American Foundation for the Blind Introduces Described TV Listings

NEW YORK, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Finding described television shows just got much easier. As part of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, several of the most popular television networks have made certain prime-time and children's programs accessible to viewers with vision loss by adding video description. To help celebrate and promote this initiative, AFB has implemented a Described TV Listings page on its website, an online guide where visitors can determine which shows will be described as well as when they air.

Video description (sometimes called "audio description" or simply "description") makes television programs and movies accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.  Short verbal descriptions of action or key visual scenes in a program, such as setting, costumes, and facial expressions, are provided to add context. The descriptions are inserted into pauses within a program's dialog.

Since July 1, the networks required to provide approximately four hours of video description per week include ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, USA, the Disney Channel, TNT, Nickelodeon, and TBS.

"Our Described TV Listings will make it easier to find which shows are described, allowing people with vision loss to enjoy their favorite shows alongside their sighted peers," said Carl Augusto, president and CEO of AFB. "For my part, I'm looking forward to catching up on 'Law & Order.' I would like to thank the Rovi Corporation and Comcast for helping us create this valuable tool."

To see which described shows will air in your area, and to learn more about how to access it on your television, visit: http://www.afb.org/tv

About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.

SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind