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DVDs and access features

 

What are the access features on DVD?

DVDs are sometimes released to the market with captions and audio description.  Foreign language subtitles can also be used as a form of access for Deaf and hearing impaired people, although these are simply a translation from one language to another and do not include sound effects or music descriptions. 

Does every DVD have captions and audio description?

No, not every DVD is accessible.  Roughly 55% of new release rental DVD titles are captioned and 20% audio described.  These rates vary for retail releases (of which there are many more titles) and also on Blu-ray.   

Where can I buy accessible DVDs?

Audio described and captioned DVDs can be found at any local rental store or DVD retailer.  Generally, both rental and retail editions of a title will have access features but occasionally access features may only appear on one edition or the other.

Accessible DVDs are not a specialist service, nor are they located in a separate part of a DVD store.  Every disc of the accessible title will have the access feature(s).  

How do I watch a DVD with access features?

As the captions and audio description are an integral part of the DVD, you do not need any special kind of decoder to access them, just a standard DVD player.  The captions and audio description are just features that you call up using the menu function of your DVD, usually in the language or set up menu.  Some DVD players allow you to start watching the DVD then simply press the 'Subtitle' button repeatedly until the captions appear, or press the 'Audio' button until the audio description begins.

How do I identify a DVD that has access features?

The Australian DVD industry association, the Australian Visual Software Distributors Association (AVSDA), has adopted a labeling terminology and layout to clearly identify audio described DVDs.

The industry adopted logos and terms are:

alt

English Audio Description
(Descriptive narration)

 

alt

  English Captions
  (Descriptive subtitles for the hearing impaired)

You should be aware that not all DVD distributors in Australia are members of AVSDA, so variations of the terminologies for access features can vary. 

DVDs with audio menus

DVD discs themselves offer a method of choosing the audio track through the disc’s own menu system.  However, these menus vary from title to title and most do not talk, making it difficult for a blind user to select the AD independently. 

Audio menus are DVD menus that narrate the options to a viewer from the moment you insert the disc into your DVD player.  They assist you to navigate through the menu options to select the options you wish, including AD.  The development of audio menus, also called audio navigation, is still in its infancy both in Australia and internationally.

The first talking menus for DVD were on the box set discs of Dr Who Series Two, produced by the Royal National Institute for the Blind and 2entertain Ltd in 2006.
When the first disc of the series is inserted into a DVD player, the disc says, “Dr Who, series 2, disk one”.  It will then give the viewer the option of selecting audio menus which, if selected, will be spoken and also shown in large print.

Audio menus are available on the following titles in Australia:

Dr Who Series 2 box set
Dr Who Series 3 box set
Dr Who Series 4 box set

Other titles are available from the UK with talking menus but are Region 2 DVDs. These can only be played on a DVD player that can access Region 2 DVDs.  Find a list of these titles from the RNIB's list of audio described DVDs.  This list is regularly updated and titles with audio menus are mentioned in brackets as 'Talking Menus'.  

At this point in time, no Australian DVD distributor has developed audio menus.

What is Blu-ray?

Blu-ray is a new optical format, similar to DVD.  The difference is that it has five times more storage capacity than DVD, allowing for higher quality audio and video, as well as extra features.

To watch Blu-ray you need a specific Blu-ray player.  These players often play standard DVDs as well.

For best audiovisual results, a Blu-ray player should be connected to a high definition television set.  It can be connected to a standard definition television set as well and still provide superior quality audio and visual compared to a DVD. 

Region coding and access features

Region coding is a system where digital products sold in certain geographic regions are technologically designed to be compatible only with playback devices designed for use in those regions.  Region coding is widely used on DVD discs, players and some gaming devices such as Sony PlayStations.

Australia is in Region 4 for DVD.  For playback of non-Region 4 DVDs with captions, viewers may experience accessibility problems.  Read more about region coding and access features here. 

What is MAA doing to increase access on DVD?

Media Access Australia is involved in regular discussions with the DVD industry, consumer groups and the Australian Human Rights Commission to increase industry and consumer knowledge of audio description technology and availability.

Advances have already been made in DVD access through this process, with more expected to be realised in the future.

Useful DVD links

  • www.ezydvd.com.au – search and buy captioned and audio described retail DVDs via this website’s Power Search option.

  • www.audiodescription.com.au - search for audio described DVDs on a database managed by Media Access Australia.