Why (Start Here)
I believe every story deserves to be felt-by everyone.
Not just watched. Not just heard. Felt.
That’s what immersive access is. That’s what audio description can do when it’s treated not only as a legal requirement but as a creative opportunity. An invitation into the story.
But too often, audio description gets stuck in the “you have to” zone:
– You have to offer it for compliance.
– You have to include it to avoid complaints.
– You have to check the box.
And the results? Functional. Boring. Uninspired. At best, we meet the minimum. At worst, we deliver exclusion in a friendlier font.
But when we flip that mindset from “you have to” → “you get to,” everything changes.
How (Here's What That Looks Like)
When we approach audio description with the belief that it enhances, rather than burdens, everything gets better-for audiences and for organizations.
Here’s what that mindset shift unlocks:
1. You Get to Expand Your Audience
Inclusive entertainment is expansive. Offering high-quality, immersive audio description invites blind and low-vision audiences to be not an afterthought, but as full participants. That’s not just good ethics. That’s good business.
Is audio description required by law?
👉 Sometimes. (WCAG link on “Sometimes“) But even when it’s not, offering it builds loyalty, widens reach, and positions your brand as a leader in inclusive storytelling.
2. You Get to Honor the Craft
Audio description perfomers are not generic “narrators.” They’re voice actors. And with them, the audio description directors, audio engineers, and audio description writers (plus quality control and more) all work together to make your story sing in a different format.
Directors obsess over lighting and blocking, so why settle for flat, checkbox AD that robs your work of nuance?
Paying and crediting AD teams isn’t just right. It’s a creative upgrade.
3. You Get to Innovate in Accessibility
At a recent keynote in Coeur d’Alene, I had to pivot when I realized my handout wasn’t accessible. I replaced it with a web based reflection tool, and the results were better than the original PDF. More intimate. More engaging. More aligned with the room.
Lesson? Accessibility isn’t a constraint. It’s a creative invitation.
4. You Get to Lead a Movement
When we move from “how little do we need to pay” to “let’s hire someone great,” it ripples. Others notice. Standards rise. Talented AD professionals stay in the game. The ecosystem flourishes.
And the audience? They get to feel what your story was meant to evoke.
What (Now, Here's How You Take Action)
You could leave this post thinking, “That's a nice idea.”
Or you could say: “I want in.”
I created a membership space called The AD Playback Lounge – a place for artists, producers, and AD folks who believe in flourishing through access.
We’re building tools, trading tips, and holding space for growth, nuance, and real transformation in the world of audio description performance.
– Want to make your AD more immersive?
– Want to stop underselling your own work?
– Want to move from meh to moving?
👉 Then join us:
Final Word:
Compliance is necessary. Connection is non-negotiable.
And when you shift from “we have to” → “we get to” — you stop fighting for access, and start building it.
Let’s build better bridges. Together.
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