VZP Digital

01/20/2025

Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader who championed justice, equality, and the power of unity.



Image Description:

White and black photo of Martin Luther King Jr. waving to a large crowd of people in Washington, DC. The Washinton Monument at the top right corner. A black box with which lettering say, "'Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.' Martin Luther King Jr Washington, DC 1963.'"

01/20/2025

Accessible Venues Reach More Fans

Sports have the power to bring people together, but true inclusivity happens when every fan can fully enjoy the experience. Making venues accessible isn’t just about compliance—it’s about connection, community, and creating unforgettable moments.

From real-time captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans to clearer emergency alerts and easier navigation for all, accessibility benefits everyone in the stadium.

Here’s how:

-Real-time captions help all fans follow the action, even in noisy environments.

-Emergency alerts reach everyone, ensuring safety across the venue.

-Enhanced engagement through accessible announcements, boosting fan satisfaction.

When we design for accessibility, we’re not just opening doors—we’re expanding the game for everyone. Let’s champion inclusive sports experiences and show fans that every voice and cheer matters.

What accessibility features have you seen or want to see in sports venues? Let’s keep the conversation going!

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

Image Description: Right Side: A baseball field illuminated by bright stadium lights. At the bottom of the field, there are the black silhouettes of people. In the bottom-right corner is the VZP Digital logo.
Left Side: A background transitioning from blue to black. In large white text, it reads:

“Accessible venues create unforgettable experiences for everyone” with “everyone” underlined.

"Real-Time Play Announcements: Accompanied by white scoreboard.

Emergency Alerts: Shown with small blue clouds next to a red and white triangle containing an exclamation point.

Fan Engagement: A cartoon-style man in a blue shirt standing, holding foam fingers pointing upwards."

01/17/2025

The devastating wildfires have impacted many who are blind or visually impaired, and our hearts go out to everyone affected. We are here to offer support.

01/14/2025

The Future: A Hybrid Approach

AI is unlikely to fully replace audio description services, but it can complement human efforts by:

• Generating Initial Drafts: AI can provide a starting point, allowing human experts to refine and enhance descriptions.
• Handling Simple Tasks: Basic, repetitive descriptions can be automated, freeing up professionals to focus on more complex content.
• Improving Accessibility Reach: AI can help make more content accessible quickly, particularly for smaller-scale projects or less prominent media.

Strengths of AI in Audio Description

1. Speed and Scalability: AI can quickly generate descriptions, making it useful for large-scale content where speed is essential.

2. Cost-Effectiveness: For projects with limited budgets, AI can offer basic descriptions at a lower cost.

3. Improved Object Recognition: AI models have become increasingly capable of identifying objects, scenes, and actions in video content.

Challenges for AI in Audio Description
1. Difficulty Differentiating Visual Data:

• AI struggles to interpret complex visual data, such as
subtle facial expressions, body language, or context-specific details.
• For example, AI might identify a “crowd of people” but fail to describe their emotions or the significance of the scene within a story.

2. Lack of Contextual Understanding:
• Human describers can grasp the cultural, emotional, and narrative context of a scene, allowing them to prioritize meaningful details. AI often lacks this deeper understanding.
• For instance, in a dramatic moment, humans may focus on a character’s tearful expression, while AI might generically note “a person is crying.”

3. Nuance and Creativity:
• Describing abstract or artistic visuals (e.g., metaphors in film or surreal artwork) requires creativity and subjective judgment, which AI cannot replicate.

4. Quality and Accuracy:

• AI-generated descriptions can be overly literal, irrelevant, or inaccurate. Without human oversight, this can compromise the accessibility experience for users.
Why Humans Are Still Essential
• Interpreting Subtle Details: Humans excel at identifying visual elements that convey meaning beyond what is visible on the surface.
• Maintaining Quality: Skilled audio describers ensure descriptions are accurate, engaging, and tailored to the needs of the audience.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Human professionals are better equipped to handle culturally specific references or potentially sensitive content.


