*NEW* Described Captioned Media Program

                                               Described Captioned Media Program

                                    Article Submitted by Thom Lohman US Department of Education

The Described and Captioned Media Program [http://www.dcmp.org] (DCMP) is a U.S. Department of Education-funded nonprofit organization that provides free loan accessible (described [http://www.dcmp.org/description] and captioned [http://www.dcmp.org/captions]) educational videos for use with (pre)K-12 students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Parents, teachers, and other adults who are involved in an educational capacity with at least one qualifying student are eligible to register [http://www.dcmp.org/Register.aspx] for the DCMP’s free-loan service.

Below are some titles and series from the DCMP collection suggested specially for teachers and parents of Pre-K and Kindergarten (to grade 3) students. You may browse the complete catalog [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/Listing.aspx] on the DCMP website or use the DCMP’s convenient Google search interface [http://www.dcmp.org/Search/Default.aspx?A=2] to narrow your results by keyword. (The DCMP has prepared a helpful PDF tutorial document [http://www.dcmp.org/outreach/sitehelp/accessing_titles_with_description.pdf] for individuals looking for ONLY titles that contain description.) You may also subscribe to the “New DCMP Titles” RSS feed [http://feeds2.feedburner.com/DCMPMedia] to be notified the moment that new videos are added to the DCMP collection.

                SERIES

“This is Emily Yeung”

Sample Title: Getting Creative, Part 1 [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=5876]

“This is Emily Yeung” is a live action pre-school television series that follows its host, real life pre-schooler Emily Yeung, as she discovers the world from her own unique perspective.

“Farm to Market”

Sample Title: Vegetables [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=6086]

“Farm to Market” is a 15-part series, each episode of which follows the journey of a particular agricultural product as it is grown, harvested, processed, and then transported to its final destination in the market. Throughout the series, students are taken behind the scenes of production and manufacturing, visiting farms, ranches, and orchards as well as mills and factories.

“Exploring Communities”

Sample Title: Exploring Communities and Geography [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=5957]

What does it mean to live and work in a community? Why do communities have so many rules? What are the different types of communities? These and other questions are answered in this visually appealing and informative series. Using re-enactments, live action footage, colorful maps and engaging graphics, each of these 5 programs take youngsters on a delightful journey that helps them feel a part of their own community and understand the communities of others.

INDIVIDUAL TITLES

Hondo & Fabian [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=5815]

What happens when the dog of the house goes to the beach and leaves the cat at home with the baby? Find out in this gentle tale of the two very different days of house pets: Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat. From the book written and illustrated by Peter McCarty.

T is for Terrible [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=5816]

With humor and a touch of suspense, an introspective dinosaur reflects on his own identity as a "terrible lizard." Details the endearing story of a Tyrannosaurus Rex who wonders why he can’t be a vegetarian! From the book written and illustrated by Peter McCarty.

Hansel and Gretel [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=5814]

The classic story of a woodcutter's two lost children who find a house in the forest made of sweets and candy that belongs to a hungry witch. Story retold by James Marshall.

Dr. Seuss on the Loose [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=6121]

The pressure to conform, the inevitability of change, and the resistance to trying something new form the basis for the usual madcap adventures associated with the creative mind of Dr. Seuss. Builds upon three short stories—"The Sneetches," "The Zax," and "Green Eggs and Ham"—to create a thematic trio that explores the often fickle and flexible world of attitudes.

The Hoober-Bloob Highway [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/TitleDetail.aspx?TID=6123]

The Hoober-Bloob highway is a path of light that leads to a floating island. On that island lives Mr. Hoober-Bloob who, assisted by a self-playing instrument, sends babies to Earth. Life on the floating island isn't always cozy, but being there is always fun. Based on the story by Dr. Seuss.

Do you know of a video that the DCMP should make accessible and include in its collection? Many of the titles in the catalog were recommended by teachers and parents just like you! The DCMP relies heavily on suggestions from those in the field to determine its media acquisition priorities—you can help by recommending media to the DCMP [http://www.dcmp.org/recommend], either by mail, e-mail, or from a convenient web form.

In addition to its collection of accessible educational videos [http://www.dcmp.org/Catalog/Default.aspx] which are available on DVD (no charge for postage) or instantly online (no need for postage), the DCMP also provides information about media accessibility [http://www.dcmp.org/About/Info/Articles.aspx], training resources for captioning [http://www.captioningkey.org] and description [http://www.descriptionkey.org] vendors, and a gateway [http://www.dcmp.org/About/Info/Default.aspx] to information from other disability-related organizations. The DCMP also publishes a semi-monthly newsletter [http://www.dcmp.org/About/PRelations/EZines.aspx] with links to new DCMP titles, accessibility and advocacy information, and seasonal/holiday-related promotional information. (If you register for a DCMP account, you can opt-in to receive the newsletter during sign-up; otherwise, you may sign up for the DCMP newsletter [http://www.dcmp.org/NewsLetterSignUp.aspx] directly from the website.)

If you have any questions/comments/suggestions for the DCMP, please e-mail them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] or visit the DCMP’s “Contact Us” [http://www.dcmp.org/About/Contact.aspx#skip] page.