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Solar Eclipse for the Visually Impaired

by Sunny29

Solar and lunar eclipses happen everyday, but on Monday, August 21st, for the first time in almost 40 years, the path of the moon's shadow passes directly over the United States! The last time a total solar eclipse was visible across the entire contiguous United States was during the June 8, 1918 eclipse.

Viewing parties similar to the one hosted by AADL are not hard to come by, but what about those that are visually impaired? Here are two options for those that are not able to view the eclipse:

The American Council for the Blind in collaboration with Nashville-based trained audio describer Julia Cawthon, will describe the eclipse as it happens and provide a vivid “translation” of the visual event into words for the benefit of anyone who tunes in. Click here to access the broadcast, or dial 605-475-8130 and select option 4 to listen by phone.

The Eclipse Soundscape Project, from NASA's Heliophysics Education Consortium, will also deliver a multi-sensory experience of this exciting celestial event. The project includes real time audio descriptions of the eclipse, recordings of the changing environmental sounds during the eclipse, and an interactive “rumble map” app will allow users to visualize the eclipse through touch. You can download the iOs app here; an Android app will be available soon.

Comments

Thanks for letting AADL patrons know about this info -- it's fabulous!!!

One and all, please add me as a friend -- my friend code is: SWEET646

Awesome! It's so cool that everyone will be able to enjoy this astronomical event!

This is very cool, and I'm glad that the AADL is highlighting inclusive events. The multisensory experience sounds particularly engaging, and helpful for people with a wide range of abilities.

This is so incredible. I'm so grateful to live in a place with resources like this; there was absolutely no support for anyone not ablebodied in the city I grew up in.
-TALL963

I love that the visually impaired will be able to enjoy the eclipse, despite disability, due to NASA. Kudos!!

[ { One & all -- please add me as a friend! My friend code is: SWEET646 } ]

I should have checked this out instead of going to the eclipse viewing party... It would have been a lot safer and far more comfortable!!!

[ { friend code: SWEET646 } ]

There are so many more opportunities for the visually impaired than in the past!
Reading Stephen Kuusisto's books "Planet of the Blind" and "Eavesdropping" was very helpful to me in navigating the issues of blindness.
The library used to carry these books - hope they get them back.

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