Transit Access for the DeafBlind Community, Part 1

Daily commuting activities such as crossing the street, boarding a bus, and knowing where to get off – become part of a completely different world for those in the deaf-blind community. Seattle has perhaps one of the largest and most active DeafBlind communities in the country. Producer, Mona Yeh and correspondent, Yuko Kodama spent time learning more about issues around access and mobility for people in this community through the Lighthouse for the Blind Seattle. They spent time with Debra Kahn communicating through two tactile American Sign Language interpreters, who alternated every 15 minutes. Watch the video below and here more of Debra’s story here.

Transit Access for the DeafBlind community from 91.3 KBCS on Vimeo.

Click here for more What’s the Flux?: Commuter Dispatch stories.

Seattle Deaf Film Festival – April 4th through April 6th

Well over 10,000 people in Washington are deaf.  Our state hosts a rich variety of resources for the deaf.  Today, we look at the culture contributed by, for, and of the deaf in our region.  The deaf community produces plays, advocates for art tours at museums interpreted in sign language, organizes community discussions on the arts and current events  …and produces, directs and acts in films by and for the deaf community and for the general public.  The films in the upcoming Seattle Deaf Film Festival are subtitled for access to all.

Music + Ideas host, Sonya Green speaks with Seattle Deaf Film Festival Director about the Seattle Deaf Film Festival and Deaf Spotlight, an organization that promotes arts for the deaf community.

Guests:

• Patty Liang –  Executive Director of Deaf Spotlight and Director of the Seattle Deaf Film Festival
• Lindsay Klarman – American Sign Language Interpreter