Described and Captioned Media Program
The Described and Captioned Media Program’s mission to promote and provide equal access to communication and learning for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. DCMP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the National Association of the Deaf. There are no costs or fees associated with any DCMP services.
Media Center
DCMP provides a Media Center of thousands of accessible educational videos. We work with producers and distributors of educational media to provide described and captioned versions for family members and educators with early learners through Grade 12 students who are blind or deaf. Media items are available on demand and on DVD with return postage paid. All DCMP services are free to those who qualify. DCMP members can:
- • access thousands of educational videos that are captioned and described, including training for parents, teachers and interpreters.
- • watch instantly on PC, Roku, tablets and smartphones. iOS users can download our free app from iTunes.
- • create Student Accounts to promote independent learning, with control over which videos students have access to.
- • access hundreds of posts on education, accessibility and advocacy in our Learning Center.
- • stay up-to-date on news and recently added videos by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
- • watch accessible television series such as The Magic School Bus, BizKids, Daniel Tiger, Plaza Sesamo, and Bill Nye.
Learning Center
DCMP provides accessibility information through posts in our Learning Center. Topics include include captioning, description, laws pertaining to accessibility, assistive technology, and an array of other subjects that are relevant to parents, teachers, interpreters, school administrators, captioners, describers, and media producers and distributors.
eLearning Resources
DCMP’s eLearning Resource page includes resources for teachers; professional and amateur captioners and describers; students in transition and their teachers; and ASL interpreters. CEUs are available for select resources.
eLearning Modules
DCMP has a variety of self-paced online learning modules, designed for both professionals and students. These modules are open to eLearners and full members. Select modules are preapproved for RID and ACVREP credit.
Online Workshops
DCMP offers a variety of on-demand workshops for professionals working with students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, and deaf-blind. full membership is required to register for most of these trainings. a few are open to eLerners as well. Workshops have been preapproved for RID and ACVREP credit.
QuickClasses
QuickClasses are facilitated, asynchronous, online classes for professionals working with students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low-vision, or deaf-blind. QuickClasses are approved for RID and ACVREP credit. Full membership is required to register for these classes.
Gateway
DCMP’s Gateway provides for selectively searching across a clearinghouse of accessibility-related articles from partner sites, including the American Council of the Blind, Gallaudet University, PEPNet, National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness, and the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
Guidelines for Describing and Captioning Media
DCMP’s guidelines for making educational media accessible are available for anyone to use, and indeed are utilized on all levels of video production, from broadcast content to educational video to teacher-created video.