Resumo

Audio description (AD) is an essential tool for inclusion, enabling people with visual disability to access audiovisual and artistic content on an equal footing. In Portugal, the availability of AD remains very limited, creating considerable barriers to cultural participation and access to information. The aim of this paper is three-fold: 1) to briefly analyse the current situation regarding AD in Portugal, 2) highlight the challenges faced by the community with visual disability in the cultural sphere, and 3) present the MiB_Mind the Blind project. The MiB project aims to address these gaps by developing a repository of non-professional audio descriptions in European Portuguese, available online free of charge and accessible to all, created primarily by students and trainees. This repository not only aims to increase the availability of AD content but also seeks to encourage collaboration and the professional development of its contributors. Key features include an accessible, bilingual interface, customisable settings for users with varying degrees of visual impairment, and mechanisms for user feedback, enabling their direct involvement. By encouraging collaboration between students, professionals and people with visual impairments, Mind the Blind promotes both social inclusion and best practice in accessibility. As a growing and diverse database, with ongoing community involvement and innovative outreach initiatives, Mind the Blind seeks to make culture and information more accessible and inclusive for everyone.