Students Hear About Latest Developments to Aid Visually Impaired Audiences

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Honours Video Production students in UKZN’s School of Arts attended the inaugural Audio Description (AD) in Africa Symposium, a landmark event championing accessibility and inclusion for visually impaired audiences.

Hosted at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Conference Centre in Durban, the symposium brought together leading voices in AD from around the world - including practitioners, researchers and advocates from Africa, the Caribbean, North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

Leading the way was Ms Shakila Maharaj, Managing Director of ShazaCin Accessible Media and DAISY (Digital Accessible Information Systems) South Africa, whose pioneering work is shaping South Africa’s Audio Description landscape. Collaborating with partners such as the KZN Tourism and Film Authority and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Maharaj continues to lead efforts to make film, tourism, and education more inclusive for people with visual impairments.

The symposium featured Dr Joel Snyder of the United States who is widely regarded as the founder of Audio Description. Snyder’s global influence includes collaborations with Netflix, Disney, and even the White House.

UKZN’s Corporate Relations Division Video Producer Ruben Murugan approached Media and Cultural Studies lecturer Mr Mzwandile Makhanya and postgraduate film students with the idea to attend the two-day symposium. “Thanks to Mr Murugan’s initiative, 15 students plus myself got the green light from the office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Anil Chuturgoon,” said Makhanya

Sessions at the symposium offered thought-provoking discussions on the development and implementation of AD, exploring its potential to transform how audiences with visual impairments experience film, media, the arts, theatre and tourism.

The first evening culminated in a lively gala dinner with East Coast Radio’s Darren Maule as the programme director. The event included a keynote address by Ms Liza Aziz, and Audio Described Comedy Games, featuring stellar performances by Patrick Kenny and students from the International School of Performing Arts. The symposium concluded with the Audio-Described screening of the powerful film Greytown Girl at the Suncoast Cinema with the film’s producer and writer, Rani Sitaram, in the audience. 

The experience was both eye-opening and inspiring for the students, one of whom commented: “Being part of such a significant initiative made us realise how storytelling can become truly inclusive.”

UKZN Video Production programme representatives are now in discussions with stakeholders on how it can contribute to advancing Audio Description training and awareness in South Africa.

“This marks the beginning of an important journey,” said Makhanya. “Our students are not just learning to make films they are learning to produce films that everyone can experience.”

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied