Johns Hopkins University and Dicapta collaborated successfully this semester on providing a blind student with access to several foreign films that were part of her academic curriculum. Besides providing audio description, the challenge was how to give the student access to the captions of the films.

Thanks to technology, Dicapta provided the student with a spectrum of options. She could use her braille display or voice-over to follow the captions. She had the option of using voice-over either on her computer or her mobile device. There was also the possibility of delivering the audio of the movie and the audio description mixed or on separate channels.

Which one is the best delivery method? It is a matter of preference. Some people may feel more comfortable reading the captions in braille while listening to the original audio of the movie together with the audio description. Others may prefer listening to the voice-over instead of reading it in braille.

What is important, besides providing accessibility, is to provide options. Do you prefer vanilla or chocolate? They are both delicious! It is up to the individual to choose what they like best.