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

News

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.

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

News From the Global Frontlines of Disability Justice

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

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.”

Read more about Capturing Vision Through Sound and Touch

Alliance Ukwishaka, a young Rwandan woman, sits in a wheelchair in front of a banner about inclusive health services.

Work for All

The We Can Work program equips young Rwandans with disabilities to navigate barriers to employment through education, vocational training, and soft skills development. By fostering inclusive workplaces and advocating for policy changes, the program aims to reduce poverty and promote economic independence. Participants like Alliance Ukwishaka are optimistic that the program will enable them to achieve their dreams and showcase their potential. The initiative is part of a larger effort to support 30 million disabled youth across seven African countries.

Read more about Work for All

Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo stands in front of bushes and flowers with a white flower in her hair.

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.

Read more about Global Recognition

Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, a blind Rwandan man, votes with a Braille ballot.

Advancing Democracy

Rwanda has made significant progress in making its elections more accessible, highlighted by the July 15 general elections where notable accommodations were provided. This was a major step forward in disabled Rwandans’ quest for equal rights and participation. “You cannot imagine how happy I am, for I have voted by myself and privately as others do accessibly,” says Jean Marie Vianney Mukeshimana, who used a Braille voting slate for the first time. “Voting is a deeply emotional and meaningful experience for a person with any disability in Rwanda, reflecting a blend of pride, empowerment, and hope.”

Read more about Advancing Democracy

A photo montage of inaccessible voting places across the US.

Barriers to the Ballot

Despite legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers at the polls still hinder — and often prevent — people with disabilities from voting. New restrictive laws in some states, such as criminalizing assistance with voting, exacerbate these issues. Advocacy groups continue to fight for improved accessibility and increased voter turnout among disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for multiple voting options to accommodate diverse needs. ““Of course, we want to vote,” says Claire Stanley with the American Council of the Blind, “but if you can’t, you can’t.”

Read more about Barriers to the Ballot

A collage of photos showing inaccessible polling stations.

Democracy Denied

In 2024, a record number of voters worldwide will head to the polls, but many disabled individuals still face significant barriers. In India, inaccessible electronic voting machines and polling stations hinder the ability of disabled voters to cast their ballots independently. Despite legal protections and efforts to improve accessibility, systemic issues continue to prevent many from fully participating in the world’s largest democracy. “All across India, the perception of having made a place accessible,” says Vaishnavi Jayakumar of Disability Rights Alliance, “is to put a decent ramp at the entrance and some form of quasi-accessible toilet.”

Read more about Democracy Denied