In collaboration with the American Council of the Blind, the YouTube Accessibility Team would like your feedback about your experience with audio description on various media platforms. Your input will be used to explore solutions for improving the quality of audio description on YouTube. About the survey: The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  You will be asked to sign an Informed Consent form, which explains how your survey data will be used. Based on your answers to a couple brief demographic questions, you will be directed to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), which will appear in a new tab or window. You will need to sign this before continuing with the survey. The survey is limited to 500 respondents and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.  As a thank-you for completing the survey, you will be given the option to enter your email and receive a $25 gift card (adjusted to local currency) from Tremendous, which provides gift cards to a variety of retailers. Your email will not be shared except to provide your thank-you gift. Please note, the survey is now closed. Thank you to all that responded!  If you experienced issues accessing the survey, please email [email protected].

You are invited to apply to join the Class of 2023 DKM First-Timers by completing the first-ever online application for consideration. The Durward K. McDaniel (DKM) First-Timers award connects two recipients — one from east and one from west of the Mississippi River — with possibilities and opportunities to enhance their lives through personalized leadership development activities. Recipients will come together in Schaumburg, Ill. for the 62nd annual ACB conference and convention from June 30-July 7, 2023. If you are an ACB member who has never attended an in-person ACB conference and convention, desire to learn and grow personally, and meet the criteria below, we invite you to learn more about and participate in ACB’s primary leadership development program. To be eligible for consideration, each applicant must be age 18 or older; blind or visually impaired; current on ACB membership dues, and never have attended an in-person ACB conference and convention. Applicants will undergo a 30-minute interview with a team of DKM committee members in mid-April. In addition, a letter of recommendation must be submitted by the applicant’s state or special-interest affiliate president. Applicants must be sure that they meet the award criteria before requesting a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should include the applicant’s demonstrated leadership qualities, potential, and contributions on any level within the organization or in their local community. The DKM program and ACB honor recipients by funding round-trip air travel and supporting transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), per diem allowance for meals and incidentals, reception, banquet tickets, the general convention registration fee, and other pre-determined activities. Tours and other fun activities are not covered by the program. The responsibilities of each recipient include, but are not limited to, attending the full week of conference and convention activities from Friday, June 30 through the end of Thursday, July 6; participating in daily general sessions and the Keys to the Convention seminar, along with special-interest and committee seminars, while making efforts to interact with ACB leaders and fellow members. To apply, the applicant will submit an online application, available at https://tinyurl.com/DKM2023, and the affiliate president will submit a letter of recommendation) to Kelly Gasque, [email protected]. The application and letter must be received in the ACB national office no later than April 3rd. The DKM Committee will select the 2023 First-Timers during the latter part of April. Recipients will be notified shortly thereafter. The DKM Committee reserves the right to recognize two recipients from the east or west if there are no qualified applicants from one of the specified areas mentioned above. All questions should be sent to DKM Chair Kenneth Semien Sr., [email protected], or dial (409) 866-5838.

ACB members are invited to apply to join the Class of 2023 ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows by completing the first-ever online application for consideration. The ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows award connects five recipients who have demonstrated leadership potential to enhance their lives through personalized leadership development activities. Recipients will join us in Schaumburg, Ill. for the 62nd annual ACB conference and convention from June 30-July 7, 2023. You may currently serve in a leadership role or have served in a leadership role previously and wish to renew your interest in engaging in the work of ACB, your affiliate or chapter. This award could be of support; therefore, if you meet the criteria below, we invite you to learn more about and participate in ACB’s advanced leadership development program. To be eligible for consideration, each applicant must be age 18 or older, blind or visually impaired, and current on ACB membership dues. Applicants will experience a 30-minute interview with a team of DKM committee members during mid-April. In addition, a letter of recommendation must be submitted by the applicant’s state or special-interest affiliate president. Applicants are to be sure that they meet the award criteria before requesting a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should include the applicant’s demonstrated leadership qualities, potential, and contributions on any level within the organization or in their local community. The DKM program and ACB honors recipients by funding round-trip air travel and supporting transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), per diem allowance for meals and incidentals, reception, banquet tickets, the general convention registration fee, and other determined activities. Optional tours and other fun activities are not covered by the program. The responsibilities of each recipient include but are not limited to attending the full week of conference and convention activities from Friday, June 30 through the end of Thursday, July 6; participating in daily general sessions and the Keys to the Convention seminar, along with special-interest and committee seminars, while making efforts to interact with ACB leaders and fellow members. To apply, applicants will submit an online application, available at https://tinyurl.com/DKM2023, and the affiliate president will submit a letter of recommendation to Kelly Gasque, [email protected]. These items must be received in the ACB national office no later than April 3rd. Recipients will be selected by the ACB President and Executive Director during the latter part of April. Recipients will be notified shortly thereafter. All questions should be sent to DKM Chair Kenneth Semien Sr., [email protected], or phone (409) 866-5838.

