Video description in North America

A technique, "video description", has been pioneered through which television and video may become accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired, by containing a separate audio track in which a narrator carefully describes the visual elements. Video description is increasingly being used in North America in order to ensure greater access to the cultural and educational experience that comes from these visual media. Among the benefit of video description cited most often by blind and visually impaired viewers are the following: 1) Gaining knowledge about the visual world; 2) Gaining a better understanding of televised materials; 3) Feeling independent; 4) Experiencing social connection; 5) Feeling equality with those who do not have visual impairments; 6) Experiencing enjoyment; 7) Relief of burden on sighted viewers with whom they watch. Two organisations in the United State and one in Canada provide video description over broadcast and/or cable television. Programming includes educational and scientific shows as well as dramas and movies. Three different methods of distribution to the audience are used (open description, description over the SAP channel, and description over a news reading service). As description becomes more widespread, it is anticipated that it will be used increasingly for television and videos, as well as in museums and other public spaces, in classrooms, and on computers.