American Council of the Blind Announces Audio Description Awards

    WASHINGTON, DC, July 12, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2017 Achievement Awards in Audio Description, an initiative of the Council's Audio Description Project (ADP).

In conjunction with ACB's 56th annual conference and convention in Reno, NV, the awards were presented at a plenary session of the conference before almost 1,000 people who are blind, ACB members/convention attendees. The prestigious awards included:

- Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts: Lori Ward, Tennessee Performing Arts Center-Nashville, TN, for a comprehensive program of audio description for all productions throughout the year, with 100 attendees on average for performances.
- Achievement in Audio Description - Media: ABC Digital, for their app which allows for program viewing with audio description; no other network currently provides such an app that includes description.
- Achievement in Audio Description - International: ABLE-New Zealand, for the not-for-profit organization's program providing captioning and audio description for television, now totaling more than 40 hours per week.
- Achievement in Audio Description - International: Dr. Anna Jankowska, Poland, for her work as the president of the 7th Sense Foundation where she develops audio description and organizes screenings at the Krakow Film Music Festival, gathers volunteers and trains them in creating audio description.
- Special Recognition Achievement in Audio Description: Timothy Wynn, Florida, for his work as a consistent contributor on many aspects of audio description via the ADP listserv, the ADP website, and to TV networks and Netflix regarding audio description tracks or delivery systems.
- Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Memorial Achievement Award in Audio Description - Research and Development: Actiview, California, for the Actiview app, which offers audio description as well as closed captions, amplified audio, sign language interpretation, and multiple languages in movie theaters.
- Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description: Diane Johnson, Descriptive Video Works-Canada, for her founding of Descriptive Video Works, breaking new ground and removing old barriers by using audio description to make television, film and other visual media accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.

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. 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.

"Audio description uses words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative to convey the visual image from television, film, DVDs, theater, museums and many other settings," stated Kim Charlson, president of the American Council of the Blind. "The organizations and individuals honored with these awards are among the leaders in description. They help make so many aspects of our culture accessible to people who are blind or have low vision; they deserve this special recognition."

Additional information about ACB's Audio Description Project is available at www.acb.org/adp.

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization. Its members are blind, visually impaired, and fully sighted individuals who are concerned about the dignity and well-being of blind people throughout the nation. Formed in 1961, the ACB is one of the largest organizations of blind people in the world, with more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates.

For more information about the American Council of the Blind, contact: Eric Bridges, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind, 1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22311; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666; or visit the web site, www.acb.org.

# # #