We are excited to announce that Tabitha Kenlon will join our staff to fill the newly created position of Audio Description Project (ADP) Coordinator. The ADP Coordinator will help facilitate the day-to-day activities of the Audio Description Project program. In this role, Tabitha will report to Clark Rachfal, the Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, and will assist with public policy related to audio description; build and maintain partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders; and advocate to expand access to audio description and the necessary access technologies. Tabitha is a dedicated member of the ACB community and was drawn to this opportunity due to the unique combination of the arts, advocacy, and accessibility embodied by the Audio Description Project. She has a scholarly background, which includes six years teaching and researching as an assistant professor of English at the American University in Dubai and multiple publications and international conference presentations. Tabitha has earned multiple post-graduate degrees, most recently a Master of Science in International Relations from University College Dublin (Ireland); her thesis focused on the efficacy of the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty. Tabitha's first day with ACB is Monday, January 9. Please join us in welcoming her to the ACB staff by reaching out to her directly at [email protected]. It is with pleasure that we announce that Jo Lynn Bailey-Page has transitioned from her role as Grant Writer and Audio Description Coordinator to Associate Director of Development. Working with Eric Bridges and Bill Reeder, our Interim Director of Development, Jo Lynn will oversee the operations of development, coordinating fundraising efforts with individuals, foundations, corporations and special events.  Jo Lynn brings considerable skill and experience to this new role, most importantly her deep knowledge of ACB and her long relationship with key leaders and staff.  Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Jo Lynn. 

As we move through this season of celebration to welcome a new year, we want to reach out to share a moment of reflection and gratitude. It is because of each of you that ACB remains strong. The very bedrock of our existence stands firm through the investments of your time, talent, and treasure. You contributed over 37,000 volunteer hours to support a multitude of programs, services, and critical advocacy efforts, offered wise counsel as board and committee members, and gave generously through individual donations totaling over $280,000 in 2022. At the heart of the ACB experience is community—it’s all about people joining together to improve the quality of life for each other and all people who are blind and low vision. There’s a sense of trust, belonging, safety, caring, and renewal. That priceless feeling of community comes from shared experiences and a sense of shared history. Your collective support and efforts ensured the success of these key ACB events in 2022: July 2022 marked the much-anticipated return of ACB’s Annual Conference and Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, where members and leaders of the blindness community gathered in person for the first time since the pandemic began, along with virtual attendees from around the globe. The sense of elation and camaraderie was palpable as in-person and virtual convention-goers attended plenary sessions, workshops, elected board members, and browsed the exhibit hall. Social events ranged from the welcome party with a Beatles tribute band, to the walk across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, (who could forget OMAR the troll?) to a minor league game on July 4 that broke the Omaha Storm Chaser’s single game home run record, and a myriad of tours and community events capped by the annual banquet that featured Judy Heumann, a legendary pioneer activist in the Disability Rights movement. In contrast, we held more meetings and social activities via Zoom and through the expanding ACB Media Network than ever before. On March 17, 2020, the virtual ACB Community was born out of the need to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two and a half years and over 10,000 events later, the ACB Community is thriving. Exercise, languages, peer support, technology, crafting, cooking, sports, music, serious discussions, fun with games, and so much more have helped bring many new people to ACB and build a community which continues to grow. Members have lifted each other up through divorce, death of a spouse, and job loss. They have also shared their joy at births, weddings, and personal triumphs. We were proud to host the second annual Audio Description Awards Gala in November over YouTube, ACB Media, and Pluto TV to recognize excellence in audio described content and celebrate the growing commitment to accessible media for people who are blind and low vision. Host Thomas Reid and Audio Description Voice Talent Nefertiti Matos Olivares as well as our special guests lent their talent to the event and support for accessible media for all, including Stevie Wonder, Ewan McGregor, Nesta Cooper, Camryn Manheim, Shayla Brown, and the cast of iCarly! As we give thanks and celebrate during this holiday season, we invite you to consider renewing your commitment to ACB. There are many ways that your generosity keeps us strong. It could be through participation in a Community activity, serving on a committee, registering for the Leadership Conference this coming March, or attending ACB’s annual conference and convention in Schaumburg, IL in July, 2023. Perhaps you could become a sustaining member of the Monthly Monetary Support program. You might make a donation in support of the Audio Description Project or contribute to the annual Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. And who could resist bidding on at least one of the many tempting items found in the Summer Convention Auction, the Holiday Auction — or both. This year, you raised over $65,000 with your enthusiastic bids! Finally, we hope you’ll join the fun on Saturday, December 31 from 3 PM to 3 AM ET for the third annual New Year’s Eve Community-a-Thon, ACB’s final friend-raising and fundraising activity for 2022. Enjoy 12 hours of laughter, entertainment, conversation, and prizes. Share your story, make a memory and make an investment in the work of ACB. Let’s ring out the old year, step into 2023 as a community, and continue the journey together! All twelve hours of this community celebration will be streamed live on ACB Media 5 and Zoom. To receive the Zoom information for this event and other community events, please subscribe to our ACB Community Events email list by sending an email to: [email protected]. If you have a question about our programs, or have a suggestion for us to consider, please do not hesitate to reach out to ACB’s Alexandria office by calling 202-467-5081 or emailing [email protected]. To make a donation, please visit: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/ACBAppeal. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.  We look forward to being with you both now and in the future. Yours truly, Dan Spoone, President                          Eric Bridges, Executive Director

