For Title II entities like public colleges and government institutions, providing these descriptions isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
A Brief History of Audio Descriptions in the U.S.
Audio descriptions have always been a staple for blind or low-vision individuals.
“Since prehistoric times, description has been employed regularly if not professionally by companions and family of people who are blind or have low vision,” Joel Snyder wrote in The Visual Made Verbal: A Comprehensive Training Manual to the History and Applications of Audio Description. “Sometimes total strangers, compelled by the urge to ‘help,’ will approach a person who is blind and describe/offer directions/provide guidance (whether it’s requested/needed or not!)”
In the United States’ more modern history, audio descriptions began in the mid-70s when Gregory Frazier, a graduate student at San Francisco State University, developed underlying audio description concepts for his master’s thesis, according to ADS. The practice gained momentum in 1981 with live theatre descriptions at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the first television broadcasts with audio descriptions aired, museum tours were aided with audio description cassette tours, and organizations like the Narrative Television Network and WGBH’s Descriptive Video Services were established.
The advancement of audio description into law began with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, requiring federal agencies to make their content accessible. After several legislative attempts and setbacks, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act was signed into law in 2010, mandating video description requirements for major networks.
Audio Description regulations continue to evolve, including recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates to expand audio description to all commercial television stations affiliated with various Nielsen-designated market areas starting in 2025.
The Challenge of Traditional Audio Descriptions
Traditionally, creating audio descriptions has been a complex, time-consuming process. Content creators must script, record, and sync descriptions with existing content, often requiring significant resources and expertise.
The process has made it difficult for many institutions to provide comprehensive audio descriptions across their growing library of digital content.
Advancing Audio Descriptions With AI
Artificial Intelligence is transforming how institutions and organizations approach audio descriptions, offering:
- Speed and Efficiency: AI can analyze video content and generate descriptions much faster than manual methods.
- Consistency: AI systems maintain consistent quality and detail across all content.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Automated solutions reduce the resource burden on institutions.
- Scalability: Large content libraries can be made accessible more quickly.
For public institutions, AI-enhanced audio descriptions offer a practical solution to meet accessibility requirements while managing limited resources. The technology helps ensure compliance while maintaining quality and consistency across educational materials.
Consider a video showing a complex science experiment. While the narrator explains the theory, AI can automatically generate descriptions of the visual demonstrations, equipment setup, and safety procedures being shown. This helps ensure all students can fully understand the content, regardless of their visual ability.
For public institutions working to make their content accessible, AI-enhanced audio descriptions can be a game-changer. Instead of struggling to keep up with accessibility requirements, organizational and institutional leaders can focus on creating great content while AI helps handle accessibility.
More Resources
Learn more about audio descriptions:
The American Council of the Blind Audio Description Project
Federal Communications Commission Audio Description Consumer Guide
