Audio description

Researchers seek feedback on video-on-demand accessibility

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A new Australian research project is asking people to take part in a survey about the use of video-on-demand sites by people with disabilities.

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Audio description on ABC iview now available on FreeviewPlus

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The trial of audio description on the ABC’s iview, which commenced in April, has now been extended to FreeviewPlus. Previously, it was only available in iPhones, iPads, Android devices and desktop computers.

ABC iview in focus on the 'Catch up' menu in FreeviewPlus. Image credit: Freeview.com.au

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Blind or vision impaired

Inclusion

Audio description

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The most popular accessibility stories of 2015

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As the year comes to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most popular articles and events regarding consumer accessibility across the web, digital technology, education, TV, video, cinema, arts, policy and research in 2015.

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Web

Coles web accessibility case settled

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Choosing accessible movie sessions

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With so many big movies being released for the Christmas season, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jurassic World and Arthur Christmas, it’s important for people with a hearing or vision impairment to find out the most accessible way to experience them, in a cinema session offering captions or audio description.

People watching a movie in a cinema

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Accessible live events conference

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Making live events accessible is a growing area. Whilst captioning of live events such as theatre, sports and television programs has been available for many decades, live audio description is a much more recent service, especially outside of arts performances.

Audience seated in a theatre

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Blind or vision impaired

Solutions

Inclusion

Audio description

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Sydney Festival expands accessibility

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The innovative program of events to be staged at the upcoming Sydney Festival is set to be more accessible and inclusive than in past years. The festival runs throughout January 2016 and will feature many performances with specific accessibility components for those with vision, sensory, hearing and mobility impairments and disabilities.

Image of the sensory-friendly ‘Sunny Ray and the Magnificent Moon’ show.

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U.S. broadcasts live TV audio description for the first time

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U.S. cable provider Comcast, in partnership with NBC and Descriptive Video Works (DVW), will mark the International Day of People with Disability (3 December) by televising the Broadway musical The Wiz Live! with audio description, providing the first accessible live entertainment TV program in the U.S. for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Promotional poster for The Wiz Live! Image credit: NBC

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TV & video

International policy and legislation

Blind or vision impaired

Solutions

Inclusion

Audio description

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Accessible film festival hosts free gala screening in Sydney

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Access All Areas Film Festival (AAAFF) will be celebrating the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December with a free screening of Last Cab to Darwin starring Michael Caton and Jacki Weaver.

Michael Caton as Rex in Last Cab to Darwin

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Handel’s Messiah live streamed and accessible

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Streaming live events on the internet allows people who cannot attend to experience the performance. A more recent innovation is to include accessibility services to allow people with disabilities to also enjoy the show.

Handel's Messiah at the Sydney Opera House. Image credit: Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House is providing a live-streamed, fully-accessible version of Handel’s Messiah on Sunday 6 December 2015 from 12.50pm AEDT.

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News

Cinema & arts

Disability

Blind or vision impaired

Deaf or hearing impaired

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Blind activist launches petition for accessible inflight entertainment

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Philip Chalker has launched a petition on Change.org, asking that Virgin Australia provide audio description for people who are blind or vision impaired on its inflight entertainment systems.

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