One of the Special Collections Research Center’s most exciting and recent acquisitions is the Joel Snyder audio description archive. Since October 2024, I have had the privilege of processing this collection with the ultimate goal of making it accessible to researchers and the public.
For decades, Dr. Joel Snyder has been a pioneer and advocate for accessibility, particularly for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Audio description—a service he has championed throughout his career—provides an additional spoken track that narrates the visual elements of various forms of media, including films, television programs, live theater performances, and more. This narration includes descriptions of facial expressions, body language, physical settings, costumes, and on-screen actions, allowing blind and low-vision audiences to fully engage with content that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Dr. Snyder’s contributions to the field extend far beyond traditional media. Over the years, he has written and voiced audio descriptions for a wide array of clients—museums, production companies, theaters, cruise lines, and more. Notably, one of his longstanding collaborations has been with the National Park Service. Through this partnership, he has developed and recorded numerous audio description tours for national parks, historic sites, forests, and battlefields, significantly expanding accessibility across our public lands.
While processing this collection, I came across a set of handwritten notes that Dr. Snyder created while drafting the audio description tour for Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West, Florida. These pages offer a glimpse into the careful planning and consideration that goes into creating a descriptive tour. His notes include detailed spatial and directional guidance, such as: “180 degrees onto brick and fresh grass, slight decline, cannon on right, 50-foot wood platform, another 15 feet to stairwell.” Such instructions reflect an attentiveness to physical context, helping ensure that listeners can mentally map the space and navigate the experience with clarity and confidence.
These drafts highlight not only the depth of Dr. Snyder’s expertise but also the thoughtful precision required in this form of storytelling. Dr. Snyder’s legacy has opened doors for countless people around the world, inviting them into spaces and stories from which they might otherwise have been excluded. The Joel Snyder Audio Description Archive highlights the impact of inclusive design and is a valuable resource for those committed to advancing accessibility in all forms. More updates to come as the collection is processed and made available to the public!
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