In early September, Dicapta held its annual meeting with the Advisory Group of the EnhAccess project, TV Access (grant H327C210001) funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The primary goal of our annual meeting is to update our advisors, content partners and the U.S. Department of Education on the project's exciting progress, strengthen our relationships with them, and engage in productive discussions about future ideas and steps. This collaborative exchange allowed us to brainstorm innovative strategies and actionable plans to further our mission of making audiovisual content more accessible.

Over the course of the two days, we enjoyed several enriching activities and interactions:

1. Special Guest Presenters: We were honored to have the company of representatives of several of our esteemed content partners: Erin Dodson (Fred Rogers Productions), Erika Vogt-Lowell (HITN), Jocelyn Negrete (Sesame Workshop) and Asad Muhammad (POV). Besides outlining their organizations and their ongoing accessibility efforts, they reflected on how they can better support media accessibility efforts.

2. Accessible Content Screening using All4Access: We had the opportunity to screen segments of the series "Searching" from Passport to Knowledge and "Alma's Way" from Fred Rogers Productions using the innovative All4Access technology. Through Dicapta’s All4Access software, advisors and content providers could view captions, hear the audio descriptions, and watch American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation on a second screen. We also unveiled the new content catalog for the All4Access clearinghouse which is set to go live later this month.

3. Improved Technology: Dicapta also introduced our innovative audio description platform, All4Voicing, designed with accessibility in mind, making it usable by AD narrators who are blind or have low vision. This inclusive approach is a testament to our commitment to accessibility for all.

4. Shared Experiences: Members of our group who are blind or have low vision generously shared their personal experiences and insights. They provided valuable suggestions on how to effectively interact with and accommodate individuals with visual disabilities, shedding light on the challenges they have encountered.

5. Hands-On Activity - "Accessible from Inception": Divided into four teams, our attendees were tasked to create a video production with accessibility in mind right from the initial stages. Requirements included audio description and ASL in addition to acting out the skits based on interpretation.This was an opportunity for the different teams to showcase their creativity and resourcefulness while gaining a better understanding of the production process.

6. Brainstorming for the Win: Dicapta partners and content providers alike participated in a series of open discussions and brainstorming sessions. From coming up with concrete next steps to advisors discussing crucial growth opportunities during breakout sessions, we had some great lessons to walk away with.

These two days were filled with everything from enriching conversations and fresh ideas to enjoyable moments that strengthen our bonds and collaboration. You can catch a glimpse of the spirit of our time together in the photos from the event, which can be viewed in the album [here](insert link). We look forward to continuing our efforts to support the educational aspirations of children with sensory disabilities, especially those who primarily communicate in Spanish.

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