Venice
In July 2009, I was invited to present a paper and workshop--"The Visual Made Verbal: Access to the Arts for People Who Are Blind via Audio Description"--to the International Conference on the Arts in Society in Venice, Italy. I welcomed the chance to be a part of this group of arts scholars. Generally, though, the attendees seemed to be relatively unaware of arts access issues and ways in which access can represent aesthetic innovation.
Indeed, Italy is not among leading nations in the area of disability access--and Venice, of course, presents particular challenges for people who use wheelchairs (or if you have luggage and there are more than a few bridges between where you disembark the vaporetto and your hotel).
Unfortunately, after a guided tour of the Venice Biennale (decidedly inaccessible to visitors who are blind), I expressed the concern at a roundtable and the general inaccessibility of Venice was cited. I immediately responded that the arts could lead--could show Venice the way. (I'm in the process of preparing a formal access proposal to the Biennale.)
Nonetheless, Venice is a unique city that I had only experienced once before, many years ago. Come cruise its canals with me!
Read MoreIndeed, Italy is not among leading nations in the area of disability access--and Venice, of course, presents particular challenges for people who use wheelchairs (or if you have luggage and there are more than a few bridges between where you disembark the vaporetto and your hotel).
Unfortunately, after a guided tour of the Venice Biennale (decidedly inaccessible to visitors who are blind), I expressed the concern at a roundtable and the general inaccessibility of Venice was cited. I immediately responded that the arts could lead--could show Venice the way. (I'm in the process of preparing a formal access proposal to the Biennale.)
Nonetheless, Venice is a unique city that I had only experienced once before, many years ago. Come cruise its canals with me!
