Bridge CEO, Matt Kaplowitz, was honored to receive the American Council for the Blind’s (ACB’s) prestigious Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description. According to the ACB, this award “recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time, leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.”
The ACB, formed in 1961, is one of the largest national membership organizations of blind people in the world, with over 70 state and special-interest affiliates and a network of chapters and members spanning the country and the world.
The ACB’s 2020 award ceremony was held, virtually, on July 7, 2020. The following is the acceptance speech delivered by Matt, remotely:
I am excited beyond words to accept the American Council of the Blind’s Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description. It’s a great honor being recognized by ACB, an organization whose name is synonymous with audio description, and I deeply thank everyone who made it possible.
This year, everyone has been experiencing uncertainty and change on an epic scale and it is time for accessibility providers to respond.We can use audio description to build greater knowledge and awareness wherever it’s needed during these unusual times. For example, Bridge Multimedia pledged its support to audio describe ten hours of original programming teaching remote learning during COVID-19, to students with special needs, for the U.S. Department of Education. Still, there’s a lot more to be done…
Recent events have directed the nation’s focus to the continuing struggle for social justice. Throughout the past decade, Bridge has acted by providing, pro-bono, audio description for more than 100 documentaries and independent feature films with socially progressive themes.
We’re proud to have produced the first public service announcement on network television about audio description, and to continuously be providing audio description to support the fabulous work of Ronald McDonald House Charities. We’re also developing an accessible video podcast series that introduces STEM careers to blind/low vision and deaf and hard of hearing students.
Years ago, Barry Levine challenged me to expand the reach of audio description. So now, in 2020, I challenge each one of us to see how we can further the use of audio description as a powerful instrument to help spread social justice and foster greater diversity, equality, and accessibility. Thank you, ACB, for this award, and thank you to the entire accessibility community for the crucial work you do – whatever the circumstances.
Here’s to a “new normal” worth attaining – the freedom, independence, and shared productivity of all citizens.Thank you.