1 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,600 EASIT, Easy Access for Social Inclusion Training. 2 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,680 Unit 3B. Easy to understand and audio description. 3 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,040 Element 1. Processes. 4 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,200 Sample 1: Teatro Real. 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,800 This video includes an interview with Javier Jiménez Dorado 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,480 director and founding member of Aptent. 7 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,240 Aptent is devoted to the provision of accessibility services 8 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,200 for people with sensory and/or cognitive disabilities. 9 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,920 In this interview, Javier talks about audio explanations nowadays, 10 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:50,080 to what extent these recordings are accessible for all 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,360 and how they could be improved. 12 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:55,040 Hello, my name is Ana Pereira 13 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,560 and I work at Universidade de Vigo, Spain. 14 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,640 It's a pleasure to be here with Javier Jiménez Dorado 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,280 to talk about audio explanations and easy-to-read texts. 16 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:05,720 Hi, Javier. How are you? 17 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,280 Hello, Ana. I'm well. Thank you for inviting me. 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:11,640 Thank you. 19 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,400 Before we start with everything Javier has to tell us 20 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,760 let me briefly introduce him. 21 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,880 He is the founder and director of Aptent. 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:26,200 Aptent is a technology-based company that provides accessibility services 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:31,720 in theatres, opera, media, on-site and online events, congresses, etc. 24 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,720 Its goal is to create a world free of barriers 25 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,400 for people with sensory and cognitive disabilities. 26 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,520 We would like him to share with us 27 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,760 his experience in creating easy-to-understand audio explanations. 28 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,360 So, our first question is... 29 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:55,000 Could you explain what audio explanations are 30 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,120 where the accessibility service is used and provided 31 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,120 and who it is intended for? 32 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:02,600 The floor is yours. 33 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,280 Alright. Well, let's see... Audio explanations, 34 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,840 which some people call easy audio, 35 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,560 is a cognitive accessibility service based on the concept of easy to read 36 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,360 which shares many similarities with regards to audio description 37 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,920 in the way we work with it, at least. 38 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,000 For example, the audio description of a play or a film 39 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,480 has a goal, which is to facilitate the comprehension of the product 40 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,680 that is, the recording of the show 41 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,360 to people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities 42 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,360 or comprehension difficulties. 43 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,840 They are usually voice recordings 44 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,320 that have been created in easy to read, 45 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,840 which have also been approved 46 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,240 according to the methodology of easy to read 47 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:58,880 validated by a working group of people with intellectual disabilities. 48 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:04,480 These voice recordings are included during pauses when there's no dialogue 49 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,200 so as not to interfere with it. 50 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,840 And they are used to explain the meaning of difficult words 51 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,920 to clarify what is happening, to remind of a significant past event. 52 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,560 And without interfering too much in the process 53 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,760 you can create and offer that accessibility. 54 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,280 What is the process like? 55 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:29,600 What are the phases of the creation of audio explanations? 56 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,000 How are they created? 57 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,240 Well... 58 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,440 Regarding the part that resembles audio description... 59 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,440 The process and what is delivered are very similar 60 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,880 but there are certain nuances. 61 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,600 Generally speaking, the phases would be as follows. 62 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:53,240 The first step is to always analyse the work as a whole. 63 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,480 At the same time, we can start pinpointing the gaps 64 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,760 as well as the difficulty and potential problems 65 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,520 and maybe compile materials, research information, etc. 66 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,240 In the second phase, after the analysis, 67 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,080 we can start working on the script. 68 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,040 This work is usually done by a qualified professional, 69 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,840 in this case with experience in cognitive accessibility 70 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:22,080 so as to identify which issues need to be addressed 71 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:23,800 in the space we have and so on. 72 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,680 The main difference here is that 73 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:33,280 the review process is carried out not only by peers, as it's usually done 74 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,720 but the results are also reviewed by people with disabilities, 75 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,600 which comes from the methodology of easy to read. 76 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,920 This working group can make changes, suggestions and modifications, 77 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,400 which then undergo that same process. 78 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:56,240 Once the text has been reviewed and approved for the next phase 79 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,560 the voice-over can begin. 80 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,760 Once the voice-over is done 81 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,520 depending on whether it's a play or an audiovisual product 82 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,320 it will require different preparation or technical editing. 83 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,160 Before delivering the product to the customer 84 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:17,880 a final review or quality control check is always carried out by another person 85 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,800 to make sure that there are no errors and that all standards are met. 86 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,160 How do you transform a product 87 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,360 like an interview with a specialist into an easy-to-understand audio? 88 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,880 Can the audio be removed and dubbed in easy to understand? 89 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:36,080 Is that possible? 90 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,360 Well, there are always products that are difficult to adapt. 91 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,920 In this case, what we usually do 92 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,360 is follow the rule of not interfering with the dialogue. 93 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,680 We believe that is the most appropriate way 94 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,360 as we don't want to modify the original. 95 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:59,200 We also follow the experience and guidelines 96 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,360 in the UNE standard. 97 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,520 I'm sorry, I can't remember it now. 98 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:09,200 The 153020 or something like that I think it is. 99 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:10,880 The audiodescription one. 100 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,280 The standard UNE 153020 on audio description, yes. 101 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,880 There's no standard for easy to understand or audio explanations 102 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,200 so we use that one. 103 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,400 If there are not many gaps, 104 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,160 a common strategy that is used in audio description 105 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,280 is to include explanations at the beginning of the interview. 