The Elf on the Shelf® and Elf Pets® have fast become holiday mainstays, appearing in a wide variety of popular books, toys, and videos, and loved by children of all ages all around the world. Once again, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and The Lumistella Company are proud to offer a special audio described broadcast of the animated holiday special, “Elf Pets: A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale,” to make holiday cheer more widely available to all this season. On December 23, this holiday program will also feature an audio described production of Rory Hoffman’s “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, a visit from Santa himself and live phone calls from kids. “We’re grateful to The Lumistella Company and musician Rory Hoffman for the chance to share audio described versions of classic holiday entertainment. And Santa will be with us, too! What could be better?” said Dan Spoone, President of the American Council of the Blind. Audio description is an added soundtrack that makes media more accessible by describing visual images. Voiced descriptions of key visual elements are inserted during natural pauses in a program’s dialogue, ensuring that individuals who are blind or have low vision can better understand and appreciate the program. “To have the opportunity to share the magic of the North Pole and expand access to our storytelling universe in collaboration with the American Council of the Blind is a privilege,” said Chanda Bell, The Lumistella Company co-CEO and Santa’s chief storyteller. How to tune in: “Elf Pets: A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale” will air at 3PM ET on December 23, 2022 on ACB Media, YouTube and Facebook. The program also will feature musician Rory Hoffman, who is blind, playing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” on 12 different instruments, a visit from Santa and calls from kids. ACB media is a non-profit, internet-based, audio-only live stream. You can listen at www.acbmedia.org/2 or say to your Amazon device “Ask ACB Media to play 2.” You can also listen to ACB Media via telephone by calling (518) 906-1820 and selecting number 2 for ACB Media 2. Merry Christmas! About the American Council of the Blind The American Council of the Blind is a national member-driven organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. For more than 60 years, ACB has become a leader in national, state, local, and even international advocacy efforts. With 68 affiliates, ACB strives to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for all people who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit www.acb.org.  About The Lumistella Company  CCA and B, LLC d/b/a The Lumistella Company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the official source for the stories of Santa’s North Pole. Originally founded in 2005 by a mother and daughter team, the company is home to a number of iconic Christmas brands, including: The Elf on the Shelf, Elf Pets, and Elf Mates. Each of these brands, along with their global portfolio of intellectual property, is managed by The Lumistella Company and distributed through a broad assortment of consumer products, engaging brand experiences and original entertainment designed to create joyful family moments at Christmastime. For more information, visit Lumistella.com.

Lights, Camera, Description! The American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are co-sponsoring an essay contest for blind and visually impaired young people (ages 7 to 21). It’s a great chance for students to engage with accessible learning materials, unleash their inner film critic, and compete for fun prizes. How Students Can Enter Visit the free DCMP library at https://dcmp.org. Watch any audio-described film (there are more than 6,000 educational titles to choose from!). Write an evaluation of the film, commenting on the ways audio description enhanced or detracted from your experience. Visit https://dcmp.org/learn/657 to submit your entry. There you’ll also find guidelines and prize details, tips on writing a good review, and information about how audio description is created. Categories Sophomore – ages 7–10 Junior – ages 11–15 Senior – ages 16–21 Alternate Assessment – students with non-traditional matriculation records Prizes and Deadlines There will be first, second, and third place winners in each category, as well as a grand prize winner who will be awarded an iPad mini and invited to read his/her essay at the American Council of the Blind's National Conference and Convention in July 2023. Teachers of first-place winners also receive prizes.   The deadline for contest entries is March 31, 2023. Winners will be notified by April 30, 2023.