Image Description:

A robot with a shiny white exterior is gazing into the distance. On the left side, a blue box contains bold white text that reads: “We asked an AI chatbot, Will AI replace human audio description?”Audio Description Challenges for AI Difficulty Differentiating Visual Data
Lack of Contextual Understanding
Nuance and Creativity
Quality and Accuracy
(Click for more)

01/13/2025

https://www.msn.com/en-us/education-and-learning/general/deaf-students-triumph-with-robo-runner-at-robotics-competition/vi-BB1roeSH?ocid=BingNewsVerp

At the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, a group of middle school students is making waves in the field of robotics. The school's robotics team, known as the Roadrunners, has garnered national attention with their creation: Robo Runner. This innovative robot, crafted by students including Sammy, Espe...

01/09/2025

In times of emergency, clear and accessible communication can save lives. Designing graphics that are accessible ensures that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, receives critical information. Here’s how to create an inclusive and effective graphic for emergency weather and crisis situations:

1. Write a Descriptive and Clear Alt Text

Alt text is essential for screen readers and should convey the key message of your graphic. For example:
“Emergency Alert: Severe thunderstorm warning in North Georgia. Expected heavy rain, hail, and strong winds. Take shelter immediately.”

• Focus on the most critical information.

2. Ensure Good Color Contrast
• Use high-contrast color combinations, like black text on a white or yellow background.
• Avoid color combinations that are difficult to distinguish, such as red and green.
• Use online contrast checkers to ensure the graphic meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards (a ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text).

3. Use Large, Legible Fonts
• Choose sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Verdana) for clarity.
• Use a minimum font size of 18-20pt for body text.
• Avoid using all caps for lengthy text, as it can be harder to read.

4. Incorporate Text Overlays and Avoid Text in Images
• Place text directly over a solid color or semi-transparent overlay to maintain legibility.
• Do not rely solely on images or icons to convey the message.

5. Include Simple Icons or Visual Cues
• Use universally recognizable symbols (e.g., a tornado icon for a tornado warning).
• Pair icons with text descriptions to ensure they are accessible to all.

6. Avoid Flashing or Moving Elements
• Flashing graphics can trigger seizures or migraines in some individuals.
• Keep animations to a minimum and ensure they are optional to view.

7. Provide Information in Multiple Formats
• Pair graphics with plain-text posts that include the same information.
• Offer the content in accessible formats like HTML, email, or downloadable PDFs with text recognition.

8. Test Your Graphic for Accessibility
• Use screen readers and color contrast tools to evaluate accessibility.
• Gather feedback from individuals with disabilities to ensure inclusivity.



Image Description:

A car is covered in a thick layer of snow, with snow piled up to the middle of the car’s wheels. To the left of the car, there is a blue rectangular block with a white upward-pointing arrow. Inside the block, white text reads: “How to Create Accessible Graphics for Emergencies.” The word "accessible" is emphasized. A small snowflake icon is positioned at the bottom of the block.

01/07/2025

We are honored to continue partnering with incredible professional sports organizations to create inclusive and accessible experiences for their fans.

Accessibility is more than a service—it’s a commitment to ensuring every fan can fully enjoy the energy, excitement, and connection that live sports bring. From real-time captioning to innovative translation solutions, we’re proud to support our clients in making their venues welcoming for all.

Thank you to our partners for trusting us to help amplify the fan experience and build a culture of inclusion in the sports world. Together, we’re proving that accessibility is a win for everyone! 🏆


Image Description:
A lush green soccer field with a crowded stadium, captured during a orange sunset.

A smartphone displaying the message:

“VZP Reach:
Every Play
Every Cheer
For Every Fan.”
At the top of the image, the VZP Digital logo and tagline read,
“We connect the world with words.”

On the left-hand side, a bold black box with white text states:
“We provide real-time captioning solutions that:

• Make your events accessible for fans who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
• Elevate engagement by offering a more inclusive environment.
• Showcase your venue as a leader in accessibility and innovation.”

01/06/2025

January 4th was World Braille Day, a time to celebrate the transformative power of Braille in creating access to education, independence, and inclusion for blind and low-vision individuals. Accessible communication is a fundamental right, and tools like Braille open doors to opportunities and empowerment.

"'Braille means I can instantly identify medication, play board games with my family and friends, and I was able to read bedtime stories with my son when he was younger,' he added."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/braille-teacher-wants-method-taught-more-widely/ar-AA1wWwIW?ocid=BingNewsVerp

A Sheffield braille teacher wants to see the six-dot tactile reading system used more widely.

