The detailed description of a scene or image is often used in literature to represent something that we cannot see or hear. But in addition The description is a form of accessibility for blind or partially sighted people.
This Monday evening (16), the beginning of Big Brother Brasil 23 was marked by an innovation: the participants gave a description of their physical appearance.
Without many rules, in a free way, some gave more shine to the face and others to the body or hair. “I’m a black woman, I have almondshaped eyes, my hair is curly,” described Aline Wirley.
Doctor Fred Nicácio, on the other hand, described his body shape in detail: “I have dreads, I’m tall, I’m 100 kg, 1 meter and 80”. Cristian, on the other hand, spared no credit for himself, describing himself with “an enviable topknot”.
According to the latest IBGE demographic census, published in 2010, visual impairment ranks highest among other disabilities such as motor, auditory and intellectual disabilities.
Of the more than 6.5 million people with some degree of visual impairment, more than 500,000 are blind. To overcome possible barriers and difficulties in everyday life, measures to facilitate accessibility are the best path to inclusion.
For Gustavo Torniero, journalist and youth secretary at the National Organization of the Blind in Brazil (ONCB), The participants made a selfdescription and no audio description and explains:
“People often confuse selfdescription and audiodescription, but they’re two different things.” While the first is the act of selfdescription, the second is a communication resource and also “a field of study and career”.
Do you understand? All participants of #bbb2023 They describe themselves in a very natural way for those who have a visual impairment. I liked it because I’m always curious about how people are!
Gustavo (@torniero) January 17, 2023
What is audio description?
Gustavo explains that this can be done in audio and text. In general, this resource is used in audiovisual materials, that is, on TV screens, mobile phones, computers and other devices to watch any type of video, as well as static images. The audio description aims to help blind, colorblind and elderly people understand what is happening in a specific scene or image and narrates the movements, interactions, the environment and other important elements involved in the creation and augmentation of conditions of understanding are responsible. In this way, the person who is blind or partially sighted has the necessary information to visualize and access the content in a holistic way.
For example, social networks have automatic tools for describing images with alternative text. In addition, upon publication, some people describe the published image with #ParaTodosVerem.
Why are these techniques important?
Mainly because of the accessibility. Without audio description, leisure activities such as visiting a museum, cinema or theater would not be feasible and would prevent a group of people from taking advantage of these activities. Because of this, blind people have more autonomy in activities outside the home.
Since 2014, the National Film Agency (Ancine) has required all publicly funded audiovisual production projects to have meaningful subtitlesAudio description and translation in scales, for the deaf.
On the ONCB website it is possible to check other applicable laws for the blind.
And how does it work?
As Gustavo explains, with audio description there is a need for a technical team that carries out the work in different ways.
However, to describe yourself it is important to present yourself in a simple and direct way so that it is easy to understand. Describe your hair color, eye color, skin tone, height, and other physical characteristics you have that you think are important to share.
In a thread on Twitter, Gustavo makes some suggestions to the BBB, such as providing technical advice, creating a page with a detailed description of each participant so that people with visual impairments can access this information when they need it.
He also points out the importance of the moderator of the show, Tadeu Schmidt, who explains to the public the reason for the selfportrayal of the participants at the premiere of the show in order to bring the topic into the public debate.