Audiovisual accessibility

As part of the second axis of the cinEXmedia partnership called “inclusive cinema”, audiovisual accessibility is at the heart of the CinéMédias Laboratory's reflections and priorities.

Inclusive media training

Thanks to a grant from the Fonds pour l'Accessibilité de la Radiodiffusion, Le Laboratoire launched the first edition of its Inclusive Media Training program in 2022, in collaboration with the PRAXIS Professional Development Center. The first French-language university-level training program in inclusive media in Canada, it offered specialized training in audio description, video description and voice recognition captioning. This program, both technical and theoretical, was designed to enable participants to develop media accessibility skills in line with the latest Canadian and international standards. This training program has been renewed for winter 2025, confirming the sustained interest in these skills and the Laboratory's desire to strengthen its commitment to the creation of an accessible and equitable audiovisual environment.

Introduction à l’audiodescription et la vidéodescription: cinéma, télévision et web

"Innovating in media and cultural accessibility” study days

The “Innovating in media and cultural accessibility: education, research and services” study days held on April 15 and 16, 2024 brought together researchers, experts and creators to discuss best practices in audiovisual accessibility. Initiatives such as translation into Quebec sign language, automated subtitling, accompaniment and description of visual elements were put in place to make the event accessible to people with sensory diversity. These events also included hearing screenings and hearing loss simulations, in partnership with Audition Québec, to raise awareness of sensory barriers and their effects in relation to audiovisual content.

Journées d’étude « Innover en accessibilité médiatique et culturelle : éducation, recherche et services »

Together, these initiatives illustrate the ground covered by the CineMedia Lab in the field of audiovisual accessibility, and highlight an approach rooted in research and practice to make media accessible to a diverse audience, in line with the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility it upholds.