Audio description is an additional feature that describes the visual elements on screen – settings, backgrounds, costumes, actions and text.

The addition of audio description allows people who are blind or vision impaired to access television in a way that is equal to sighted people.

Australia is falling behind on providing audio description on TV. Did you know that audio description was launched for the first time in Australia in June 2020? Nearly a year on, ABC and SBS are still the only networks who have audio description on free to air TV.

Audio description on TV has had a profound effect on people who are blind or vision impaired:

“They say a picture paints a thousand words. For me, words paint a thousand pictures. This is why audio description is so important to me. It literally does bring me into the pictures, and fulfils my social and private life” – Martin

As a person who is totally blind I'll never forget the first time I watched a movie that had audio description - I found the experience deeply moving. For the first time in my life, I knew exactly what was happening through the entire movie, including all the visuals. I thought I knew before, however this experience really showed me what I'd been missing. My hope is that in the future audio description will become normal, just like subtitles or captions. It means that I can be fully immersed in the movie experience along with family and friends, so I do not have to ask them or take away their enjoyment of the movie by asking what is happening. This is not just a tool of giving access to information, it also symbolises full inclusion and empowerment for people who are blind and vision-impaired, as well as full independence and enjoyment of the entire experience. – Jennifer

Audio description means I can access shows in other languages that previously wouldn't have even been an option for me because of the subtitles. I love that AD enables me to independently watch TV and film from all over the world. - Anna

We think all Australians should have the means to independently access the cultural and social benefits of TV.

Please join us in telling our free to air TV producers and the Australian government why everyone should have the right to watch TV.

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