[IL-Talk] Audio Description

[dan.tevelde at comcast.net]

Hi all,

 

Have any of you had an experience where you were using headphones in a
theater to get audio description and someone complained? I always ask for
them at our local theater, and the audio description usually works.
Yesterday I had an experience which still mystifies me. Chris and I went to
the Superman movie. I was listening to the audio description with headphones
while listening to the movie. I was sitting completely still and not
bothering anyone. Chris was sitting on my right side and there was a woman
on my left side. During the movie I heard what sounded like her talking on a
phone and then I heard her talk with Chris. All I could catch of the
conversation was Chris telling her that the headphones were for audio
description. After we left, I asked Chris why the woman was upset. Chris
said the woman said I was being disruptive. Why didn't she say something to
me? Could she really hear the audio description track? If anything, she was
the disruptive person and distracted me. I don't know what I would have said
to the woman. The whole experience leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I would
have tried being nice and missed the opportunity of educating the woman
about audio description and blindness etiquette. I don't think Chris did
anything wrong.

 

Thanks,

Dan