[Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing assistance from blind theater performers

Wed Aug 29 18:16:51 UTC 2018

Hi, Julie,

Please contact me off-list, as Donna is very interested in hearing from you
and anyone else in performing.

I have also sent her the link to sign up to this list.

Thanks a ton.

Judy Jones
Sonshines59 at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Julie McGinnity via Perform-talk
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 3:25 PM
To: Performing Arts Division list
Cc: Julie McGinnity
Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing
assistance from blind theater performers

Hi Judy,

Yes, plenty of blind people are involved in performance on stage.  I
learned to act in opera training, but many of the same blindness
skills apply.

I am so sorry and disheartened that your friend's theater group
doesn't want to accept her as a member now that she is blind.  Yes,
she can most certainly challenge them, and yes, she definitely should
if she wants to continue acting.  Like everything else in our blind
lives, there are several ways to navigate the stage and deal with
other access issues related to acting.

Scripts in accessible format are a must.  Whatever that means for your
friend...  Braille, large print, electronic...  The theater should be
able to provide her with an electronic version of whatever they're
using.  And she can memorize it or work on a way to read it in
rehearsals.

She doesn't need to be guided on and off stage.  She can spend time
before and after rehearsals familiarizing herself with the space with
her cane.  Of course, if she wants to use sighted guide in certain
situations, then that is her choice.  And that is a valid choice too.
Sometimes it's easier to follow people by touching them as you go off
stage or by allowing them to guide.  But I can't stress enough that
this is always her choice and should never be taken out of her
control.

I don't know your friend's situation: what blindness skills she has,
whether she uses a cane or can read Braille, etc.  What I recommend
personally may depend on her specific needs.  I am happy to answer
more questions though.  I am also available if you and she need help
advocating with her.  Theater companies cannot discriminate based on
disability.  Let me know what kind of support you may need.

Julie

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On 8/25/18, Judy Jones via Perform-talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you, Amy.  Will keep a watch on the list in hopes to get a response.
>
> Judy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Perform-talk [mailto:perform-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Amy
> Sabo via Perform-talk
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2018 2:13 PM
> To: Performing Arts Division list
> Cc: Amy Sabo
> Subject: Re: [Perform-Talk] Making sure this got to the list.FW: Needing
> assistance from blind theater performers
>
> yes, judy this did go through the list.. I hope that your friend knows
> that you are there for her and, also is this list too! I hope that
> someone here on this list can assist her on these ideas in acting. I
> too have never done any acting myself at all either. thanks again and,
> I will talk to you soon!
>
>
>
> hugs,
> amy
>
> On 8/24/18, Judy Jones via Perform-talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hello, Everyone,
>>
>>
>>
>> I sent this e-mail right after signing up for the list, but not sure if
>> it
>> god on, so am re-sending.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>> Judy
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Judy Jones [mailto:sonshines59 at gmail.com]
>> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2018 5:41 PM
>> To: perform-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Needing assistance from blind theater performers
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> My name is Judy Jones, and I have become acquainted with a lady who lives
>> in
>> our area and has been quite involved in the local community's theater
>> group.
>> However, since she has become blind, they are not willing to accept her.
>> They basically told her that now she has lost her vision, there is no
> place
>> for her.
>>
>>
>>
>> When she told me this, I told her about the NFB's performing arts
> division.
>>
>>
>>
>> One thing she mentioned in conversation is that, in order to get
> off-stage,
>> she could hold onto someone's shoulder as a guide.
>>
>>
>>
>> I quickly told her, that all she would have to do instead is to learn the
>> stage area so she could move independently.  She agreed.  But it was
>> definitely new food for thought for her to realize she didn't have to
>> take
>> the community group's word and accept defeat, when she would really still
>> like to be involved.  It simply hadn't dawned on her she could challenge
>> their misconception.
>>
>>
>>
>> The only anything near any acting I did was in a high school play, where
>> I
>> played a lead character, but that was years ago, and I'm certainly no
>> professional by any stretch of the imagination.
>>
>>
>>
>> I am requesting e-mail from anyone involved in the theater and acting, as
> I
>> would like to help hook her up for some mentoring from you guys.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please write me off-list, and we'll take it from there.
>>
>> My e-mail is
>>
>> Sonshines59 at gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks loads for your help in helping this lady to realize her dream of
>> continued acting.
>>
>>
>>
>> Judy
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri

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