SEE DIFFERENT Today is a newsletter that aims to add something different to your inbox, amplifying new perspectives, stories, and media from individuals who value accessibility.

Hi, I’m James Rath 👋🏻

I am a content creator, filmmaker, TV show host, and an advocate for accessibility. Born with blindness, I've always experienced the world in a unique way – quite literally 'seeing different.' My true understanding of what it means to 'see different,' however, emerged from engaging with my community, which includes individuals in the blind, disabled, and accessibility communities.

In my work, whether it’s through documentaries or comedic entertainment videos, my goal is to leave audiences with a new perspective and a deeper empathy for our fellow human beings. 'SEE DIFFERENT' is an initiative aimed at building and engaging with a community. This is achieved through this newsletter, insightful conversations on the 'SEE DIFFERENT Show,' and by sharing helpful tips and snippets about accessible living in short-form videos.

BLINDSPOTS made its debut on CuriosityStream on October 26th, 2023, and I am immensely proud of what our production team has achieved. This 10-episode documentary series is now available for streaming, complete with audio descriptions on the CuriosityStream app and website, offering an enriched narrated auditory experience.

Many of you have reached out with questions about my travels and experiences while producing the show. Over the next few weeks, I plan to share some behind-the-scenes glimpses and dive deeper into my journey in creating this travel documentary series. So, stay tuned for those insights. Meanwhile, I’d love for you to check out BLINDSPOTS on CuriosityStream.

“When everyone can play, we all win” 🎮

Forza Motorsport took center stage at The Game Awards 2023, securing a well-deserved victory that extended beyond its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay to highlight its notable strides in accessibility. The racing title demonstrated a commitment to inclusivity, implementing features that welcomed a broader range of players and eliminates barriers from traditional game design. The game's accessibility options, such as customizable controls, visual aids, and diverse difficulty settings, contributed to its recognition in a category that celebrated innovation in making gaming experiences more accessible to everyone.

In an unexpected twist, The Game Awards 2023 put the spotlight on "Innovation in Accessibility" during the pre-show, a move that caught many by surprise and raised eyebrows within the gaming community. The decision to relegate such a crucial and impactful theme to the pre-show, traditionally seen as a precursor to the main event, sparked discussions and some disappointment among viewers.

YouTuber, iJustine, challenges herself to experience iPhone in an eye-opening way.

In a two-part series of short-form videos, I, James Rath, guide Justine Ezarik through a unique experience where she simulates my legally blind vision. In the first episode, Justine explores the world of enhanced visibility, utilizing an iPhone's magnification features to bring images into focus. The second episode offers a shift in perspective as Justine relies solely on auditory cues. Here, the iPhone’s screen reader, VoiceOver, transforms the user interface into an auditory experience. This includes a fascinating exploration of the camera app, where AI technology verbalizes visual descriptions of our captured scenes.

Some members of the disabled community have voiced concerns about simulations, noting their limitations in fully conveying the lived experience of disabilities to non-disabled participants. While I acknowledge that not all simulations achieve their intended empathetic goals, I believe they can still offer valuable insights into our world. This is especially true when they are led effectively and complemented by demonstrations of accessible task alternatives.

In my collaboration with Justine, I emphasized that while the simulation would mimic some aspects of my vision, like overexposure and blurriness, it couldn't replicate all aspects, such as the involuntary eye movements caused by Nystagmus. I made it clear to her that this experience was not intended to provide a complete understanding but rather a glimpse. It's crucial to differentiate between experiencing temporary low vision through goggles and the everyday realities of living with blindness. This includes the constant challenges like locating misplaced items, navigating commuting options, and facing frequent accessibility barriers.

My decision to share a glimpse of my daily life with Justine was driven by her compassionate demeanor and her openness to understanding and accommodating different experiences. In 2022, Justine went through a life-altering event that temporarily impaired her, leading her to rely on the accessibility features of her iPhone to aid her mobility. She candidly discusses this challenging period during our conversation in the first episode of my travel documentary series, BLINDSPOTS, available on CuriosityStream. You can watch this insightful episode here.

‘From Pixels to Peaks’ achieving a childhood dream. 🏔️

While in Japan wrapping up filming of my documentary, I had anticipated visiting the tallest mountain in the country, Mt. Fuji-san. Although the mountain is off-limits outside of the Summer season, I still had the desire to climb it even in the harsher weather conditions.

My aspiration to climb Mt. Fuji traces back to my childhood days playing the classic Pokémon Gold and Silver on the GameBoy. These adventurous RPGs, set in a region mirroring real-world places like Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo, ignited my sense of adventure and love for travel. Discovering at the age of 11 that I was journeying through virtual versions of actual locations was a revelation, especially learning that Mt. Fuji inspired the games' final dungeon, Mt. Silver.

While in Japan, I decided to rekindle this nostalgia by replaying Pokémon Gold Version. I documented this unique blend of travel and gaming in a vlog, visiting real-world locations that paralleled those in the game. My goal was to craft a story that was accessible and relatable to all, providing just enough context for even those unfamiliar with the franchise, like my Mom, to enjoy.

The vlog features an unconventional Pokémon team, each with their own story arc, unfolding over an hour. The climax of this journey coincided with my real-life ascent of Mt. Fuji amidst snowy conditions, GameBoy in hand. I paralleled this with battling the game's final boss deep within Mt. Silver, symbolically linking my physical location on Mt. Fuji. Experience this unique adventure yourself by watching the full vlog here or in the link below.

I owe a huge thank you to Quinlan of the YouTube Channel, GoNorthJapan. As I shared in my video, his guidance was the reason I manage to get as far as I did. He created a video from his experience guiding myself, a blind person, up Fuji in the conditions we faced. You can watch his video here.

Stories and content worth a look 👀

• Natasha Caudill, colorblind content creator, highlights Lego Braille Bricks in a new short video.

• Christina Mallon, award winning inclusive designer discusses disability representation with Forbes 30 under 30 recipient, Keely Cat-Wells.

• Rikki Poynter, notable Deaf YouTuber and advocate, launches a new book-discussion YouTube channel, Rikki Reads, providing the space with more disability representation.

• YouTuber, Michael Fisher [Mr. Mobile] launches preorders for a new keyboard case for iPhone providing users with a tactile typing input, system shortcuts, and more screen real-estate.

• Exploring AI and Emerging Technologies: Enhancing Accessibility for the Blind

SEE DIFFERENT Store is live!

If you’d like to support this project and my YouTube channel, please consider checking out the newly launched SEE DIFFERENT Store. Most apparel now offered embroidered designs for a higher quality and tactile feel. A refreshed Dancing Eye mug has be released, along with new polo shirts, and a Dancing Eye Zip-Up hoodie.

Personally, I’m very excited to launch the Warm Light Sunglasses design based on my very own prescription sunglasses. The sunglasses feature welcoming smiling eyes and are available on a new T-shirt and cap.

We’ll even be giving away a few new refreshed SEE DIFFERENT mug over the course of the next few weeks with upcoming newsletters, stay tuned and visit the SEE DIFFERENT Store!

SEE DIFFERENT Store

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