Three fellows with the Disability Justice Project stand behind their cameras in a room. One is blind and one is low vision.

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Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch

Disability Justice Project Fellows Harness iPhone Technology to Spotlight Climate Crisis in the Pacific

September 11, 2024

Last year, the Disability Justice Project (DJP) trained Indigenous activists with disabilities from the Pacific on the iPhone camera to create a documentary series on disability and climate change. With VoiceOver, the iPhone provides image descriptions for blind and low-vision filmmakers and feedback on whether a subject is in focus. “If you think about it, it doesn’t make sense for a blind person to use a camera,” says DJP filmmaker Ari Hazelman. “The iPhone gives you more avenues to tell your story in a more profound way as a blind person.”

The Pacific region is among the most impacted in the world by climate change. Among its low-lying islands, there is no escape from the rising sea and no refuge from extreme weather events. Pacific activists are pushing for more inclusive warning systems for weather emergencies and more accessible evacuation centers. They want to be considered and involved in the creation of disaster mitigation and response plans. Indigenous Pacific Islanders with disabilities are also leading the way in sustainable land management and climate adaptation, offering valuable insights that can benefit us all.

Choose the viewing experience most accessible for you:
Closed Captions
American Sign Language/Closed Captions
Fijian Sign Language/Closed Captions
Audio Descriptions/Closed Captions
Open Captions
Descriptive Transcript

Closed Captions

To turn on English closed captions, click the icon with three dots in the lower right corner of the player and select “Captions.”

American Sign Language/Closed Captions

Dialogue is signed by interpreter Krishneer Sen in the right-hand window, and music and ambient sounds are signed in the left. To turn on English closed captions, click the icon with three dots in the lower right corner of the player and select “Captions.”

Fijian Sign Language/Closed Captions

Dialogue is signed by interpreter Gael Seru in the right-hand window, and music and ambient sounds are signed in the left. To turn on Fijian closed captions, click the icon with three dots in the lower right corner of the player and select “Captions.”

Audio Descriptions

Audio descriptions read by Faleafa Laulu.

Open Captions

Descriptive Transcript

Click here for a link to a descriptive transcript.

Credits:

Director & Producer
Jody Santos
Producers: Ari Hazelman | Sa Utailesolo | Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo
Videographers: Ari Hazelman | Des LaFave | Isoa Nabainivalu | Ruby Nabetari |
Sophia Paffenroth | Sa Utailesolo | Melvina Voua
Editor
Des LaFave
Sound Mixing
Billy Wirasnik
Colorist
Justin Poirier

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