Paid Audio Description Training Opportunity

Audio Description Training Retreats is dedicated to providing training options that promote a more diverse and inclusive Audio Description industry. We are seeking passionate writers who are committed to accessibility to join our special training program this year!

Requirements

Applicants must be available from 8 am to 4 pm Pacific / 11 am to 7 pm Eastern on the following Saturdays for virtual classes:

July 12th

July 19th

July 26th

August 9th

August 23rd

September 6th

September 20th

October 4th

October 18th

In addition to approximately 75 hours of remote virtual class time, students should expect to complete about 40 hours of homework and a lot of reading over the course of 4 months.

Applicants must be familiar with Audio Description (AD), but must not be currently working as a paid AD Writer or Live Describer.

Applicants must be interested in pursuing AD for television and movies as a full- or part-time freelance career.

Preference will be given to candidates from underrepresented communities, so we especially welcome applications from Black, Indigenous, and people of color or other world majority populations, as well as those with disabilities!

Skills

Audio Describers should be observant, detail-oriented, and empathetic. They need to possess excellent grammar, punctuation, spelling skills, and an extensive vocabulary. If you take deep satisfaction in finding the perfect word for every situation, you are exactly who we're looking for!

This training is focused on writing Audio Description, so no narration experience is required, and applicants should not be primarily interested in voicing or recording media.

Benefits

Successful applicants will receive training worth approximately $2,100 USD at no cost, plus a stipend of $900 USD upon completing the full program.

The graduates will be hired on a freelance basis post-class for a project with a major video producer. This paid apprentice position includes mentorship from an experienced writer at a leading description company and may lead to further opportunities.

Additionally, graduates will be eligible to apply for positions with other AD providers.

How to Apply

The deadline to apply is May 1st, 2025.

Please apply by completing the Google Form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-QImRTcSvSPPgwo_deSeOcCtkqDuXvZDn_u7j8cY7thbh7g/viewform?usp=header

If you cannot use the Google Form, or if you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@ADTrainingRetreats.com.

Our Team

Colleen Connor

ADTR Director

Colleen Connor is the co-founder and Director of Audio Description Training Retreats (ADTR). As a blind professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theatre and training from The London Dramatic Academy, Colleen brings a unique perspective to the field of Audio Description (AD). Their work encompasses museum exhibitions, quality control, voice performance, training others in AD roles, advocating for accessibility, and maintaining high quality curriculum materials. Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, Colleen and the ADTR team collaborate with like-minded entities such as Netflix, the BlackStar Film Festival, and Descriptive Video Works (DVW) to support opportunities for blind and other chronically marginalized talents. Colleen herself can be heard on several description tracks, and recently collaborated with Roy Samuelson to write the open AD for the AFB documentary “Possibilities” by BeachGlass Films. Colleen’s goal is to continue fostering a diverse, supportive, and professionally integrated AD community.

Melissa, a white woman with very short brown hair, smiles as she runs through a field towards us

Melissa Hope

ADTR Instructor

Melissa Hope fell in love with audio description when a retinal detachment treatment led to her having to lie on her side with her eyes closed for 5 days. Ever since, she's been an avid consumer and creator of AD. She has worked for several years in client services and project management for an AD studio in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she also helps with quality control and writer recruitment. She is actively involved in propelling the industry forward with a focus on quality, diversity, and inclusion. Melissa is passionate about excellence in AD, and believes representation matters.

Adrienne, a woman with light brown skin and dark hair, beams at us, her arms cuddling two small dogs.

Adrienne Livingston

ADTR Consultant

Adrienne Livingston is a voiceover artist based in Portland, Oregon. In 2022 she learned about audio description and quickly became passionate for the accessibility of entertainment for blind and low vision communities. She provides audio description for live theatre shows and is loving it! She wants the industry to be more diverse and inclusive and has made it a personal mission to introduce diverse communities to the voiceover and audio description industries. Representation matters in all aspects.