I invite you to join me tomorrow, January 26, 2017 at DescribeAthon17 when amateur and professional describers around the world will join together to add audio descriptions to YouTube videos.
Working from your home, business, or wherever you have a connection to the Internet, you’ll be part of a group of volunteers worldwide adding audio descriptions to as many YouTube videos as possible in one day.
How to Get Involved
Once you’ve registered for DescribeAthon17 (Google Form), an email message with more information.
To add audio descriptions, you’ll use the free YouDescribe tool (registration required).
Don’t worry, adding audio descriptions doesn’t have a lot of requirements, you’ll need:
- Computer
- Microphone (built-in computer microphone works
- Internet Connection
Review the YouDescribe FAQs to learn more about working with YouDescribe.
Tips From the Organizers
If you’ve never described video before, these short description videos (less than two minutes) from VDRDC will help you better understand how to describe videos.
General tips:
- Describe what you see
- Find a balance
- Be concise
- Include just the facts
Oh, and I almost forgot. Did I mention there are prizes?
According to the DescribeAthon17 site, $25 Amazon gift cards will be awarded for the following categories:
- Best description of a music video
- Best description of an educational video or documentary
- Best description of a promotional video or commercial
- Best description of a how-to or instructional video
- Most creative (yet effective) description style
- Most impressive describer
Summary
Adding audio descriptions to videos is an easy way to make videos more accessible to people who are blind or have visual impairments.
And joining a group of volunteers worldwide through DescribeAthon17 makes it a lot more fun as we share our work and accomplishments. It doesn’t require a lot of your time.
You decide how many YouTube videos you’d like to add descriptions to.
I hope you’ll decide to join me!
