Framework for Discussion Audio Description Certification Framework for Discussion 9/3/2019

Audio Description Certification ACVREP, in collaboration with the ACB Audio Description Project, is developing Audio Description Certification

Purpose of the Certification: to advance professional competency so all people with visual impairment receive audio description from highly qualified professionals

Current Understandings: While the public understands that a Describer must be sighted, individuals who are visually impaired are Voicers and want to be included in Certification at this time. 2. It is also likely that AD Consultants will wish to become certified at this time, however, their Scope of Practice and Competencies need to be further defined.

Current Understandings: 3. A Describer may only be Describer or may be both a Describer and a Voicer. 4. Describers may be experienced in one or more of the areas of expertise, e.g., as media, performing arts, museums. Describers may not be experienced in all of the areas.

Current Understandings: 5. There is general knowledge about Audio Description that anyone practicing in the field should have. There is additional knowledge and specific skill set that a Describer must have and a separate additional skill set that a Voicer must have. 7. The nature of the audio description practice is most often part time and may be unpaid volunteer work and thus does not lend itself well to the concept of formal internship that is used in other ACVREP certifications.

Current Understandings: 8. ACVREP will form a Subject Matter Expert Committee “SME” of experts in the field of Audio Description to develop the certification criteria and the exams. 9. We are presenting a very rough framework here to day in order to help focus the discussion and feedback during this presentation, but there will be many more opportunities to provide important feedback and input by professionals in the field not on the SME and by the consumers of Audio Description services.

When all Certification Criteria is developed by the ACVREP SME Committee and approved for posting by the ACVREP Board of Directors, the Criteria will be posted on the ACVREP website for a 30-day Public Comment Period Ample notice of the posting will be provided to all interested parties and a dedicated ACVREP email address will be available for providing comments directly to the SME and the ACVREP Board of Directors This is a critical and essential part of the certification development process to ensure a valid certification.

Framework for Certifying Audio Describers

To be eligible to take the exam: a. evidence of the satisfactory completion of an audio description training course that covers the Body of Knowledge and Competencies required for certification [ this will be developed by the ACVREP Audio Description Subject Matter Expert Committee. That content will also form the basis for the certification exam]   b. letter(s) of recommendation from employer(s) [either paid or volunteer] who representing 5 different audio descriptions written within the last three years c. letters of recommendations from 5 different consumers as to their satisfaction with 5 different descriptions within the last three years. These letters may be obtained by the employer(s) of the describer and provided to the applicant.

Once declared Eligible Describer applicant will take: Exam Module 1: Audio Description General Knowledge Exam Module 2: Audio Describer Specific Knowledge for all areas, e.g., media, performing arts, museums Upon passing both Module 1 and 2 of the exam will be certified

Framework for Certifying Voicers

To be eligible to take the exam: a. evidence of the satisfactory completion of an audio description training course that covers the Body of Knowledge and Competencies required for certification [ this will be developed by the ACVREP Audio Description Subject Matter Expert Committee. That content will also form the basis for the certification exam]   b. letter(s) of recommendation from employer(s) [either paid or volunteer] who representing 5 different audio voicings within the last three years c. letters of recommendations from 5 different consumers as to their satisfaction with 5 different audio voicings within the last three years. These letters may be obtained by the employer(s) of the describer and provided to the applicant.

Once declared Eligible Voicer applicant will take: Exam Module 1: Audio Description General Knowledge Upon passing Module 1 of the exam will be certified

A Describer who has passed both modules of the exam and also wishes to be Certified as a Voicer will not have to take the exam again, but will have to meet the Voicer Eligibility requirements and then can be certified additionally as a Voicer

Framework for Recertification:

All certifications to be valid must have a means and timeframe in which a certificant provides proof of continuing development in their field. Therefore, certifications must have a recertification schedule and requirements. The ACVREP Audio Description Subject Matter Expert Committee will develop the recertification timeline and requirements.  

  Proposed requirements for discussion are the following: A Certified Describer and or Voicer must provide every ___ years ____ employer and ____ consumer letters verifying continued practice and competency. need to determine the justification for the number of years and a number of letters that would be sufficient to demonstrate that certifcant is keeping skills at best practices level Should there be a requirement for continuing education? If so where would they obtain.

Code of Ethics: Every Certificant is bound by a strong Code of Ethics for their certification A strong Audio Description Certification Code of Ethics will be developed

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