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Comics Beyond Sight

This exhibit covers a variety of creative approaches to comics visual accessibility, and by extension visual accessibility broadly. Those approaches range from multimedia (audio and textual descriptions) through multidimensional and emerging technologies strategies (3D printing, haptics, and screen-based mobile touch interfaces). It demonstrates that comics can be made accessible. Learn about the international efforts of innovators in the realm of comics accessibility for those who are blind or have low vision, assembled by the Accessible Comics Collective at San Francisco State University (SFSU) with the expertise of blind access professionals. 

Emily Beitiks was the accessibility lead for the content creation of the exhibit. She is the co-director for the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center (the first civically funded disability culture center on the planet!), and prior to that, the director of the Longmore Institute on Disability. 

Nick Sousanis (SFSU), the lead creative organizer of the exhibit, is a Detroit native and was the first person to draw his dissertation in comics format, subsequently published as the graphic novel Unflattening.

View the exhibit anytime the Hatcher Library is open, and join us for an opening presentation on Friday, October 2nd, 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

Comics take us places, but if you can't see their contents, those places are closed off.

Library contact

PF Anderson · pfa@umich.edu

Library events are free and open to the public, and we are committed to making them accessible to attendees. If you anticipate needing accommodations to participate, please notify the listed contact with as much notice as possible.