106 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,720 You may have to anticipate what will come up 107 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,160 but if you do preliminary work 108 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,920 which in the context of audiodescription is called audio introduction... 109 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,440 If you make an audio introduction that explains in easy to read 110 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,360 things that you can't explain later because there is no time 111 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:55,600 that is an advantage. 112 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,520 Then you'd use the few gaps available. 113 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,240 In any case, it depends on the interview and the context. 114 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,760 It could be an option to create another version. 115 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,800 In this sense, we should make a distinction... 116 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,320 We can create an adapted version of the content 117 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,160 and in that case, if they give us permission, 118 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:21,200 as you said, we can edit the original product 119 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,600 and either force the gaps by pausing the video 120 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,880 and inserting a voice-over track that offers explanations. 121 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,280 Or we can make a fully dubbed version explaining what is necessary. 122 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,080 There are those two approaches. 123 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:38,240 Right. 124 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:44,200 Do you think these services could be used in other contexts? 125 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:45,680 And in which ones? 126 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,320 Yes, of course they can. 127 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,080 In the past few months, 128 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,440 we've worked with a publishing company 129 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,800 that produces books in easy to read. 130 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,880 The book was created using easy-to-read language. 131 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,440 However, they also added QR codes in the corners of each page 132 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:09,800 so that readers can listen to the book in an easy-to-read version. 133 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:11,480 In this case 134 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,760 the product was fully accessible from the start. 135 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,280 However, this strategy can be applied 136 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,720 to any book or document that can have a QR code added to it 137 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,600 so that it offers an accessible easy-to-read version. 138 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:33,040 When talking about audio explanations with people that use this service 139 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,320 have they ever pointed out negative or positive aspects 140 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,000 or expressed preferences or posed any suggestions 141 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,920 when it comes to audio explanations? 142 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,120 What feedback did users give you? 143 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,880 Well, in my opinion, 144 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,480 the group that benefits from this cognitive accessibility 145 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:55,400 is wide and heterogeneous. 146 00:08:55,680 --> 00:09:00,120 More so than any other group of people with disabilities 147 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,880 that has difficulties to access communication 148 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,480 in general terms, which is my focus. 149 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:07,880 The point is... 150 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:09,080 Sometimes... 151 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,080 Since we have so many limitations, as we said 152 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,720 in terms of time and physical space to adapt the product 153 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,520 it is difficult to create a version that satisfies everyone. 154 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,760 Then you may find that in the review process 155 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,600 corrections, modifications or suggestions have been made. 156 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,320 For that reason... 157 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,320 That's why I think that in this service 158 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,720 it is important to follow the rule of undergoing a review 159 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,440 so that the product can benefit from that personal touch. 160 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,360 It's also true, as I have discussed with other colleagues, 161 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:48,680 that the groups reviewing this are small 162 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,840 and the target audience is also heterogeneous. 163 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,520 It is not the same case as for other disabilities 164 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:58,840 such as visual or hearing impairments 165 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,400 which are groups whose needs are way more standardised, in a way 166 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,800 and they are... 167 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,000 They are better known or more common. 168 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:10,800 In any case... 169 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,240 The goal is to always try to do our best. 170 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,880 I think that the more we work on this 171 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,640 the better the technique will be, we will create standards 172 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,840 and I think we will find ways to ensure... 173 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,240 To make sure... 174 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:30,280 To make sure that the probability that these accessibility services work 175 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:35,000 for as many people as possible increases over time. 176 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,000 Thank you so much for your time and your availability, Javier. 177 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,560 Surely, all this information you've shared with us 178 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,640 will help us to better understand this area of accessibility. 179 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,040 Perfect. 180 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,040 Well, thank you, Ana. 181 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,240 Good luck with the project. 182 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,760 I can't wait to see the results. 183 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,400 This video was prepared by Ana Pereira Rodríguez 184 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,520 from Universidade de Vigo 185 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,520 and Javier Jiménez Dorado from Aptent. 186 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,320 It was produced by Jesús Meiriño-Gómez 187 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,200 from Universidade de Vigo. 188 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,480 EASIT has received funding from the EC programme 189 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:20,600 Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education 190 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:27,480 grant agreement 2018-1-ES01-KA203-05275. 191 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,000 The EC support for this publication 192 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,840 does not endorse the contents 193 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,400 which reflect the authors' views. 194 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,840 The EC cannot be held responsible 195 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,400 for any use of the information contained therein. 196 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,480 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 197 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,600 ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 198 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,080 Partners of the EASIT project: 199 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,600 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 200 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,160 Università Degli Studi Di Trieste. 201 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:58,920 Universidade de Vigo. 202 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,320 Stiftung Universität Hildesheim. 203 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:02,800 SDI München. 204 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,360 Dyslexiförbundet. 205 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,360 Radiotelevizija Slovenja. 206 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:07,760 Zavod RISA. 207 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,080 EASIT. Easy Access for Social Inclusion Training.