Audio description

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Access in the arts in the United States

There are a number of audio description companies in the United States providing either the service themselves or training programs for theatre staff. These include Audio Description Solutions, who are a service provider and facilitator of training programs nationally, and the Audio Description Associates, operating training programs across the country.

Captions also play a large role in bringing performing arts to Americans who are Deaf or hearing impaired.


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Access in the arts in the United Kingdom

Audio description for theatre in the UK is mainly provided by Vocal Eyes, with some local volunteers covering other sites. Most of the performances are in London, with some in other venues across the country.

From 2007 - 2010 Vocal Eyes undertook a collaborative United Kingdom Arts Council-funded project with Stagetext, the United Kingdom's premier theatre captioning provider.


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Audio description on TV in Canada

Since 2001, The Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has made it compulsory for an audio description commitment to be made before it renews broadcasting licenses.

Canadians also have access to United States audio described programs, however some networks do not yet have the capability to send a Second Audio Program signal outside metropolitan areas.


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Audio description on TV in the US

Legislation on audio description on TV in the United States was introduced in 2010, after setbacks to audio description such as the switch from analogue to digital television, and the resistance of the Motion Picture Association to audio description on TV.

In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 which restores rules set out by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandating audio description on television.


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