This project was always going to be interesting. How could the participants engage with animation when they could not see it? How would we communicate when they could not hear me?

The 3 individuals who made this film, ‘Right to Dream’ were so committed to learning something new and presenting their own poem to the world in a different way that they overcame all their difficulties. We used tactile grids hidden below any artwork so participants could feel where objects and shapes were. They moved characters around with the grid to guide the direction and distance.

All of the participants were either partially sighted or blind, as well as being deaf or hearing impaired. They are supported by the wonderful organisation Deafblind Scotland who provided a safe space for them to meet and learn and participate in many forms of art.

The group made all their own artwork, from a mixture of tactile and accessible materials such as plasticine, pipe cleaners and fabric. The final film was voiced by Scottish actor Elaine C Smith and enjoyed a warm and joyous screening at Deafblind Scotland’s base in Kirkintilloch.