Integrated language solutions: inclusive approach pays off

Integrated language solutions: inclusive approach pays offThe solutions that make up language arsenal of language professionals can draw upon to solve accessibility problems is steadily growing. The solutions are becoming more creative and more innovative, and can often also be offered in a variety of ways.

The solution might be a whole new product, that stands on its own. Or it may be an option in to an existing product. Or the language solution can be completely integrated in the original product. The last approach keeps all from the outset with accessibility and prevents so the problem in the place of the to ' cure '.

 

 

A different experience than the ' regular ' users

A separate language product or a separate language service can be a solution to limited accessibility. A deaf school or a pure auditory video game are examples of such solutions. These solutions are valuable, but they push the user on a kind of extra track, away from the ' regular ' users '.

 

An extra layer

Providers of language accessibility solutions increasingly go for an inclusive approach. So they want the users of language solutions the same experience as the ' ordinary ' user. As a blind user, for example, calls on a guided museum visit, he can through an audio guide an additional description of the works of art. This language solution is complementary to what the Guide says. It's an extra layer, which is about an existing service.

To be a good solution to be able to develop inclusive language, user feedback is crucial. The language professional who writes the script for the audio guide, does well to the blind or visually impaired user in as early as possible for input and feedback. Just a beta test for the product on the market, is useful, but an alpha test at an early stage supplies guaranteed better on.

 

Integrated language solutions

However, it could still be worked more inclusive. Instead of existing accessibility problems to solve, can already predict the language professional try this before a product or service. So the language can be integrated solution already in the product itself.

We go back to the exhibition. As the provider of the language solution and the blind user already from the design of the exhibition with the curator to present, they can already indicate where any problems may arise. So it can be an option that the person who guides the group in his explanation about a sculpture every time also a Visual description of that image itself interweaves. Then the language solution intrinsic to the product, and it is not an optional extra more.

 

Integrated productions

An even more revolutionary form of inclusion is when the user is fellow producer. This kind of cooperation leads to total integrated language solutions. You get feedback from time zero and as a language professional you will learn the user and his needs even better.

There are few truly integrated productions, but I put there like two in the Viewer.

 

Extraordinary bodies

A very interesting approach found in the circus performances of Extraordinary Bodies. This is a collaboration between the British companies Cirque Bijou and various City. Extraordinary Bodies draws in the United Kingdom around with performances that are accessible to everyone.

Extraordinary Bodies brings together very diverse artists. Some are missing an arm or a leg, others are (partly) deaf, or do not see everything. The artists combine their talents to create an integrated presentation from the beginning to take account of accessibility, both physically and on cognitive level.

A concrete example of an accessible version is Weighting. From the first rehearsals of this performance one did a job on David Ellington. David is itself deaf and learned British sign language (British Sign Language or BSL) to the hearing cast and crew. Also BSL interpreter Kyra Pollit helped in this learning process. In addition, led David and Kyra sure in the performance itself a number of phrases in BSL occurred, and that the songs were sung, not only but also in BSL were displayed.

Also Jackie Beckford, that the performance would go eventually live interpreters in to BSL, has had during rehearsals closely involved in the production. So she could check out the translation to BSL accurate was, and got them direct feedback from deaf and hard-of-hearing performers.

The approach of Extraordinary Bodies clearly has success. From the reactions of the audience shows that the version with integrated BSL really is appreciated and that the deaf and hard-of-hearing audience feels itself understood.

The production was also equipped with audio description, a technique in which a voiceover tells what happens visually on stage. Were the comments about this slightly less full of praise. The audio descriptor was less involved in the rehearsals. Karina Jones, one of the driving forces behind the project, indicates that they are now looking for ways to include the audio descriptor as closely as possible in the production process.

 

Open Arts

Another initiative that far-reaching including is, is Open doctor. Also this company creates all kinds of artistic performances and activities by and for everyone.

We explain the dance performances get out there. These are not only equipped with audio description, but are also created by the users themselves: many of the dancers are blind or have low vision. Helen Hall, one of the choreographers, explains how they work. She is not like a traditional dance teacher in front. She takes the dancers at hand, shows them the choreography using their own body, or describes in detail how the movement is going. The contact with the blind and low vision users also helps the language professional that the audio description. So they make together a representation of everyone, for everyone.

 

Overview of the articles the

t (aal) of accessibility

The importance of accessibility

Accessibility meets diverse needs

Integrated language solutions: inclusive approach pays off

The accessibility professional

The language of the accessibility solutions professional

Accessibility is business


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Author: Eline Van der Jonckheyd

Machine translation: SDL Machine Translation (previously SDL BeGlobal)

Post-editing: No post-editing

Source language: Nederlands (nl)


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