American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project Announces the 2011 Achievement Awards in Audio Description

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2011 Achievement Awards in Audio Description, an initiative of the Council's Audio Description Project (ADP).

In conjunction with ACB's 50th annual conference and convention in Reno, NV, the awards were presented at a plenary session attended by over 1500 ACB members. The prestigious awards included:

• Achievement in Audio Description - Media: Harry A. Jessell, TVNewsCheck, Chatham, NJ

• Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts: Mimi Smith and Amaryllis Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA

• Achievement in Audio Description - Museums: Rebecca McGinnis, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

• Achievement in Audio Description - International: 20th Century Fox International, London, England

• Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Achievement in Audio Description - Research and Development: Joshua A. Miele, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA

• Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description: Dr. Barry Cronin, Boston, MA

The Achievement Awards are made to individuals and/or organizations for outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audio description programs. The Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time, leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.

"Audio Description uses words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative to convey the visual image from television, film, DVDs, theater, museums and many other settings," stated Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind. "The individuals and organizations honored with these awards are among the leaders in description. They help make so many aspects of our culture accessible to people who are blind or have low vision; they deserve this special recognition."

Additional information about ACB's Audio Description Project is available at http://www.acb.org/adp.

About the American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization. Its members are blind, visually impaired, and fully sighted individuals who are concerned about the dignity and well-being of blind people throughout the nation.

Formed in 1961, the ACB is one of the largest organizations of blind people in the world, with more than 70 state and special interest affiliates and a nationwide network of chapters and members spanning the globe.

For more information about the American Council of the Blind, contact: Melanie Brunson, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666; or visit the web site, http://www.acb.org.

Contact: Joel Snyder, Director, Audio Description Project
(202) 467-5083

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SOURCE American Council of the Blind