(See Part 2)
“If you think that the ability to see is the first requirement for being able to make a movie, then you haven’t been to Kevin Bright‘s film-making class at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston…Bright was the executive producer of the wildly successful show “Friends.” Now, he teaches students how to make films – even though many of them are completely blind. The videos they made show that while the students don’t have sight, they do have vision, and they provide a rare window into the world of the blind” (Source).
Technology continues to empower those that are “differently-abled.” While there are specially developed technologies that provide much needed assistance, beneficial uses of more commonly available tools continue to emerge. I frequently hear first and second-hand accounts about individuals’ lives being positively impacted by the opportunity to work, communicate, and move about in more efficient ways with the help of technology. The state of innovation marches forward and it is important that educators are aware of these kinds of technological contributions. They may lead to new opportunities for our students.
You can view one of the resulting student films, Seeing through the Lens, here.
Screenshot Source: NBC’s Rock Center
Related articles
- Blind filmmaking students may lack sight, but not vision, says their teacher (rockcenter.nbcnews.com)
- Lend An Eye App Lends Your Vision to The Blind (techinasia.com)
- Visual Art Touches Blind (thecrimson.com)
- Running blind: 40 sightless runners competing in Boston marathon (todayhealth.today.com)
