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Blind & Low Vision Resources
The information below can help people who are blind or have low vision find resources and services.
Last Updated: May 5, 2025
Audio Description Services
MOPD is providing this information to help you locate AD services, but does not make any representation or warranty concerning the quality or accuracy of the services provided by the establishments listed. Nor is this an exhaustive list.
Audio description is used to make videos and live events accessible for blind and low vision viewers. Audio description is either a pre-recorded or live verbal description of the important aspects of what is visually happening in a video or live event.
Individual Professionals
These individuals have experience providing audio descriptions for videos, live or virtual events, and performances. Please note that for live in-person events, you will also need to acquire transmitters to broadcast their descriptions to event attendees. See the listing of organizations below as some might rent equipment.
Alejandra Ospina
She works regularly as a media access provider on a variety of projects, for which she might create content as an audio describer, translator, or closed caption provider.
email@superaleja.org
Aleja's Website
Andrea Miskow
Audio Describer for Broadway and nonprofit theaters in the Tri-State Area.
amiskow@gmail.com
Andrea on LinkedIn
Bill I. Larson
Professional voiceover with home studio and SourceConnect. Voice for audio description, audio book narration, sleep and relaxation narration, commercials, animation, home automation, and retail voicework. Will work in MD, PA, and NY or remotely.
856-417-5042
BLarson12@gmail.com
Bill's Website
Eli Schiff
Audio Narration services. Home studio, complete with Sennheiser 416, Adobe Audition and Source Connect Standard. Can connect via Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype or phone patch.
516-729-8945
elliot.schiff@gmail.com
Eli's Website
Erin DeWard
Erin is the owner and operator of deWord Audio located in lovely Nyack, NY, just 27 miles from New York City. deWord specializes in audio description, audiobook narration, and voice work for all kinds of media. With a small stable of professional voice actors, deWord collaborates with clients to bring their imagined projects to life.
deword.audio@yahoo.com
Erin's Website
Linnea S
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of providing audio description for a variety of TV shows, including "Finding Your Roots," "Pet Vet Dream Team," and "Where's Waldo," as well as commercials for recognized brands like Chase and Carnival Cruise Lines. I've also contributed to the Reel Abilities Film Festival and other impactful projects. I'm well-versed in utilizing Source Connect for seamless remote recording sessions and have audio editing capabilities to deliver polished and professional tracks promptly. Feel free to explore my voice over samples at EliteVoiceOver.com.
646-450-4064
Linnea@elitevoiceover.com
Linnea's Website
Melissa Exelberth
Narrator and voiceover actor for Audio Description, TV Documentaries, Corporate Films and other narration and voiceover work, on-site or from my pro recording booth in NYC, equipped with Source Connect and other connection options. I also speak Spanish, which comes in handy.
646-867-0660
ex@melissaexelberth.com
Melissa's Website
Michelle Mantione
An audio describer, specializing in dance and movement.
5678shelly@gmail.com
Michelle's Website
Mike Harrison
Expert, credible voice-over. Comfortable in the age range of 30 to 80 years, baritone/bass, deep, resonant, smooth, warm, rich, clear. Extensive 40+ year background in corporate/business/industrial and eLearning genres for many Fortune 500 companies. High attention to detail, technical excellence, expert audio editing, quick turnaround.
Contact Mike Harrison
Mike Harrison's Website
Mike McGann
I'm a voice talent of five years and I have voiced a few hundred AD projects since late 2022. I process scripts using Adobe Audition to sync voice to picture, and I am also available for remote direction over Zoom, Source-Connect, Teams, and other methods. Microphone is a TLM 102 and I share large files securely through WeTransfer. I also have a professional grade recording space to take on longer projects without interruptions.
mikemcgannvoice@gmail.com
Mike McGann's Website
Nefertiti Matos Olivares
Blind bilingual Latina with a voice that can adapt to the needs of any project. Previous work includes AD narration for Netflix Originals Halftime and Hart Shot, the NYTimes Op-Docs selection My Disability Roadmap, movie trailers, music videos, and independent films. Available to voice, QC, and write Audio Description for commercials, art exhibits, museum tours, TV and streaming series, film, animation, cultural events, audio dramas, corporate and e-learning. If you're seeking a personable and passionate professional, then I'm ready to put my talents to work for you!
NefMatOli@gmail.com
Nefertiti on LinkedIn
Tess Dworman
My services are audio description writer and narrator for live performance, pre-recorded media, and static art.
tess.marguerite@gmail.com
Tess's Website
Tom Dheere
I am a full-time non-union voice actor based in New York City who provides Audio Description narration.
973-216-3808
tom@tomdheere.com
Tom's Website
Organizations
These companies generally provide audio description services for videos. Some may provide equipment rentals.
3Play Media
Founded in 2008, 3Play Media is committed to making web video widely accessible, using technology and human expertise to deliver high-quality video accessibility services at a fair cost and unlimited scale. This is a subscription -based service.
Access-USA
Access-USA has over two decades of experience and leadership in helping businesses and organizations to communicate more effectively with over 4.2 million people with vision disabilities.
