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.
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.
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.
Audio description is the auditory narration of visual representations such as television programs, films and live performances. During gaps in dialogue, it describes visual elements such as scenes, settings, actions and costumes..
Audio description is found on TV and DVDs as a separate language track or is accessed by using audio description equipment at a cinema or live performance.
It is particularly beneficial to people who are blind and vision impaired and people with print, learning and physical disabilities.