01/02/2025

🌟 Happy New Year from all of us at VZP Digital! 🌟
As we step into 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for our incredible clients, partners, and community who make what we do possible. Together, we’ve broken barriers.
This year, we’re committed to continuing our mission of making the world a more inclusive place—one caption, translation, and description at a time. Here’s to innovation, collaboration, and accessibility in 2025!
Let’s make it the best year yet! 🎉


Video Description:
Blue background with out of focus blue dots. Yellow and orange fireworks burst in each corner.
White words appear
“Happy New Year 2025
Wishing you a fantastic year ahead
Filled with success, joy, and laughter.”
VZP Digital’s logo at the bottom

12/30/2024

In today’s digital age, visual content drives engagement. Photos, videos, and graphics tell stories, spark conversations, and connect us. But imagine missing out on those stories because the content wasn’t accessible.

Accessibility isn’t just a feature—it’s a responsibility. By adding elements like audio description and alt text, you ensure your visual content speaks to everyone.

At VZP Digital, we believe that inclusion starts with intention.



Image description:
A dark blue background and a solid white border.
Centered in the image are bold white letters with the text:
“In a world driven by visuals
audio description
makes the unseen accessible”
At the bottom of the image is the VZP Digital logo, accompanied by the words “VZP Digital” and the tagline, “We connect the world with words.”

12/27/2024

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/blindness-advocates-on-why-there-should-be-audio-description-oscars/ar-AA1vY0vI?ocid=BingNewsVerp

Paul Castle and Jaimee Kadish share a number of things in common, including a sharp sense of humor and a resiliency that inspires. Both are legally blind due to a rare disease called retinitis pigmentosa (RP) that causes loss of vision over time - Castle was diagnosed at 16, Kadish at 21. And both h...

12/26/2024

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/maryland-s-first-deaf-community-center-is-close-to-becoming-a-reality/ar-AA1wh9VN?ocid=BingNewsVerp

The yet-to-be-built center in Frederick will offer services that are hard to come by for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as a place for them to socialize.

12/23/2024

"It’s a great opportunity for her to see other kids that are like her. It’s a great opportunity for us to be around other families who have kids who are deaf and hard of hearing also."

On a cold December night, the inside of the St. Marks Lutheran Church in Aurora was filled with warmth thanks to Santa Claus and a group of excited youngsters.

12/20/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at VZP Digital! 🎄✨

As we celebrate this joyous season, we’re grateful for our incredible community, partners, and clients who make our work so meaningful. Wishing you peace, happiness, and success this holiday season!



Video Description:

A black background sets a festive tone, with branches adorned with red, sparkly ornaments and pinecones. In the center, the message “Happy Holidays from all of us at” appears in elegant text. Below, the VZP Digital logo and tagline are prominently displayed. Soft snow gently falls across the screen.

12/19/2024

Just a little reminder...



Image description:
A dark blue background and a solid white border.
Centered in the image are bold white letters with the text:

Achieving accessibility is not a quick race;
it’s a marathon.
As society evolves, so does the understanding of what inclusion means, reminding us that true accessibility is a
journey of continual
learning and adaptation.

At the bottom of the image is the VZP Digital logo, accompanied by the words “VZP Digital” and the tagline, “We connect the world with words.”

12/17/2024

https://travelweekly.co.uk/destinations/visually-impaired-blind-holidays

From accessible websites to adventurous activities, here’s how you can serve travellers with visual impairments

12/16/2024

Happy !!



Image Description:

A latte with delicate leaf art, resting on a wooden coaster atop a clean white countertop. Beside the latte, a rose gold spoon gleams. To the left, a clear vase holds a leafy green plant.

In the background, partially visible black text reads:

“May your coffee be hot

The vibes be good

And your content be accessible.

Happy Monday.”

VZP Digital's logo at the top

12/13/2024

We LOVE access!! We are deeply grateful to our clients in the professional sports arena for their partnership and dedication to prioritizing accessibility. Together, we are breaking barriers and ensuring that all attendees can enjoy unforgettable experiences.

"According to Noll, awareness has been rising at professional sports venues across the Tri-State Area. He’s recently given a big thumbs-up to teams such as the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders and his beloved New York Mets."

More and more teams are catching on, Gary Noll says. Here are some encouraging updates from a die-hard sports fan.