Descriptive Video Works is opening a studio in New York City!

Founded in 2003, Descriptive Video Works (DVW) started out as a small studio with a handful of employees in Vancouver, British Columbia that specialized in Audio Description (AD). As the demand for accessibility increased, its services expanded to include live events, sign language services, and audio description for TV, movies, video games, and advertisements in multiple languages. 

Over the years, DVW has become a leading provider of accessibility services, helping to shape best practices in the industry. DVW believes passionately in the phrase, “nothing about us, without us,” and all services are centred around the guidance of DVW’s Advisory Council and consultants, who are all passionate accessibility consumers. 

As DVW has continued to expand, there was an increasing need for a second studio on the east coast. The new site will be located in Midtown in New York City, the media capital of the world and a major hub for broadcast networks and production companies. The new studio will offer audio description services, a dedicated sign language capture studio, additional language services, and post-production facilities.  

Eric Wickstrom is the new Head of East Coast Operations, leading production and overseeing accessibility projects for the New York studio. Eric is an award-winning producer, director, and podcast host, having provided accessibility content for networks and streaming services. Eric is a New York Knicks fan, a Bourbon collector, and “foster dad” to a puppy named Doris that his family is raising to be a guide dog for The Seeing Eye Foundation.

Maria Porto is the new Lead Producer of Sign Language services, also based in New York. Maria is the Founder of Access Broadway, a disability-led organization transforming live performance through inclusion. In her previous roles, Maria worked as a disability consultant, producer, and director of ASL production. Maria will be managing all sign language services, developing production standards, workflows, and technical specifications, and guiding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing talent pipelines. 

Liz Gutman is DVW's new Senior Writer and Creative Lead, working alongside Darla Biccum. Liz joins DVW after working as an audio description writer, narrator, and producer for almost a decade. Liz is the creator, producer, and host of “Access F*ckery,” a podcast that calls itself, “a safe space for folks from the disability community to rant, rave, and vent about failures in access, and discuss what can and should be done about it.” Liz and Darla will work together to increase community engagement, shape best practices, and explore disability-led solutions.

"For more than 20 years, Descriptive Video Works has distinguished itself as the leading provider of accessibility services. By continuing our expansion to the east coast, DVW confirms our commitment to equity, access, and inclusion. These are not just words to us; they are our guiding principles. We are very excited to welcome Eric, Maria, Liz and the rest of the New York studio to the team and look forward to this next chapter.” said Rhys Lloyd, Studio Head of Descriptive Video Works.

For more information about our accessibility services, please visit the services page, or contact us at [email protected].