Phone: 800-263-2750
Email: info@access-usa.com
Access-USA Website
Audio Description Solutions
Founded in 2001, Audio Description Solutions’ writers, editors, and narrators are professionally trained individuals from across the country who have extensive experience in audio description. They provide audio description services for a wide variety of cultural organizations, live performance venues, movies, TV shows, and educational films. Note: they are not based in New York, therefore live performances will include costs for travel.
Phone: 626-818-0439
Contact ADS
Audio Descriptions Solutions Website
Bridge Multimedia
A New York City-based accessibility enterprise that works with commercial, education, entertainment, government, and corporate clients to make the 21st Century media landscape available to all people.
Phone: 212-213-3740Contact Bridge
Bridge Multimedia Website
International Digital Centre (IDC)
Founded in 1998, IDC Digital is a bi-coastal post-production facility bridging cultural gaps with the art of storytelling and connecting global citizens through localization, distribution and accessibility.
Phone: 212-581-3940
Email: info@idcdigital.com
International Digital Services Website
Media Movers
Audio description dubbing, subtitling, voiceovers, & production in all languages.
646-233-2226
info@media-movers.com
Media Movers Website
Social Audio Description Collective
Audio Description for documentaries and feature films; audio tours and image description for art, educational exhibits, and museums. All projects undergo Blind quality control. Most are also either narrated, audio edited or led by Blind members of the collective.
Contact the Collective
's Website
Sound Associates
Rents/sells devices for audio describing live events. The Sound Associates’ line of assistive listening products has become synonymous with Broadway since its introduction in 1979. Whether outfitting a theater, classroom, courtroom, or house of worship, the variety of low-voltage emitters make it practical and easy to retrofit into any facility and offer state-of-the-art assistance for people with vision or hearing disabilities and non-English speakers.
Phone: 212-757-5679
Email: newyork@soundassociates.com
Sound Associates Website
Books, Braille, & Technology
Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
This barrier-free branch of the New York City Public Library provides comfortable reading rooms, large collections of specially-formatted materials, audio playback equipment for listening to recorded books and magazines, and a variety of other electronic reading aids. The Library has a children's room and a meeting room for concerts, lectures, and other special events. While it is a branch of the New York Public Library System, it is also the local branch of the National Library Service for the Blind and operates an extensive mailing program that delivers thousands of recorded and braille books to patrons in the NYC and Long Island area. The books are shipped free of charge, as part of a federal program established by the Library of Congress.
It also has computers and equipment available to the public for translating and embossing braile, as well as creating tactile graphiscs.
40 W. 20th Street
New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-206-5400
TTY: 212-206-5458
Fax: 212-206-5418
Andrew Heiskell Library Website
AppleVis
A community-powered website for blind and low-vision users of Apple's range of Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV and Apple Watch. AppleVis strives to empower the community by offering multiple pathways to access and share relevant and useful information. As a community, we seek to encourage and support people in exploring the many ways in which Apple products and related applications can offer opportunities to the blind for personal enrichment, independence, and empowerment.
Cool Blind Tech
CoolBlindTech.com is among the most popular assistive technology news sites in the world. It is the go-to source for professionals, influencers, and gadget enthusiasts looking for the latest in assistive tech, product reviews, industry analyses, and more.
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes is a free mobile app with one main goal: to make the world more accessible for blind and low-vision people. The app connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted volunteers and companies from all over the world through a live video call. Be My Eyes is available for download on both iOS and Android. Users are able tp receive specialized help from official company representatives such as Microsoft. Be My Eyes also offers a variety of corporate solutions such as Be My Eyes for Work, Corporate Volunteering, Be My Eyes Experiences, and Be My Eyes Careers. To find out more, visit their website.
A new feature is Be My AI, which allows a user to take a picture of their surroundings and receive a detailed description. They can then ask questions and get more specific information.
Email: info@bemyeyes.com
BlindSquare
A smartphone app that makes use of the latest features available in smartphones to aid the blind and visually impaired with orientation and mobility. It has been developed and tested in close cooperation with blind and visually impaired users. BlindSquare determines the user’s location using an iOS-device’s GPS capabilities and looks up information about the environment on Foursquare and Open Street Map. Employing unique algorithms, it will then ascertain the information most useful to the user and speak it in a clear, synthetic voice.
Bookshare
With over 1.3 million titles, Bookshare® audiobooks and ebooks make reading easy. You can customize your reading experience with assistive reading features that remove reading barriers. You can find virtually any book for school, career, or leisure in one convenient place. Bookshare is free for blind students and patrons of the National Library Service for the Blind.
CCVIP at Helen Keller Services for the Blind
The mission of the CCVIP is to increase the freedom, independence, and productivity of people who are blind or low vision through the power of digital technology. This is accomplished through training, applied research, product testing and development, and community awareness initiatives.
180 Livingston Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718-522-2122 ext.2716
Learning Ally
A national non-profit dedicated to helping students with print disabilities, including blindness and dyslexia. Learning Ally improves the way students learn at home and in the classroom by providing audio and DAISY books in accessible formats.
