Attending the theater as a blind person can be just as fun as it is for someone who can see – it’s just a different experience. My family doesn’t go to the movies often because it can get pretty pricey for a family of four, but we do treat ourselves every now and then. Recently, we caught a showing of Moana 2 and we all had a blast. Popcorn, Icee’s, and candy – what’s not to love?

People are often curious on how Titus can go to a movie theater and watch it with no sight. The best thing about the theater is that it entices many senses and not just sight. Think about the smells and the booming sounds. It is an experience that can be enjoyed by all.

Luckily, in our town, all the movies we want to see come with audio description. You can find this info on the website along with showtimes and other details. Just look for the icons that say closed captioning, assisted listening, or descriptive narration devices available. The descriptive narration helps fill in the gaps, describing what’s happening on screen when there’s no dialogue.

Here’s how it works at our local theaters: after we buy our tickets, we ask for the audio description devices. We usually grab two pairs – one for Titus and one for Ryan. The theater staff will give us headphones and set them up for the right theater. The first time we tried them, the headphones didn’t work because the staff didn’t set them up properly. They were super apologetic and gave us gift cards to make up for it. Titus ended up watching the movie with us, and we did our best to describe what was happening. But ever since then, the headphones have worked like a charm, and Titus gets to enjoy the movie just like the rest of us.

One thing we’ve learned is that the headphones won’t work until the movie actually starts. Unfortunately, the previews aren’t audio described, so we won’t know if everything’s set up correctly until the movie begins. During that time, we just describe what we’re seeing to Titus so he can still be part of the experience. If you are unsure if your theater has audio descriptive headphones call and ask. If they don’t, encourage them to get some.