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In this article, the authors present the first documented implementation of a director-produced and delivered audio description (AD) for devising theatre. In a single live, audio-described performance of Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto, Canada, the director/describer’s artistically informed approach focuses on entertainment value for blind and low vision (B/LV) theatregoers. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with the director/screenwriter/describer garnered insight into a director’s unique perspective on the development process for the integrated approach to AD, including her artistic choices, expectations and delivery style as a first-time amateur director/describer. The process of developing and delivering integrated AD had a transformative effect on her as a director.

This article discusses the importance of 'strategic chat time' for the integration of blind and low vision (B/LV) employees. Strategic chat time refers to social time not related to workplace business such as lunch, breaks, and informal social activities, where employees build relationships and assimilate into the company's culture. This study examined barriers B/LV employees experienced and strategies used in getting to know colleagues, developing friendships, and networking for career advancement. This qualitative research study was based on data gathered for a dissertation at the University of Toronto. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 B/LV employees in Canada. Valuable insights were discovered regarding coping strategies used by B/ LV employees to access the social arena. Strategies ranged from avoidance to active intervention. Thematic analysis was used to identify four categories for the reported strategies, namely, passive, resourceful, receptive, and proactive. These strategies reveal strong motivation to engage in the social arena and achieve social acceptance. Further research is warranted on the benefits of 'strategic chat time'.

Audio description (AD) is one of the main methods that people who are blind or low vision (B/LV) use to access film, television, and theatre content. AD is a second audio track inserted into the space(s) where speech is absent, which tends to be only a few seconds. Contained in that second track is an audio description of the important visual information contained within a specific scene. However, as there is insufficient time to describe all visual information, decisions about what is important to describe and how to present that information (style) to optimize a B/LV viewer’s entertainment experience are required. Most research to date has considered only short-term, single-episode experiences to gauge viewers’ reactions to the AD content. In addition, this research typically has used a monotone, single style of audio description, which is defined as “the conventional style” in this paper. We use an integrative style instead, that is defined as ‘AD designed to fit a specific show”, and differed between shows. We carried out a within-subjects longitudinal study with eight episodes of a dark comedy, using different description styles and describers in order to assess viewer engagement and preferences for AD describer style, language use, timing, and fit to the show. Twenty-four blind participants viewed and rated all eight episodes. Major findings included that most participants found the integrative style entertaining, a fit with the specific episodes, and enjoyable. Some participants, however, preferred the conventional style and struggled with the language and topic of a dark comedy and its associated descriptions.

<p>Audio description (AD) is one of the main methods that people who are blind or low vision (B/LV) use to access film, television, and theatre content. AD is a second audio track inserted into the space(s) where speech is absent, which tends to be only a few seconds. Contained in that second track is an audio description of the important visual information contained within a specific scene. However, as there is insufficient time to describe all visual information, decisions about what is important to describe and how to present that information (style) to optimize a B/LV viewer’s entertainment experience are required. Most research to date has considered only short-term, single-episode experiences to gauge viewers’ reactions to the AD content. In addition, this research typically has used a monotone, single style of audio description, which is defined as “the conventional style” in this paper. We use an integrative style instead, that is defined as ‘AD designed to fit a specific show”, and differed between shows. We carried out a within-subjects longitudinal study with eight episodes of a dark comedy, using different description styles and describers in order to assess viewer engagement and preferences for AD describer style, language use, timing, and fit to the show. Twenty-four blind participants viewed and rated all eight episodes. Major findings included that most participants found the integrative style entertaining, a fit with the specific episodes, and enjoyable. Some participants, however, preferred the conventional style and struggled with the language and topic of a dark comedy and its associated descriptions.</p> <p> </p>