American Council of the Blind - 2016 Washington, DC Area Audio Description Institute

Date/Time: Saturday February 27th through Monday February 29th

Location: Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Description: For the second time, ACB and its Audio Description Project is offering its Audio Description Institute in the Washington, DC area in conjunction with the 2016 Presidents' Meeting in late February. The Institute offers three days of intensive training in the act and art of audio description.

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 21 million Americans experience significant vision loss).

The implementation of 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!

Who Should Attend

• Anyone interested in:

  • working as freelance description writers for broadcast television

  • working as a describer in a local performing arts program

  • working as a describer for visual art exhibitions

• Experienced audio describers desiring an updated refresher course.

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.

Topics Include

1. audio description history and theory

2. the "Four Fundamentals of Audio Description" ©

3. active seeing/visual literacy-developing skills in concentration and observation

4. the art of "editing" what you see

5. vivid language: "The Visual Made Verbal"™ 

6. "Speak the speech, I pray you"--using the spoken word to make meaning Program

• Three full days of intensive, interactive training;

• A Monday luncheon will be provided;

• Each registrant will receive a 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 9:00 am on Saturday, February 27, 2016 and conclude at 4:00 pm on Monday, February 29, 2016

Participation is strictly limited.  The Institute will issue ACB-sponsored certificates to all successful participants confirming completion of this professional description training program.

Institute Director/Staff

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 with clients around the world (see www.audiodescribe.com(link is external) for more information) and Director of ACB's Audio Description Project.  For six years, he led a staff that produced description for nationally broadcast films and network series including "Sesame Street" broadcasts and DVDs.  Snyder has trained describers in 30 states and the District of Columbia and he has brought description to over 40 countries. 

Lodging
 
Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria
901 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA  22314
(703) 683-6000 or Crowne Plaza website(link is external
 
Room rates will be $109.00 per night for singles and doubles plus state and local taxes (total $125.81).

Parking is $20 per day.

Reservations can be made by telephone at 877 317-5752. Be sure to let the customer service representative know that you are with ACB.

Registration

• To register please click here

• The tuition for this three-day intensive seminar is $495.00.

• The number of participants we can accept is limited, so please register on-line and soon to avoid being left out.

• This year’s registration deadline is Monday February 15, 2016. Registrations received after February 15, 2016 will be charged an additional $25.00 late fee. No registrations will be accepted after February 26, 2016.

• Contact Joel Snyder at jsnyder@acb.org(link sends e-mail) or 202 467-5083 with any questions