“The ocular is not required to have a connection with a student.”
That line from Dr. Tabitha Kenlon stopped me mid-conversation: it’s her philosophy of connection.
Our conversation on The ADNA Presents reminds me that inclusion is a daily practice of curiosity, humility, and courage. Whether you’re teaching, describing a film, or leading a team, these five lessons from Tabitha’s classroom reach far beyond academia.
1. Authority Bridges, No Thrones Needed
Tabitha’s favorite moments in class are when she’s not the one talking most of the time.
When students ask, “Why did Frankenstein run away from his creature?” she resists the urge to answer.
“That’s a great question. What do you think?”
She models vulnerability instead of control; a quiet rebellion against the old idea of the “voice of authority.”
In audio description, in creative collaboration, the same truth holds: our job isn’t to deliver answers, but to make discovery feel safe.
2. Sprinkle, Don't Lecture
Tabitha never runs a “Week 5: Ableism and Accessibility” lesson. She sprinkles access throughout her teaching.
When explaining how to build a paragraph, she uses a personal example, like when she was shown an inaccessible video with no audio description or transcript. The point isn’t to center herself; it’s to teach writing, while also quietly expand awareness.
Access becomes part of the ecosystem, not an add-on.
Try it: instead of announcing an “inclusion initiative,” drop real examples into your normal workflow. Let people experience inclusion instead of hearing about it.
3. Presence Beyond the Ocular
As her vision decreased, online teaching became a surprising ally. Screen-sharing tools let her control materials and improve accessibility for everyone.
She keeps her camera on for students who prefer visual cues. Connection can happen through voice and attention, not faces.
“The ocular is not required to have a connection with a student.”
That sentence reframed something for me: maybe “seeing” each other isn’t about sight at all – it’s attention, tone, and presence.
For those of us in film and TV accessibility, that perspective is revolutionary. Connection can be built through sound, empathy, and rhythm – not just visuals.
4. Risk as an Invitation
Tabitha talks about vulnerability the way performers talk about stage presence: you can’t be creative without risk.
She risks saying, “I don’t know.” She risks letting silence hang long enough for students to think.
In our work – especially in audio description and inclusive storytelling – risk looks like openness:
– Admitting we don’t have all the answers.
– Trying a new voice performance that may feel too raw.
– Asking filmmakers uncomfortable questions about representation.
Risk, when modeled well, becomes permission for others to show up fully.
5. Small Seeds, Big Shifts
One of Tabitha’s students, writing about women’s mental health in Afghanistan, added a new section on women with disabilities – something she hadn’t considered before.
No lecture made her do it. The idea emerged naturally because inclusion was already sprinkled into the class.
That’s how change often happens: quietly, through sustained presence, not pronouncements.
When we practice access as a creative lens, not a rulebook, people start to see differently – and write differently.
Tiny Wins You Can Use Today
– When teaching or leading, invite curiosity instead of declaring expertise.
– Integrate inclusion into your normal work (no need for a special day or topic).
– Acknowledge your own limits; it builds trust faster than perfection ever will.
– Ask, “What does connection look like beyond sight?” and design for that.
Why This Matters
Tabitha’s philosophy mirrors everything I love about inclusive storytelling:
– Vulnerability over perfection.
– Invitation over instruction.
– Access baked in, not bolted on.
– Connection beyond the ocular.
If we apply these lessons to how we teach, describe, and lead, we turn accessibility into something alive: a human practice that deepens every story we tell.
What Now?
Want to explore how to “sprinkle access” into your creative or professional work?
Join me for upcoming workshops on inclusive storytelling and audio description performance – where we turn these ideas into lived, usable strategies. Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of every page on roysamuelson.com
And listen to this brilliant part one of Tabitha’s interview on The ADNA Podcast, wherever you get your shows or here.