I-Caption makes Ford's Theatre accessible to the deaf

Sound Associates has outfitted Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC with its handheld I-Caption devices, making Deaf West's production of Big River, which itself features both deaf and hearing actors, accessible to the deaf.  The I-Caption devices display dialogue and lyrics in real-time, reaching any seat in the theatre, and have a polarized screen so they won't distract people in nearby seats.  There's no additional charge for people wishing to use the devices.

[gorkon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Hey guys....this iCaption device is nothing more then a Dell Axim x30 setting on it's side.

[Blake Bowen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Christ, these guys are passing off an Axim as their own device without even photoshopping the Axim name off. God, what idiots!

[Joey Steinhagen @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I find this story very strange.

I saw Deaf West's production of Big River on Broadway. It was specifically designed to create an equitable experience for both Deaf and hearing audiences. The show features Deaf and hearing actors and every line is simultaneously spoken and signed, and is brilliantly staged so the experience is seamless for its entire audience. For example, Huck is played by a Deaf actor and another actor voices for him while he signs. (Note: another actor who's part of the scene does the voicing, not an interpreter on the side.) All of the hearing actors speak and sign their lines. And some characters are played by a pair of actors working in tandem -- one Deaf and one hearing.

It seems that this device -- though well intended and a great solution in other venues -- would actually interfere with a Deaf audience member's experience of this particular creatively and thoughtfully staged production.

Inclusiveness for all audiences is an admirable and achievable goal for theatres and should always be encouraged.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Unless you don't sign well (I'm deaf and I don't). The device looks neat but I forsee the same problem as with Rear Window Captioning. You cant watch the show and read the Captions without moving your head.

[John Glazer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Pete,
My son is deaf and one theatre in our hometown offers rear window captioning. He enjoys it, but it is a little cumbersome. My wife and I are continuing to campaign for more theatres to get additional Mopix systems here. Do you know of any other systems that are better?

The Pocket PC solution in this entry seems to have great potential.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

If given the choice, I prefer Open Captioning. But generally it's "whatever is available as something is better than nothing"

BTW The OC listings are at www.insightcinema.org

[Meredith @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Virtually every deaf person I know prefers open captioning to Rear Window, for the same reasons that have been given: too much neck strain going back and forth. I don't think Sound Associates is trying to pass the iCaption off as a unique device, though - they've branded their specific use of it, not the Axim itself.

I also saw Big River on Broadway (on its closing afternoon) and loved it. I live in DC and I have been waiting for the show to come here ever since. I think the people who get the most from the show are hearing audience members who are fluent in signing. I am an interpreter, and I went with a group of colleagues and one hearing friend who doesn't sign. My colleagues and I all thought it was great, but my non-signing friend wasn't terribly impressed - "good, but not great" was what he said.

I definitely understand the reasoning for the iCaption being installed at Ford's - as Pete said, there are almost certain to be oral deaf audience members, and oral interpreters for such a large audience are impractical. I hope the iCaption will stay at Ford's so deaf theatergoers can use it even after Big River has gone.