Rated "A" for Accessible: Movie reviews for the blind and visually impaired

By Michael McCarty

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Being blind or having a visual impairment doesn't have to keep you from enjoying the pleasure of going to the theatre and taking in a good movie.   But the truth is, some movies are easier to follow than others. Now there  is Blindspots, a website that rates movies for accessibility for blind and visually impaired moviegoers. Every movie that Blindspots' reviews receives a rating on a 1 to 10 scale.  A movie earns a 10 if a blind person can follow without any assistance from a sighted assistant. A 1 score indicates a film that was next to impossible to follow, even with assistance.  Of course, the most accessible film could have a real stinker of a storyline. But the creators of Blindspots' recognize that personal taste is, well, personal. Since the sole focus of the service is to rate movies for accessibility, reviewers do not judge films for content, violence, sexuality or profanity.  The site keeps current with new releases.  And its archive of reviews is growing every day. Visitor comments and questions are openly encouraged.