Think Outside the Vox Purple Pointers

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THINK OUTSIDE THE VOX

Special Edition Newsletter

Purple Pointers

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

Think Outside the Vox is all about elevating accessibility in arts spaces through education and experience. Did you know we offer a subscription service for quick questions?

We’re thrilled to share with you some tips and tools of our trade: Purple Pointers.

Prefer a plain text version of this newsletter with full image descriptions? Email Olivia@ThinkOutsideTheVox.org.

What is a Purple Pointer?

Purple Pointers are low-cost, high-impact solutions for elevating your accessibility practices. They are effective because they are curated, developed and optimized by our team of expert Deaf, Blind, neurodivergent and disabled consultants with background in arts, technology and accessibility.

Kristin signing the ASL preshow for As You Like It with many access services and features surrounding her.

VOX provided accessibility for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s As You Like It. The access services that are captured in the photo above are ASL interpretation (DASL Kristin Johnson is currently giving the ASL preshow), captions on a large TV screen rolling in time with the audio announcements, an interpreter platform with edges marked, a life-sized cardboard cutout with signage to orient audience and water bottles for the team. Not pictured are staggered seating for better viewing, Audio Description headsets and booth, tactile tour, tablets with auto-generated captioning, braille, digital and large print programs, accessible seating areas, wheelchair mats, Audio Description preshow and wayfinding materials posted online.

How does VOX make access work more accessible for the ASL team?

Purple Pointer: Music Stand on Wheels

Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and signing professionals can move with their notes while keeping hands free for communication. Folks with motor, grip or mobility disabilities also benefit. They are also lightweight and fold for travel.

three small sized black folding chairs and one large purple lawn chair.

Purple Pointer: Flexible Seating

Small, lightweight, durable and comfortable chairs that fold up for ASL interpreters and the DASL or page-turner. They are angled at the side near the interpreter platform for swift entrances and exits. The purple large chair is for bariatric seating.

QR code of show materials printed on paper and in a plastic stand up.

Purple Pointer: QR Coded Materials

Any curated resources–websites, student guides, transcripts, videos–that provide more context to the art can be collected accessibly in a GoogleDrive folder with a public sharing link. A printed QR Code is best for quick scanning. Always credit sources and verify screen reader compatibility.

With a VOX subscription, you get access to more purple pointers founded in Universal Design and Disability Culture.

VOX has a robust network of Blind, Low-Vision, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, neurodivergent and disabled experts and consultants with expertise in theater, technology, creative direction, arts production and more.

We host disability-centric trainings and mentorships for access providers and customized accessibility trainings for arts organizations. Accessibility is not a one-size fits all; Purple comes in all different shades.

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Olivia Reinebach (they/she) aka Via

Marketing & Communications Manager, Arts & Accessibility Administrator

Olivia Reinebach thrives at the intersection of production and performance, taking on creative and technical roles in performing arts, education and community spaces in Boston and beyond. They found their niche by combining their skill sets in marketing, PR, social media and event coordination with accessibility consulting, disability advocacy work and arts administration. She has six years of experience in the arts and accessibility scene in Boston and NYC Metro areas. They’ve most recently presented on Accessible Social Media & Marketing for Massachusetts Cultural Council (Access Office Hours), Berklee College of Music (ABLE Assembly) and Mosaic Lowell Arts. Principal access work and arts credits include: pre-show/post-production Audio Description (The Huntington Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Open Door Theater); Access & Communication Lead for Into the Body, Into the Ground (Nelly Kate/The Boston Public Art Triennial); Caption Operator/Editor for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company; CPX ASL Instructor (Madison Park Development Corporation); PR & Social Media Director [and actor] in The Handless Maiden, or Here, All Dwell Free (NYU Steinhardt); ASL Consultant for The Raft of the Medusa, (Juilliard Theatre).
Via is a band geek turned theater kid and finds joy in creating inclusive experiences in arts and entertainment. She regularly presents music shows and live performances at the Museum of Science Planetarium and has produced variety dance showcases for The Dance Complex/Public Displays of Motion. She has freelanced as a choreographer/dance teacher (Sabor Latino BU, Apollinaire Play Lab, Edison K-8), and as an ASM/PA/carpenter (American Repertory Theater, Sanders Theatre, Frost Productions, Isenberg Projects). She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Relations and Bachelor’s of Arts in Linguistics at Boston University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-reinebach/