[NFBMI-Talk] Paid University of Michigan Descriptive Audio Museum Study 06/24/23

[Robert Parsons]

Federation Family,

Please take some time to consider this opportunity for four
participants to take part in a paid research opportunity in Ann Arbor
at the University of Michigan. Be sure to read the study requirements
carefully and to remember that this does take place on the day of our
NFBMI Real program and Flint Genesee chapter Gala.
Begin forwarded message:
Audrey Bennett is working with University of Michigan's Museum of Art
to recruit 2 blind individuals to participate in a research study on
museum audio description.

This NEH-funded research challenges the current audio description
practice, which relies on sighted describers. It will also develop and
extend audio descriptions used as a tool for all visitors (blind,
partially blind, and non-blind) by creating and evaluating a W-ICAD
(Workshop for Inclusive Co-created Audio Description) model. The
descriptions will be co-created by blind, partially blind (BPB), and
sighted participants. We hope the project will show that the process
and final audio descriptions will include BPB and sighted audiences.

The half-day workshop will take place at UMMA from 11 AM-4 PM on June
24, 2023. After participating in the workshop, participants will be
asked to complete an online survey that will take about 30 minutes.
Lunch and snacks will be provided, and each participant will receive a
$180 gift card for their time.

The workshop will be attended by three co-creators (one blind, one
partially blind, and one nonblind), a museum professional, the
researcher, and the research assistant. Therefore, we are looking for
two blind volunteers, two partially blind volunteers, and two sighted
volunteers. Participants should be less experienced museum-goers or
consumers of audio descriptions. Instead, the project requires
relatively unbiased individuals about museum audio descriptions.

Please distribute this call for participants to your listserv.
Interested individuals can contact me by phone ‭at (734) 763-8944‬ or
by email at abennet at umich.edu.

(end of study announcement)

Thanks,
Robin

Robin Brewer, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
University of Michigan | School of Information
Accessibility, HCI, and Aging (AHA) Lab

With Love,

Robert Parsons, Jr.
President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan