Think Outside the Vox August

<!–

THINK OUTSIDE THE VOX

August 2025 Newsletter

A white box with a capital letters in black V, a purple and square shaped O, and an X slightly overlapping

VOX had a blast for Disability Pride Month. We co-hosted the Ask Me Fair with 30 participants, provided Audio Description for Mfoniso Udofia’s Kufre N’ Quay, and provided access for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s As You Like It. We celebrated Disability Pride Day at Museum of Science supporting our colleagues Dr. Mona Minkara and Ellice Patterson. We marched at the ADA 35 Celebration and connected with community at the Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture at The Strand Theatre.



Tomorrow, August 2nd is an All Access day on the Boston Common with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s As You Like It with open captioning, audio description, ASL-interpretation, tactile tours and reserved seating for Deaf, Blind, disabled patrons and their families and friends. Plenty of Voxers in purple will be there to support and say hello. Please join us in this classic summer tradition of free, accessible Shakespeare on the Common!

All images have alt text embedded. All images on this newsletter are hyperlinked to their adjacent posts on our socials, which have image descriptions, alt text, captions, descriptive transcripts and/or links to supportive access materials. Prefer a plain text version of this newsletter with full image descriptions? Email Olivia@ThinkOutsideTheVox.org.

short GIF of the As You Like It ASL preshow. Visit Think Outside the Vox on YouTube to access the full 4-minute video and descriptive transcript in the comments.

As You Like It

Saturday, August 2nd

Boston Common / Parkman Bandstand



Free Shakespeare on the Boston Common is back with As You Like It. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has partnered with Vox to provide accessibility. All performances have Open Captions and are free – no ticket required, just show up! Vox will be there in purple supporting access for both shows. Here is the Saturday schedule:



Tactile Tour at 11:15am

Audio Description preshow begins at 12pm

Audio Described performance begins at 1pm



Tactile Tour at 6:15pm

Audio Description preshow begins at 7pm

preshow remarks in ASL and English at 7:30pm

Audio Described and ASL-interpreted performance at 8pm



Check out our ASL show vlog, full ASL preshow with character namesigns and characteristics, and the actors showing their own namesigns. Check out the Audio Description preshow recording and transcript. Visit Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s website for more information about accessibility, wayfinding and the digital program.

Evvy sitting with his small group at the Ask Me Fair at the Sargent Memorial Library.

Ask Me Fair 2025



Open Door Theater and VOX co-hosted the fourth annual Ask Me Fair,, a living library experience where attendees are invited to ask questions, absorb and connect with presenters of different cultures, identities and experiences. We thank the 50 participants, presenters, access providers, and the support from Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Acton-Boxborough Community Compass for such a successful event. Stay tuned, we will be adding more reflections and content about the event on our website.

Kufre N’Quay Audio Description Team



Vox is keeping up with Mfoniso Udofia’s compelling UFOT Family cycle bringing culturally competent Audio Description. Congratulations to describers Maria Hendricks, Mikey Rose and Blind AD Expert Kwaku Darko on capturing the nuances and navigation of Nigerian and Black American youth culture. This show was performed by young actors ages 11 to 17 at the Boston Arts Academy and co-sponsored by The Huntington Theatre and Wheelock Family Theatre.

Voxers Via and Emit and friend from the Esplanade Brenda take a selfie at ADA 35 in front of Embrace Memorial.

VOX at ADA 35



Voxers marched down Park Street for the ADA 35 Celebration hosted by the City of Boston’s Disabilities Commission with our partner from the Esplanade Association. Over 1400 attendees proudly represented and supported at the rally where advocates like Keith Jones spoke, handshakes and hugs with new and familiar faces, and plenty of joyous chanting in unison: “The ADA is here to stay; we will not go away!”

Voxers and Ellice Patterson at The Strand Theatre.

VOX at Create the Vote 2025



Voxers attended the Boston Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture at the Strand Theater where Mayor Michelle Wu, Domingos DaRosa and Josh Kraft presented their visions for the creative workforce and economy.

Save the Dates:

ASL for Boston Landmarks Orchestra

Memorial Hatch Shell on the Esplanade 

August 20th and 27th, with

Not Impossible Labs’ Vibrotextile Haptic Suits August 27!



Embrace Salsa 2.0 led by DeafBlind instructor Kerry Thompson of Silent Rhythms

Embrace Memorial on the Boston Common

September 2025 – Date TBA!

Apply for Services/Vox Subscription
Donate to Think Outside the Vox
Volunteer with Vox