NFB-Newsline of NY
A free service available to anyone who is blind or otherwise print-disabled. It offers over 500 English and Spanish publications from around the world. There are US national newspapers, international newspapers, and local newspapers; as well as dozens of magazines. NFB-NEWSLINE also offers emergency weather alerts and seven day forecasts, job listings, TV listings, retail ads and more. There are a number of access methods including touch-tone telephone, mobile app for iOS, on Demand emails, a secure website, Amazon Alexa Skill, and a variety of portable digital players including the NLS Talking Book player and Victor Reader Stream 2nd Generation.
Toll Free: 844-NFB-of-NY (844-632-6369)
Sign up for NFB Newsline
NFB Newsline Website
Family Services
APH FamilyConnect®
FamilyConnect is here to support you, your child, your family, and your child’s medical and educational team members. Discover tips, ideas, information, and personal stories to support your family in raising your child.
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to give vital support, encouragement, and information. We have over 3,000 members in all 50 states and divisions or parent contacts in about 30 states plus Puerto Rico.
Phone: 603-903-5855
Guide Dog Schools
America’s Vet Dogs
They breed their own dogs, using Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Lab/Golden crosses.
Smithtown, NY - Accepts Veterans and First Responders from Across U.S.
Phone: 631-930-9090
Dogs, Inc.
They breed, raise, and train Labradors and a cross between Labs and goldens they call a Goldador.
Palmetto, FL - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 941-729-5665
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc.
They breed, raise, and train only Fidelco German Shepherd Dogs from Bavarian stock.
Bloomfield, CT - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 860-243-5200
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
They breed, raise, and train Labrador Retrievers, Smooth Collies, Labrador/Collie Cross, and Bouvier des Flandres. They are also known for their Hometown Training methodology.
Cassville, NY - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 315-822-5132
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. (GDF)
They breed their own dogs, using Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Lab/Golden crosses.
Smithtown, NY - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 800-548-4337
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. (GDB)
Most of their dogs are Labrador Retrievers, with a small percentage of Golden Retrievers and Lab/Golden crosses. They breed most of their dogs, with a small percentage coming from other schools and exchange programs.
San Rafael, CA - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 800-295-4050
Guide Dogs of America / Tender Loving Canines
They train Labrador Retrievers, Labrador/Golden Retriever crosses, and Golden Retrievers.
Los Angeles, CA - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 800-459-4843
Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
They use Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Lab-Golden Retriever Crosses.
San Antonio, TX - Accepts Students from Across Texas.
Phone: 210-366-4081
Guide Dogs of the Desert
They do not specify the breeds they use for guide dogs.
Whitewater, CA - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 760-329-6257
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
They breed and train Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.
Yorktown Heights, NY - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 800-942-0149
Leader Dogs for the Blind
They use Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and crosses of those breeds.
Rochester Hills, MI - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 248-651-9011
OccuPaws Guide Dog Association
They breed and train English-lineage Labrador and Golden Retrievers, as well as Standard Poodles.
In-Home Training - Accepts Students from Wisconsin and Surrounding States.
Phone: 608-772-3787
Pilot Dogs
They breed and train Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and German Shepherds.
Columbus, OH - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 614-221-6367
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
They breed and train German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and a Lab/golden Retriever crosses.
Morristown, NJ - Accepts Students from Across U.S.
Phone: 973-539-4425
Mobility and Rehab Services
NYS Commission for the Blind (NYSCB)
The mission of the New York State Commission for the Blind is to enhance employability, maximize independence, and assist in the development of the capacities and strengths of people who are legally blind.
NYS Commission for the Blind Website
Harlem Office
Serving adults and young adults (transition services) in the Bronx, Western Queens, and Manhattan north of 23rd Street.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building
163 West 125th Street, Suite 1315
New York, NY 10027
Phone: 212-961-4440
Queens Outstation
Serving adults and young adults (transition services) in Eastern Queens.
Phone: 718-557-8860
Lower Manhattan Office
Serving all ages in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Manhattan south of 24th Street.
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 401
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-825-5710
Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB)
Provides community rehabilitation services, senior day centers, pre-school programs, day treatment programs, social services, adaptive low-vision clinic, and audiological services.
180 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 718-522-2122
Fax: 718-935-9463
The Lighthouse Guild
The Lighthouse Guild assists persons of all ages who are blind or partially sighted to lead independent and productive lives.
250 W 64th Street
New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-769-6200
TTY: 212-821-9713
Fax: 212-821-9707
Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Visions is a non-profit agency that promotes the independence of people who are blind or visually impaired.
500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 888-245-8333
Addiction Treatment for Individuals with Disabilities: Rehab Centers for the Deaf and Blind
Addiction can be a harrowing experience for anyone. For those with a sensory disability such as Deaf, Hard of Hearing, blind or low vision, this experience can be even more daunting. This webpage contains information on specific risk factors for this population, the dangers of substance use disorders (SUD), important elements and access points within treatment, and resources to help you find a program to best serve your needs.
Phone: 888-341-4325
Rehab Center for the Blind Website