Cartoon for blind children will be shown on Russian television for first time

UFA, 2 November 2018. /Bashinform News Agency, Rozaliya Valeeva/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/. The first on Russian television cartoon with audio descriptive commentary "Pirate Girl and Captain" will be shown on the children's television channel TiJi on November 3 at 14.30 (Moscow time), as reported by the Agency of Social Information.

The technology of audio descriptive commentary allows the visually impaired and blind viewers to better understand what is happening on the screen. A professional commentator between actors' dialogues conveys the details of objects, actions, and phenomena necessary for a complete perception of the plot.

“According to the All Russia Association of the Blind, there are about 300,000 registered blind people in Russia, some of which are children. In Europe, audio description is no longer a novelty, and we would like the “Equal Opportunities Hour on TiJi” project make us think about the need to introduce an audio track with descriptive commentary on all TV channels”, said a representative of the TV channel, Julia Brilliantova.

The channel will show a new cartoon series every weekend. Total viewers will be able to watch 52 episodes of the animated series with audio description.

The “Equal Opportunities Hour on TiJi” project for blind children is being implemented with the support of the charity foundation of Alisher Usmanov “Art, Science and Sport”. Since 2013, the foundation has a special vision support program for people with visual impairment. It is aimed at the development of innovative technologies for the rehabilitation and sociocultural adaptation of blind and visually impaired people.

Earlier, the Ministry of Culture obliged cinema owners to equip at least one hall with special devices in order to show films with audio description and subtitles for visitors with disabilities.