The 21st Audio Description Institute will be held virtually from Monday, February 20 to Friday, February 24, 2023 at 1pm - 5pm Eastern each day. Audio Description (AD) makes visual images accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, media describers convey the visual image from television and film that is not fully accessible to a significant segment of the population (more than 32 million Americans experience significant vision loss). The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act has spawned a virtual cottage industry for the development of description for broadcast television. Be a part of it! About the Audio Description Institute Attendees May Include Freelance description writers for broadcast television Describers in local performing arts programs Describers for visual art exhibitions and/or Experienced audio describers desiring an updated refresher course Topics Audio description history and theory The "Four Fundamentals of Audio Description" © Active seeing/visual literacy-developing skills in concentration and observation The art of "editing" what you see Vivid language: "The Visual Made Verbal"™  "Speak the speech, I pray you"-using the spoken word to make meaning    Program Five afternoons of intensive, interactive training Each registrant will receive a PDF copy of Dr. Joel Snyder's ACB-published The Visual Made Verbal: A Comprehensive Training Manual and Guide to the History and Applications of Audio Description. The interactive sessions (limited use of lecture, questions/discussion throughout, generous use of media, and individual and group writing exercises) are designed to provide immediate feedback and "give and take," allowing for adaptation according to a sense of participants' grasp of the material.  In addition, experienced users of description are a part of the Institute's faculty, providing an important perspective throughout the sessions. This Institute will begin at 1pm Eastern on Monday, February 20, 2023, and conclude Friday, February 24, 2023 at 5pm. Participation is strictly limited. ACB-sponsored certificates will be issued to all successful participants confirming completion of this professional description training program. NOTE: Freelance writers for broadcast television projects can often be based anywhere in the world—computer equipment capable of accommodating high-speed downloads is a must. Registration Institute registration is $550 (registration is limited).  Registration will close on February 13, 2023, and the invitation to attend the institute will be emailed on February 15, 2023, to the email address provided on the form. Register for the 2023 Audio Description Institute here.  Agenda Access the 2023 Audio Description Institute Agenda here. Scholarships Two full scholarships are available; priority will be given to people with disabilities. To be considered for a scholarship, please send an email outlining how and why you are a strong candidate and include your reason for needing financial assistance at this time. Please send an email requesting consideration to [email protected] by January 30, 2023. The scholarship awardees will be notified by February 10, 2023. Scholarships are courtesy of Michele Spitz-Woman of Her Word. Institute Director Joel Snyder, Ph.D. One of the first audio describers, Dr. Snyder began describing theater events and media in 1981; he is the President of Audio Description Associates, LLC with clients world-wide and Founder/Senior Consultant of ACB's Audio Description Project an initiative he founded in 2009. For six years, he led a staff that produced description for feature films and nationally broadcast series including "Sesame Street" broadcasts and DVDs. Snyder has worked with description and trained describers in more than 40 states and in over 60 countries. Faculty Joyce Adams Joyce has been producing/writing AD scripts for media and museum tours since 2002.  She supervised AD script writers for the Described Media program at the National Captioning Institute, is the author of audio described tours for National Park Service visitor centers throughout the U.S. and regularly pens description for promotional videos produced by Microsoft.  Both Ms. Adams and Dr. Snyder serve on the ACVREP Subject Matter Expert Committee developing a certification program for audio describers. Elisa Jansen Elisa is a graduate of the ADP Audio Description Institute. She has written audio description for network and Internet broadcast, such as NBC, CBS, Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix—and for the classic film, Citizen Kane. Her work on promotional content includes Walmart, Kimberly-Clark, and over 700 Microsoft videos. Elisa has provided audio description for museum tours and exhibits, including the Smithsonian, the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Audio Description Consumer Consultants In addition, audio description enthusiasts who are blind or have low vision will offer their perspectives: Susan Glass Susan Glass is a free-lance writer and poet whose forthcoming chapbook The Wild Language of Deer, will be released by Slate Roof Press later this spring. A retired English professor from San Jose State University and West Valley Community College, Susan taught English Composition, American Multicultural Literature, Creative Writing, and interdisciplinary courses with a Disability Studies emphasis. An active member of the American Council of the Blind since 2013, she advocates passionately for audio description, especially in live venues such as theaters, museums, and parks. She loves hiking with her guide dog Omni and riding her horse, Travis. Chris Snyder Chris has been in the video description industry for over 12 years and is the chief engineer at Audio Eyes. He has produced hundreds of hours of description for network television, cinema, DVDs and independent film. He is also an award-winning producer of audio drama including Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "The Halloween Tree". As a voiceover artist, he has voiced many hours of description and he is also a character voice actor for audio dramas and animation.

