Well-known voice talents Roy Samuelson, Thomas Reid and Satauna Howery will join local nonprofit Society for the Blind in an online discussion about the field of audio description and why they advocate for its expansion, especially for people who are blind or low-vision. The presentation “Nothing About Us Without Us” will take place Feb. 22 from 5:30-7:00pm online. The event will explore what makes for quality audio description, how it was created by people who were blind and is becoming a rapidly growing career field for those without vision, and why there is a new push in the entertainment industry to market audio description to people with vision so they can listen to entertainment content as they do audio books. To RSVP, visit SocietyfortheBlind.org.
“Quality audio description is pivotal to ensuring people without vision can add their voices to conversations after a TV news story, movie, TV show and more,” said Shari Roeseler, executive director, Society for the Blind. “Audio description was the brainchild of people who were blind, and the field is now employing more and more people without vision. There is a 75 percent unemployment rate in the blind and low vision community, so this is a significant conversation on many levels. We are grateful to these three amazing voice talents and advocates for joining us in this presentation.”
Samuelson has voiced thousands of audio description scripts for blockbuster films and series, including “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “How I Met Your Father.” He is a consultant and catalyst for quality and excellence in audio description through inclusion of blind professionals in every aspect of the field. He advocates for all of audio description to be in parity to sighted audiences.
Reid is an audio producer, voice talent, audio description narrator and advocate. He is the host and producer of Reid My Mind Radio, a podcast where he pairs narrative storytelling, music and sound design to introduce listeners to compelling people impacted by all degrees of blindness and disability. Occasionally, he shares stories from his own experience as a man adjusting to becoming blind as an adult.
Howery’s voice can be heard across the world in commercials, corporate training, audio books, eLearning, animation, video games and more. She has recorded hundreds of commercials, narrations, training videos and other projects for some of the nation’s top companies. Her company, Satauna’s Voiceovers, won a pitch competition for blind entrepreneurs, and she hired other people who are blind with the prize money.
For 68 years, Society for the Blind has created innovative ways to empower individuals living with low vision or blindness to discover, develop and achieve their full potential. Society for the Blind has grown from a dedicated group of volunteers to a nationally recognized agency and the only comprehensive rehabilitative teaching center that provides services for a 27-county region of northern California. The nonprofit provides low-vision eye care, life and job skills training, mentorship, and access to tools to maintain independence for more than 5,000 youth, working-age adults and seniors experiencing vision loss each year. For more information or to make a donation, visit SocietyfortheBlind.org.