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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
In June 2023, 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.
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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
News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice
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After a life-altering accident, Lakshmi Lohar spent years in isolation, struggling with fear and stigma in her rural Nepalese community. In 2023, she found a lifeline through KOSHISH National Mental Health Self-Help Organization, which helped her develop social connections and access vocational training in tailoring. Today, Lakshmi is reclaiming her independence, standing up for her rights, and shaping a future beyond the limitations once placed on her. ““I won’t give up my rights anymore,” she says, “just like I learned in the meetings.”
Rwanda’s Marburg Crisis
As Rwanda confronts its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, people with disabilities face heightened risks — not only from the virus but also from the lack of accessible health information. “Without proper accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, captions, Braille, or visual aids, the Deaf and DeafBlind community may miss crucial information about how to protect themselves, symptoms to watch for, or where to seek help in case of infection,” says Joseph Musabyimana, executive director of the Rwanda Organization of Persons with Deaf Blindness.
Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch
Last summer, the 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 offers other accessible features. “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.”
Work for All
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Global Recognition
Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo’s film “Dramatic Waves of Change” has been named a finalist in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The film, completed during a Disability Justice Project workshop in Samoa, highlights the impact of climate change on people with disabilities in Kiribati. Utumapu-Utailesolo, who is blind, used an iPhone with accessibility features to create the film. “Do not leave people with disabilities behind when [you] plan, implement, and monitor programs regarding climate change and disaster,” she says. Her achievement is a testament to the power of inclusive filmmaking.