ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses specifically on Australian television audiences who are blind or vision impaired and the lack of audio description on Australian television despite its availability worldwide and in this country. The chapter begins with a brief history of audio description internationally, from its conceptual origins in medieval texts to its now widespread availability on video-on-demand provider Netflix. Turning specifically to the Australian example, the chapter then reflects on the contradictory availability of audio description in this country, including a brief analysis of the federally-funded Screen Australia policies pertaining to audio description. The current Australian circuit of culture regarding audio description – how identity and representation sit alongside production, consumption and, importantly in this case, regulation – is then considered using insights obtained from interviews with this group.
