Winners of this year’s Audio Description Project (ADP) Awards have been announced by the American Council of the Blind (ACB). The ADP aims to promote and advocate for the effective use of audio description (AD) in media, including television, films, performing arts, museums, educational materials, and “other venues where the presentation of visual media is critical” to content appreciation and understanding. The ADP Awards honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the “quality, availability, and understanding of audio description.” The 2023 winners are:
Achievement in Media (Individual): Debra Erickson, executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen;
Achievement in Museums (Individual): Karen Bergman, recognizing her work at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City;
Achievement in Museums (Organization): The North Carolina Museum of Art and its “Sensory Journey Program.”
Special Achievement in Museums: Dr. Michelle Edwards, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, for developing “History Alive,” a series of virtual tour programs;
Achievement in the Performing Arts (Individual): Bonnie Barlow, who has provided live audio description of more than 258 plays and events;
Achievement in Performing Arts (Organization): The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, for live audio description at their Broadway series and personalized accessibility assistance;
Public Sector Award: The Space Telescope Science Institute for their description of images relayed by the James Webb telescope;
International Award: MovieReading, a technology that allows audio description and captioning to be downloaded to an individual’s device; and
Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description: Dr. Joshua Miele, an adaptive technology designer who works to solve “everyday accessibility problems.” The award honors contributions to AD over time through leadership and by inspiring or providing service to others.
For additional details, read the Digital Journal webpage with the ACB press release on the 2023 Audio Description Project Award Winners.
