The Connecting Point

Volume 2 Issue 19 April 21st, 2005

In This ISSUE:

1) Information and Resources on Video Description Systems (VDS)
2) Riding the Bus With My Sister – A Hallmark of Fame Broadcast
3) www.youthhood.org website
4) NMHA Releases Medicare "Cheat Sheet"

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From: Reference Points

1) Information and Resources on Video Description Systems (VDS) Audio Description...What is it?  Audio description is the art of talking pictorially to make theater, television, films, museums, exhibits, and events more accessible and understandable to people with diminished vision. The describer carefully weaves descriptions of the key visual elements of a performance or movie into the natural pauses of the dialogue. For individuals with low or no vision, audio description provides visual accessibility

FOR TV AND MOVIES , televised described shows are designated with the symbol DVS which stands for Descriptive Video Service. The viewers television set must have a SAP (Second Audio Program) Channel in order to hear the descriptions, or they may purchase a special box that plugs into their TV and allows them to receive the descriptions. DVS is also available on video tapes from Blockbuster, and is being tested in movie theaters. To locate Movie Theaters providing DVS in your area http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/locations.html

Information on Advocating for DVS at your local theater is available from http://www.artsaccessinc.org/AAtheateracc.html

Roadmap to Movie Access -- One Advocate's journey http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/roadmap.html

Audio description is available to various degrees on c Currently over 125 TV programs are audio described via the SAP channel on your television weekly.  Time Warner Cable offers description on eleven stations , while you should be able to pickup 5 stations with just an antenna.  The popular shows CSI, JAG, and The Simpsons along with many movies (10-20 on any given weekend) now have audio description (also called video description or DVS) available.  See a current listing of available TV programs http://www.artsaccessinc.org/AAvideodesc.html#listings ited).

Video Description Restoration Act Reintroduced .  On February 18, 2005, Representative Markey reintroduced the House version of the act, as described below.  Read Representative Markey's Comments on the Video Description Restoration Act .

2) Riding the Bus With My Sister – A Hallmark of Fame Broadcast - On Sunday, May 1, Hallmark Hall of Fame will broadcast Riding the Bus with My Sister on CBS.  Directed by Angelica Houston, and starring Andie MacDowell and Rosie O'Donnell, this is the movie adaptation of our friend Rachel Simon's wonderful book of the same name. It is the story of a determined woman with mental retardation and her sister Rachel. Beth joins Rachel to partake in her favorite pastime and ride buses with her for month at a time. There travels solidify their bond and change Rachel life. Check local stations for the viewing time in your area.

3) www.youthhood.org website– is a web site that helps you to think about the future and plan want to do with the rest of their life. This Web site was built to help youth plan for the future. What will you do after high school? Will you work? Go to college? Live in a place of your own? By using this Web site, you can plan for your future right now! It includes checklists and activities to help youth develop a plan for their future. www.youthhood.org

4) NMHA Releases Medicare "Cheat Sheet" - To educate the public on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, the National Mental Health Association created a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) to help individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid understand the new Medicare prescription drug plans.

More than seven million Americans are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, and 6.4 million will need to choose one of the new Medicare plans by January 1, 2006 to continue receiving needed medications. Nearly 40 percent of these individuals have a mental or cognitive disorder.

"Navigating and understanding the recent Medicare changes can be confusing," said Michael Faenza president and CEO of NMHA. "People with mental illnesses need continuous access to proven treatments - those that have to switch to Medicare drug plans must know how, and when, to enroll."

Accompanying the FAQs is a timeline highlighting important dates surrounding the Medicare prescription drug benefit. To access these documents go to http://www.nmha.org/federal/MedicarePrescriptionDrugBenefit.cfm . For additional information or to discuss concerns regarding the benefit and the transition period, call (703) 797-2588.

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