At a Parliamentary function hosted by the Minister for Culture and Heritage, Hon Chris Finlayson, on 11 July, we launched our “brief” on audio description.

Being unable to follow body language, activity, scenery, facial expression, clothing and manner of dress etc, blind, deafblind and vision impaired people benefit from audio description because it provides a commentary on these aspects of the visual experience. Audio description has existed for more than 15 years and can be regarded as the equivalent of captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired.

At a Parliamentary function hosted by the Minister for Culture and Heritage, Hon Chris Finlayson, on 11 July, we launched our “brief” on audio description.

Being unable to follow body language, activity, scenery, facial expression, clothing and manner of dress etc, blind, deafblind and vision impaired people benefit from audio description because it provides a commentary on these aspects of the visual experience. Audio description has existed for more than 15 years and can be regarded as the equivalent of captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired.

As early as the 1990’s, New Zealand On Air began investigating the feasibility of introducing audio described television into New Zealand. At that time, New Zealand’s television broadcasting system did not have the capacity for an audio channel to be easily broadcast in addition to the existing stereo audio content. Fortunately, technological advances mean that the barriers which until now, have impeded the development of audio described television here in New Zealand, have been surpassed.

Audio described television was introduced to New Zealand on 1 March 2011, through a pilot grant funded by New Zealand On Air. This funding has been extended to the current financial year so that now we are able to enjoy several hours a week of audio described television programming. Obviously we hope this will increase over time. It involves an additional channel of audio information that provides blind people with a commentary of the visual experience, broadcast in such a way that it does not interfere with normal television listening and viewing. Audio description is officially part of the Freeview standard and can be received by all TVs and set top boxes that carry the official Freeview logo.

Theatre, and other art forms also play a crucial role as a social and cultural medium. We need to also introduce audio description into these forms of entertainment, so blind people in New Zealand can participate fully in our society’s culture. Live theatre and performing arts can be brought to life for blind people in the audience through audio description. This is achieved using a wireless transmitter and head-sets.

Audio Description is the equivalent of captioning for the deaf and hearing impaired. It is the “accessible format” which enables blind and vision impaired people to enjoy access to all facets of television, films, theatre etc, on the same basis as our sighted counterparts. Access to Audio Description is a basic right upheld by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.