AUDIO DESCRIPTIVE COMMENTARY
We will be providing Audio Descriptive Commentary (ADC) services to our supporters at each of our remaining home games this season.
The community initiative, which is supported by RehabCare Dundalk and is funded by the club’s Lily the Bin campaign, Vision Ireland and Vision Sports Ireland, will start with the fixture against Bohemians on September 27th.
Eight volunteers, who specialise in ADC and sight guide training, will provide the commentary and describe significant visual information about the game, adding additional narration to help convey the image, venue and ambience around a game.
“This initiative came about when Harry Matthews, a member of our service who is blind, said to me that he would love to go to Oriel Park for a football match,” explained Stephen Caraher, Team Leader at RehabCare Dundalk.
“Given that Harry wouldn’t be able to see the match taking place, I wondered what prompted him to want to attend and he said that he wanted to ‘to feel and hear the atmosphere’. His reply made my heart melt and made me realise how important football is to everyone in our society.
“It’s about belonging, and the fact that Dundalk FC is putting these innovative measures in place shows how much they value all of their fans, those with, and without disabilities.
“We are thrilled that Harry’s enjoyment of football will be enhanced by these advanced measures.”
Harry Matthews, who attends RehabCare Dundalk, will attend his first game at Oriel Park when Dundalk FC play Bohemians on September 27th and he said he was eagerly looking forward to it.
“I’m excited to go to a Dundalk FC match and to experience being part of the crowd, all of us together, supporting our players,” said Harry.
“It’s going to be brilliant for me and for all other fans with sight impairment to enjoy football in this new way and have that higher level of independence at Oriel Park. It makes me feel included.”
If you are attending the game with Bohemians on September 27th, look out for the fully-equipped Vision Ireland van which will be located in the car park at the front of Oriel Park where supporters can check out the latest technology on offer.
“Technology is the single greatest aid to someone with sight loss,” said Chris Steward, from the Dundalk branch of Vision Ireland.
“There is a wide range of technologies and tools available to assist people who are blind or have low vision and technology removes the barriers to education, and employment and allows people with sight loss to fully engage with life and be independent.”
Click here to download our Audio Descriptive Commentary information pack.
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