About

Beyond Blind aims to disrupt common stereotypes about blindness in a fun and interactive video-based format, so that visitors to the site can have their questions about blindness answered in an engaging and non-threatening way.

Matt Lauterbach, creator of Beyond Blind, is powerfully drawn to imagining what it is like to see from another person’s point of view. As an educator and documentary filmmaker, his craft is one of interpretation and translation, attempting to make the experiences of others understandable.

This act of perspective taking is also involved when Matt describes theater performances for the blind. His task is to imagine and identify exactly what information someone who is blind would need in order to make sense of what is happening. What questions would they have while sitting in the audience, able to hear the dialogue but unable to clearly see the action? And if someone could whisper clarifying information to them, what would that be?

When we imagine another person’s visual world, we must be cautious: our imagination may not match the reality of that person’s experience. But the result is often a new openness to having our own assumptions questioned, perhaps even proven wrong. Beyond Blind is designed to help sighted people encounter common misconceptions about people with visual disabilities, and gain a more nuanced understanding of blindness.

Beyond Blind is in beta phase, meaning we’re still working out the kinks, testing the interactive modules for classroom use, and raising money to improve, revamp, and expand the experience. Our plans include optimizing the site for visitors with disabilities, to ensure that the educational experience is fully accessible.

Are you excited by Beyond Blind’s potential? Then please, consider making a donation! Any amount will help our creative team in its efforts to bring a better website to more classrooms.

 

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