EyeShare support gathers to ‘hear’ a movie

Descriptive track in headphones offers film-going experience for the blind at Fort 8

December 10, 2014

By JOE SUTTER (jsutter@messengernews.net) , Messenger News

Note: This article is reprinted courtesy of the Fort Dodge Messenger
Messenger photos by Joe Sutter

Carol Flickinger enjoys going to the movies with her friends like anyone else. But unlike most movie-goers, she can barely see that giant screen.

In fact, no one in the EyeShare Low Vision/Blind support group can really view the movie.

Instead, their outing Tuesday afternoon to the CEC Fort 8 Theater was a chance to try out the theater's new descriptive headsets.

Each member wore a set of headphones and, while the movie played around them, a special track also played in their ears, describing what was happening on the screen.

These headphones are available for anyone, said theater manager Gary Jackson, and pretty much all movies have this descriptive track as an option now, since movies are distributed digitally.

“They say 90 percent of them (have it), and they're working on the rest,” Jackson said.

But not everyone knows these are available. Jackson thought the headsets were only to help those who can't hear the movie well.

“I have mostly people come in that are hard of hearing,” Jackson said. “I've never actually had someone ask to use the descriptive part.”

Flickinger asked him about it, and Jackson discovered that the hard-of-hearing assistance headphones have a switch on them, to enable the descriptive track. When he found out the low vision and blind group was coming, he realized he needed to order a few more.

“I had four on hand, and never really needed them,” he said. “Now I'll have a total of 19 pairs. ... I'll order more if I need to.”

The first time Flickinger saw and heard a descriptive movie, she immediately fell in love.

“I have had vision problems for 30 years. I've been legally blind now three years. I didn't realize how much I was missing on the screen,” she said. “It just opens up another door. Especially if you have a young family, and they all want to go to the movies. You're thinking 'Why would I want to go to a movie?' but now we have that option.”

People who are completely deaf can also enjoy the theater, Jackson said. Small, portable screens are available which attach to the theater seats' cupholder, and display captions for the movie.

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Flickinger, of Rockwell City, and Bonnie Kennedy, of Fort Dodge, are the volunteer coordinators for the EyeShare support group.

Both have similar stories of maintaining their independence when faced with progressive vision loss. They turned to the Iowa Department for the Blind, and received training in Des Moines in non-visual techniques.

Kennedy graduated from the program in 2013, and Flickinger in 2014.

Even simple things can seem impossible without sight, Flickinger said; but with training, that can change.

“Simple things like plugging in a plug, or using a microwave or stove. After you learn the different techniques, it can be easy again,” she said. “But when you first start losing your sight, all you can think about is 'I can't see, I can't do it.' You're not thinking outside the box.”

The pair created the EyeShare support group, with the help of the IDB, so that others in the Fort Dodge area have a way to learn, too. Vision-impaired and blind members attend from Fort Dodge, Rockwell City and Humboldt every month.

The monthly meetings sometimes feature speakers, and help the members learn about resources like the IRIS Radio news-reading service for the visually impaired.

“It just keeps you connected so you are not sitting at home thinking I'm the only one going through these daily frustrations,” Flickinger said.

“It has helped a lot because we discuss our problems,” said Lila Beck, of Fort Dodge. She's not completely blind, but has had numerous eye problems that make it harder for her to see.

“I feel it's very beneficial,” she said.

Liz Soenen, of Goldfield, attends the meetings. She works with the IDB to provide in-home training in independent living for clients in north central Iowa.

“All these people have been my clients at one time or another,” said Soenen.

The department also provides vocational training, for the blind and vision impaired trying to get a job.

The EyeShare group began meeting in June 2013. They now meet the second Tuesday of every month, usually at 1:30 p.m. at Northridge Apartments, 2805 Sixth Ave. N., building 1. The group is always looking for more people to get involved and encourages area residents to get in touch with any questions they may have.

For more information, contact Flickinger at (712) 887-1109 or Kennedy at 571-0142, or call the Iowa Department for the Blind Toll free (in Iowa) at 1-800-362-2587.