Guidelines, Techniques, and Standards

for Audio Description

In this section, producers of Audio Description will find guidelines, standards, and advice on techniques for creating well described television programs, movies, theater, and displays for patrons who are blind or visually impaired.

Audio Described Techniques, Accessible Arts, Inc.
Accessible Arts explains the process the organization uses to create an audio-described movie.

Guidance on Standards for Audio Description, Office of Communications, Independent Television Commission (UK)
This comprehensive primer includes step-by-step guidelines for the preparation of an audio description, principles, practical examples, and a discussion of the challenges that arise.

Guidelines for Audio Describing Meetings and Presentations, Described and Captioned Media Program
In this 2-page PDF document, Elizabeth Kahn offers guidelines for creating accessible presentations, and a list of resources for equipment. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

 Guidelines for Audio Description, Audio Description Project (ADP)
ADP advises on what to describe, how to describe, and how to prepare.

Online Accessibility Training: AEB's Guidelines for Verbal Description, Art Beyond Sight
These guidelines offer a "basic methodology that museum educators and art teachers can use to create successful verbal descriptions of painting, sculpture, and architecture, as well as works in other media."

Standards for Audio Description and Code of Professional Conduct for Describers, Audio Description Coalition
In this 26-page document, the Coalition sets out the basic standards for audio description, with adaptations for description of live events, video, and museums and exhibits.

Welcome to the Description Key, Described and Captioned Media Program, National Association of the Deaf
The guidelines on this site are intended for new and experienced describers, description agencies, media producers and distributors, and others who want to make educational media and visual curriculum more accessible to children and youths who are deaf-blind or who have low vision.