Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is attending events at the performing arts center on campus and knowing what to do with my cane, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for going to performing arts centers and performances on campus with low vision and a blindness cane.
Disclaimer
I am not a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), and I strongly recommended working with a COMS from the state department for visual impairment or vocational rehabilitation to determine the appropriate mobility solution for individuals. The tips and strategies shared throughout this post are informed by my lived experiences using a blindness cane (white cane) on my college campus.
Should I bring my blindness cane?
When possible, I strongly recommend bringing a collapsible blindness cane as it is easier to store and won’t be needed during the performance. One of my friends dislikes bringing their blindness cane (white cane) to performing arts events because they feel like they don’t need it, and because they are worried that people will make mean or ableist comments towards them for using a cane. Since I bring my blindness cane with me everywhere, I don’t hesitate to bring it to performing arts events or theaters because these places often have low lighting and lots of stairs, and also because many of these events take place at night when my fatigue levels are higher (which means that my double vision is harder to control).
Performing arts venues frequently reduce lighting before the performance begins, including in hallways and stairwells. Ushers may also walk quickly or give verbal directions rather than physical guidance. A blindness cane can help identify steps, aisle edges, and unexpected obstacles such as signage stands or bags placed on the floor.
Related links
- Five Questions To Ask When Buying A Blindness Cane
- How To Order Custom Colors for Blindness Canes
- Seven Places I Don’t Take My Blindness Cane
Ask about ADA entrances and seating
When I had difficulty walking up and down long flights of stairs, I would ask building staff about specific ADA entrances and locations for elevators so that I would be able to find my seat with no issues. On college campuses, ADA entrances are not always located in the same area as student entrances, though students can still use the ADA entrances to get to the student section (or any seat in the theater)
Depending on the venue, the ADA entrance or accessible entrance may be on lower levels, behind the building, or accessed by outdoor ramps that aren’t well lit. Many venues have an accessibility page online or a phone number for answering accessibility-related questions. For students looking for accessible seating information, I recommend calling the theater prior to purchasing tickets or going to the student involvement office to see if specific seats are available, or which seats will work best.
Related links
- Seven Tips For Adapting To Newly Acquired Vision Loss
- Tips for Going To Movie Theaters With Low Vision
- Reporting Accessibility Issues: College O&M
Use visual assistance or wayfinding apps, when available
Some performing arts venues partner with visual assistance applications or wayfinding apps that can provide visitors with visual impairments with descriptive information such as turn-by-turn directions for finding seats, information on how to locate concessions, or even audio description. My college is an Aira Access location, so I can use Aira free of charge to get information about the on-campus performing arts center and navigate independently, or I can use other visual assistance apps like Google Lens to read signs or other short snippets of text.
Disclaimer: I previously received free Aira service through a now-defunct program for college students in 2018/2019 and spoke at an Aira-sponsored event in 2018.
Related links
- Using Aira With Low Vision
- Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision
- Using GPS Apps On College Campuses: College O&M
- Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility
Requesting audio description
What is audio description?
Audio description, sometimes referred to as descriptive audio or described video, is an additional narrator track that provides visual information for people who otherwise would not be able to see it. Audio description may be provided live by a narrator or pre-recorded ahead of time. Audio description is unrelated to captioning.
Assistive listening devices (ALDs), which are about the size of a cell phone, play audio description tracks and are provided by the places that use them at no charge. Some productions and theaters also support audio description apps that can be used on a personal device such as a smartphone or tablet.
Requesting audio description for performances
At my university’s performing arts center, audio description is available by request for all performances with at least two weeks’ notice, and many performances have audio description available without requiring advance notice. All of the events I have attended featured live audio descriptions provided by a narrator, and I was able to listen to the description by requesting an assistive listening device for audio description at the ticket counter. While I had to provide a copy of my student ID to get the device and provide my own headphones, it was otherwise free and incredibly helpful for me to follow along with the show.
For many other university performing arts centers, there are specific performances that feature audio description, with the showtimes being indicated on the performing arts center’s website or in the theater schedule. I recommend calling before purchasing tickets to ensure that audio description will be available as advertised. It’s worth noting that it is illegal to be charged extra to access audio description, though some places may require a refundable deposit for a device.
Related links
- 8 Myths About Audio Description
- All About Audio Description For Broadway Plays
- Promoting Cast Involvement In Audio Description
Checking for strobe and flashing lights
I am photosensitive and have a neurological condition that is triggered by bright or flashing lights, so it’s important for me to know if a performance will be having a large amount of flashing/strobe lights. Most theaters will post a sign that says whether strobe lights will be used during a performance, though I typically reach out to the show staff in advance to ask if they use strobe lights in any part of their performance, and if so, when. For example, one show wrote to me saying that they used a strobe light for three seconds at the beginning of a show and then there were no more flashing lights, while another show told me that there were lights after a specific line of dialogue that would flash for 90 seconds. I would typically send an email through the performer/group’s website to get this information in advance.
It’s worth noting that I have avoided performances that have large amounts of lights, though if a show only has a few moments with strobe/flashing lights, I feel comfortable going and closing my eyes during those parts, since the audio description typically warns me about flashing lights and lets me know what is going on.
Related links
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Light Sensitivities
- Avoiding Flashing Lights On Social Media
- Visiting Holiday Lights With Light Sensitivity
- The Real Villain In Incredibles 2: Strobe Lights (NO SPOILERS)
Store canes in a safe location
So where should a blindness cane be stored during the performance? Out of all the possible places to store a cane, the ground is probably the worst option as they can pose a tripping hazard or get broken easily. Alternatively, the cane could start rolling and fall through the cracks in the seating area; that happened to my friend once, and I had to retrieve their cane since I was the only one who could reach it!
Some examples of ways that I store my blindness canes in a theater include:
- In a backpack or purse
- Behind me in a chair
- In my lap
- Fully extended and against my shoulder (when folding isn’t possible)
Related links
Getting up from the seat
Trying to navigate through a row of people can be frustrating regardless of sight level, but it’s necessary when finding a seat or getting up for intermission. If possible, I typically walk sideways while holding my cane against my shoulder, or I walk forwards and extend my arm slightly so that I know what is in front of me without taking up extra space.
Alternatively, I use a human guide such as a friend or family member who is at the performance with me and just hold the folded cane in my hand, extending it once I am in the hallway or outside of the aisle. Intermission can be especially crowded and noisy, so identifying landmarks like walls, concessions, or restrooms ahead of time can help with independent navigation.
Before a show begins, students can also ask an usher to verbally describe how far away their seat is, how many stairs are in a particular area, and whether there are handrails available. Some students also find it helpful to walk the route to and from their seat once before the lights dim, though this may not be necessary when in a group.
Related links
- How To Be An Effective Human Guide For People With Vision Loss
- How Do People With Visual Impairments Guide Each Other?
More tips for going to performing arts centers with a blindness cane
- Want to learn more about going to plays with low vision? While I didn’t go to college in New York City, I share several tips for finding accessibility information in All About Audio Description For Broadway Plays
- In addition to the performing arts venue, my college has a digital venue for performing arts events that enables viewers to enjoy performances from their own devices, without having to travel to the venue. While there is nothing like the magic of an in-person performance, virtual events that can be replayed can be a great accessibility tool for students! I share other options in Streaming Audio Description For Performing Arts Videos
- Some performances may offer pre-show tours or pre-show descriptions for audience members with visual impairments. Reach out to the venue for more information.
Published July 6, 2020. Updated August 2025