It's a three-step process:
- Tell Us About the Nominee
- Tell Us About Yourself
- Support Your Nomination
Fill out the form below OR make your nomination on-line at:
https://jsnyder42.wufoo.com/forms/2021-audio-description-project-awards/
Nomination Form
2021 Annual Audio Description Project Awards
- You may submit as many nominations as you wish (one nomination/form).
- Self-nominations are permitted.
- Deadline for nominations: May 23, 2021
If using the form below, submit your nominations to: [email protected]
or to:
Kim Charlson, Co-Chair
Audio Description Project Steering Committee
American Council of the Blind
1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
1. Tell Us About the Nominee
Award for which you're making a nomination (choose one):
_____ Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts / Organization
_____ Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts / Individual
_____ Achievement in Audio Description – Media / Organization
_____ Achievement in Audio Description – Media / Individual
_____ Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers / Organization
_____ Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers / Individual
_____ Achievement in Audio Description - International
_____ Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Achievement Award in Audio Description - Research and Development
_____ Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description
Name of Nominee: __________________________________
Email: ___________________________________
Street Address: ___________________________________
City-State-Zip: ___________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________
Fax: ___________________________________
2. Tell us about yourself:
Your Name: __________________________________
Email: ___________________________________
Street Address: ___________________________________
City-State-Zip: ___________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________
Fax: ___________________________________
3. Support Your Nomination
For Achievements Awards in Media, Performing Arts, or Museums, attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has made outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audio description programs in media, performing arts, or museums.
For the Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Award in Research and Development, attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has conducted outstanding research that has led to the advance of audio description.
For the Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description, attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has made outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time, leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.
Deadline for Nominations: May 23, 2021
Make your nominations on-line at: https://jsnyder42.wufoo.com/forms/2021-audio-description-project-awards/.
Or use the form above and submit your nominations to: [email protected].
Or mail your nominations to:
Kim Charlson, Co-Chair
Audio Description Project Steering Committee
American Council of the Blind
1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311St. Louis, MO 63109