Deaf Awareness Curriculum

Curriculum for Vocaleyes Certificate in Audio Describing in Theatre

CURRICULUM FOR VOCALEYESCERTIFICATE IN AUDIO DESCRIBING IN THEATRE

Aims and Objectives

Aims

This course is designed to prepare candidates to work in theatrical environments providing blind and partially sighted people with access to live performance by means of a pre-prepared audio description.

It also aims to promote positive action, by enabling candidates to learn the skills necessary to interact with blind and partially sighted people, and to understand some of the barriers that they experience in their daily lives, and the solutions that have been developed to overcome some of these barriers.

The course will be delivered in 3 units.

Unit 1: Visual Impairment Awareness*

Unit 2: The Skills of the Audio Describer

Unit 3: The Responsibilities of the Audio Describer

Unit 1: Visual Impairment Awareness

*Please note that this unit should be taught in conjunction with a blind or partially sighted person.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the successful student will be able to:

1. Understand how the requirements of blind and partially sighted people differ from those of a sighted audience

1. Identify the main causes of visual impairment

1. List actions which can help reduce discrimination, including:

• positive attitudes and avoiding inappropriate terms/discriminatory language

Unit 2: The Skills of the Audio Describer

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the successful student will be able to:

1. Prepare appropriate audio description material

1. Translate visual images into words using language which is descriptive, easily understood, accurate, succinct, and appropriate to the language of the production

1. Demonstrate acceptance of the need for objectivity in the creation of audio description material

1. Identify and prioritise the key visual elements in a production which further the plot, or concern important characters

1. Identify aural elements in a production that require explanation to a blind or partially sighted person, and clarify them using appropriate language

1. Deliver an audio description in a way that renders a production accessible to a visually impaired person

1. Employ vocal skills which are sensitive to the atmosphere of the scene and the production, retain the listener’s interest, and use the appropriate speed, intonation and volume to support the meaning and intent of the production

1. Use appropriate timing and technique to deliver the description

1. Employ microphone techniques that render the audio description audible, intelligible and unobtrusive

1. Operate technical equipment competently

1. Summarise the basic technical method of audio description’s delivery and reception

3. Plan a touch tour for visually impaired people

1. Understand the importance of tactile information to visually impaired people and use this understanding to identify key elements of scenery, props and costumes that could be used on a touch tour

1. Explain how an effective touch tour should be conducted

Unit 3: The Responsibilities of the Audio Describer

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the successful student will be able to:

1. Explain the responsibilities of the audio describer and theatre staff in the provision of an audio described service

1. List the steps a describer must take in order to provide an effective audio described performance, from their initial booking to delivery of a live performance

1. Offer constructive comments to colleagues, and accept and respond positively to feedback from peers and visually impaired people

1. Identify difficulties that may arise during an audio described performance, and develop solutions that will rectify such problems

1. Explain the Health and Safety issues in connection with the Audio Describer’s role when in the theatre

Core Themes

All students undertaking this course should have acquired, accepted, and display at all times, proper respect and regard for blind and partially sighted people. Core themes will need to be acquired and displayed throughout the course, as part of a continuous assessment process in order to merit a certificate of competence.

Core themes will constitute the following elements:

• Displaying non discriminatory behaviour to visually impaired people
• Good communication skills
• Confidentiality

1