Picture This

In this interview, Brian and Carl sit down with Petr Kucheryavyy, senior manager of accessibility for Charter Communications. Petr tells us about Spectrum Access, an app that offers audio description and closed captioning with on-demand programming. Spectrum Access is available on both the Andoid and IOS platform.  Petr also takes the time to mention some of the other services and features they have available for the disability community.  Show Notes: Spectrum Access TV Commercial: . Spectrum Access Overview and Demo: Spectrum Accessibility Homepage: . Contact info: Email: Phone: 844-762-1301

If you've ever tried to watch something on television that you were told would be described, only to find that there was no description, and wondered if you were doing something wrong, Judy Dixon’s latest book is for you.  Technology writer Judy Dixon joins Brian and Carl to discuss her latest book entitled “Audio Description:  What It Is, Where to Find it, and How to Use It”.  The book is available in multiple formats to purchase at the National Braille Press’s website at .  If you have any questions and wish to contact Judy Dixon directly, you may do so at . To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast, please get in touch with the PictureThis team by emailing your comments to or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817.  We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode.

In this episode Brian and Carl interview Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and Co-chair of the Audio Description Project.  They discuss the exciting and informative upcoming Audio Description Project Conference, which is part of the ACB Annual Conference and Convention taking place from July 16-July 23, 2021.  Please join Kim, Brian, and Carl as they discuss the many sessions that will take place during the convention. Topics include streaming services, performing arts, diversity, new technology for AD, and more.  For additional information contact To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture This, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817.  We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode. Show Notes: ADP Conference Schedule: ACB Convention Registration Page:

Today, Brian and Carl sit down with Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs for the American Council of the Blind. They discuss the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) in detail, its importance to audio description, and more. They discuss where the CVAA is today, how to file comments with the FCC on the CVAA, and the need to advocate for a new and modernized CVAA in the future. To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817. We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode. Show Topics Links: Summary of CVAA: Top five nonbroadcast networks currently subject to the audio description requirements are USA Network, HGTV, TBS, Discovery, and History. Broadcast channels subject to the requirement are ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. FCC Notice for Comments: American Council of the Blind Contact for CVAA Related Questions:

The long-awaited and anticipated addition of audio description to HBO MAX is finally here.  Brian and Carl talk about HBO MAX’s latest update and the addition of audio description to its service.  To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture This, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to [email protected], or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817.  We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode.  Links and Show Notes:  American Council of the Blind Press Release on HBO MAX and AD: .  HBO MAX Titles with Audio Description: .

Interview with Roy Samuelson Today we talk with Roy Samuelson, a veteran audio description narrator of over 1,000 titles for theatrical releases, television and cable broadcast, and streaming services. He will talk to us about his commitment and passion for audio description, his podcast, his advocacy efforts to come up with a set of quality standards for audio description, and a national audio description awareness day which will take place in April. To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture This, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to , or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817. We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode. Show notes and links: ADP listing of Paramount+ titles: HBO Max Agreement: Disney+ Bundle with no Commercials: The ADNA Podcast: Kevin’s Way: Blind Bold Beauty: Contact info for Roy Samuelson: * Twitter and Instagram: @roysamuelson * Website:

In this episode of Picture This, Brian and Carl sit down with Kensuke Nakamura. Kensuke was exposed to Audio Description after friending a blind person on Facebook and being told if their photos are not audio described they would not be connected as friends. From there, they realized the lack of Audio Descriptions on Movie Trailers. So they started doing them themself and created a YouTube page to host them. This in-depth interview covers such topics as their relationship with studios, struggles with a few videos being removed, as well as how to convey human emotions and inner thoughts. They also speak of their ultimate goal with this passion project. You can see examples of their trailers at this link: .

Meet Thomas Reid, Host and Producer of Reid My Mind Radio, Part II  “You want to be seen. You want to be heard. You want to be included.”   Join Brian and Carl as they continue their thought provoking conversation with Thomas Reid of Reid My Mind Radio. The trio discuss why narrators should describe a character’s or person’s appearance and name people of color. They share their options on the lack of discussion on diversity, the need for audio description to be part of the production process early on, the audio description of Black Panther, the need to pick an audio description narrator suitable for the content, and much more. To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture This, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to , or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817. We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode. You can also visit our Facebook page to check out what the Picture This team is up to @picturethis audio description.

Meet Thomas Reid, Host and Producer of Reid My Mind Radio  “You want to be seen. You want to be heard. You want to be included.” In honor of Black History Month, Picture This wanted to talk explicitly about race and audio description. We were honored to be able to interview Thomas Reid, a true Renaissance man. Reid is the creator and host of Reid My Mind Radio; he is also a free-lance producer, voice-over audio description talent, audio description consultant, consumer of audio description and advocate for the blind. Find out more about him at . In the first of a two-part episode, we talk with Reid about his process as an audio describer, his commitment to discussions of race and audio description, and his journey as a blind man. To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture this, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to , or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817. We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode.

Education, Dance, and Audio Description In this episode, Brian and Carl talk to Cheryl Cumings, Founder and President of Our Place Our Space, an innovative after school program for young blind and visually impaired students. We also speak with Ruth Kahn, audio describer from Words and Deeds. Cheryl and Ruth discuss the innovative use of Audio Description to help young students learn about dance and ballet movements.  Audio Description also allows the students to explore their journeys as young blind and visually impaired adults. Show Notes and Links: Cheryl Cumings, President of Our Space Our Place Website: Email: Ruth Kahn Words and Deeds, Audio Describer Email: Tony Williams Dance Center- City Ballet of Boston- Urban Nutcracker- Abilities Dance- Alicia Alonso- To leave feedback, suggestions, or ideas for a future podcast on Picture This, please get in touch with the Picture This team by emailing your comments to , or leave a voicemail at 857-302-2817. We may use your email or voicemail in a future episode.