JAWS The instructions below were produced using JAWS and Chrome. Press Ctrl L to access the Address Bar: enter “pluto.tv” When the Pluto.tv website loads, program audio might be playing in the background – Tab about 6 times to reach the Mute button, and press Enter Shift-Tab or navigate by headings or regions to the navigation links at the top of the page Find and select the On Demand link Once the On Demand page has loaded, use heading navigation to find the “Recently Added Series” heading Navigate using the down-arrow or Tab key to the first link after this heading, labeled, “2022 Audio Description Awards Gala” – select this link The Program Details screen for the ACB Awards Gala will load – Tab to the “Watch Now” link, and press Enter to start your program Video Player Controls. Once you start the program, you will find some useful buttons inside the video player. “Video Scrubber” – when this is focused, use the right and left arrows to seek forward or backward in the program “Rewind 15 seconds” & “Fast Forward 15 seconds” – use these buttons to skip back and forward “Pause”/”Play” iOS VoiceOver (iPhone or iPad) Open the app store and search for PlutoTV, or tell Siri to search for PlutoTV on the app store. When the app completes downloading open the app When the app loads, program audio might be playing in the background Tap at the top of the device with 3 fingers to place VoiceOver focus on the first element, this should be the PlutoTV logo, VoiceOver speaks “PlutoTV, Logo” Swipe right 4 times to reach the Mute button, and double tap to activate Explore by touch at the bottom of the app screen and locate the navigation tab bar. There are 3 tabs; you want to select the “On Demand” tab. Once the On Demand page has loaded, use Rotor navigation via “Containers” to find the “Recently Added Series” Container Swipe to the first button after this container, labeled, “2022 Audio Description Awards Gala” – double tap to activate. The Program Details screen for the ACB Awards Gala will load – swipe to the “Watch Season 1 Episode 1” button, and double tap to start the program. Video Player Controls. Once you start the program, you will find some useful buttons inside the video player. “Video Scrubber” – when this is focused, swipe up or down to seek forward or backward in the program “Rewind 15 seconds” & “Fast Forward 15 seconds” – use these buttons to skip back and forward “Pause”/”Play” Note: If you previously Muted audio from step 1 you will need to unmute to hear the Awards Gala with open Audio Description.

Nov. 30 2022 — The American Council of the Blind (ACB) would like to thank all those who participated in the 2022 Audio Description Awards Gala that premiered on November 29th on www.AdAwardsGala.org and Pluto TV. “We are proud to host the second annual Audio Description Awards Gala to recognize excellence in audio described content and celebrate the growing commitment to accessible media for people who are blind and low vision,” said ACB’s Executive Director, Eric Bridges. ACB thanks host Thomas Reid and Audio Description Voice Talent Nefertiti Matos Olivares as well as our special guests who lent their talent to the event and support for accessible media for all, including Stevie Wonder, Ewan McGregor, Nesta Cooper, Camryn Manheim, Shayla Brown, and the cast of iCarly! This year’s honorees have been carefully selected by a diverse group of leaders from ACB’s Audio Description Awards Committee, who have identified recipients as both audio description content leaders and media industry game changers.  Award Winners Outstanding Audio Description Visionary - Larry Goldberg Audio Description Game Changer: Innovation - Microsoft Audio Description Game Changer: Inclusion - Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Audio Description Game Changer: Education - Described and Captioned Media Program Outstanding Achievement: Live Events - Paramount Global Outstanding Achievement: Spanish Media (USA) - Telemundo/Hearst Outstanding Achievement: International Media - AMI Audio Description People’s Choice Award - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+/Lucasfilm/Audio Description by Deluxe) ACB President Dan Spoone, added, “And finally, thank you to our sponsors: Silver Star Sponsors — Amazon, Disney, Microsoft, Paramount Global, Warner Bros. Discovery and our Bronze Star Sponsors — Charter Spectrum, Keyword Studios, Fox, as well as the National Association of Broadcasters.” The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrated the inclusivity and accessibility of media by recognizing those in television, streaming and the film industry’s achievements in audio description for accessible media for blind and low vision audiences. For more details visit www.AdAwardsGala.org. The American Council of the Blind is a national member-driven organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. For more than 60 years, ACB has become a leader in national, state, local, and even international advocacy efforts. With 68 affiliates, ACB strives to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for all people who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit www.acb.org.