Audio Description for Videos & Media

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
September 8, 2025
Audio Description (AD) provides access to the visual elements of media—such as action, costumes, settings, gestures, facial expressions, and other important visual details—across television, film, museum exhibitions, theater, and live or virtual events. While AD is essential for individuals who are blind or have low vision, all audiences can benefit from the added detail and clarity it provides.

​​Digital & Streaming Sources

  • Media Access Group at WGBH (GBH Media Access Group) – One of the pioneers in captioning and audio description for TV and film. 
  • Disney+ / Pixar – Offers select films with built-in audio description and accessibility features.
  • Netflix – Provides extensive AD tracks on most original programming and many licensed titles.
  • Amazon Prime Video – Includes AD on thousands of titles; can be filtered through the accessibility menu.
  • Apple TV / iTunes – Many films and shows include AD and captions.
  • YouTube – Some creators upload videos with AD; check under accessibility settings.
  • HBO Max (now Max) – Expanding AD availability across original programming.
  • Peacock, Hulu, Paramount+, Discovery+ – Offer increasing AD support (availability varies).
  • Apps and Devices – Check Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast accessibility settings to enable AD.

Selecting Accessible Media

  • Preview all media for AD and captions before classroom use.
  • Provide summaries of visual content or describe key visuals when AD is not available.
  • Layer supports by combining audio, visual, and tactile elements to strengthen comprehension.
  • Use trusted sources like the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) to ensure high-quality, age-appropriate content.

Viewing Environment Tips

  • Lighting – Dim lights to reduce glare, but maintain enough illumination for notetaking and mobility.
  • Preferential seating – Place students where they have optimal auditory and visual access.
  • Screen sharing – Use Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, or other platforms to share media directly to a student’s device, where they can apply their own accessibility settings (magnification, screen readers, color filters).
  • Assistive devices – Encourage monoculars, handheld video magnifiers, tablets, or screen mirroring for magnification—but ensure line of sight is clear and unobstructed.
  • Headphones – Consider providing headphones for AD tracks or captions to reduce auditory distractions.

Captions & Audio Description

  • Captions benefit students with partial sight, hearing differences, auditory processing needs, or those learning English.
  • Audio Description communicates critical visual information not included in dialogue.
  • Pre-recorded AD is preferred for accuracy and pacing.
  • Live description – If AD is unavailable, provide verbal descriptions yourself or assign a trained adult/peer to describe visual elements in real time.

Device & Technology Tips

  • Preview videos on the same device students will use to ensure accessibility features work properly.
  • Enable accessibility settings such as screen readers, magnifiers, and high-contrast modes.
  • Offer multiple modalities (audio, visual, tactile) for reinforcing comprehension.
  • Download or stream AD versions in advance to prevent connection issues during class.

Resources

  • Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) – Free lending library of accessible educational videos (Pre-K–12), with captions and AD; also offers training and teacher resources. www.dcmp.org
  • Audio Description Associates – Training and consulting for producing high-quality AD. www.audiodescribe.com
  • American Council of the Blind (ACB) – Audio Description Project – Comprehensive listings of AD available on TV, streaming services, DVDs, and in theaters. 
  • National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM Center) – Guidance on creating and selecting accessible media. 
We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility."
​-Albert Einstein

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