In the short film “At See,” Director Serena Dykman offers a glimpse into inclusion by taking viewers aboard an All Paws on Deck cruise to the Dominican Republic with more than 50 guide dogs and their partners. This opportunity was organized by the non-profit organization, All Paws On Deck, to provide an independent cruise experience for blind and partially sighted people with their guide dogs to enjoy.
As the first documentary to feature Open Audio Description as part of its storytelling, “At See” opens by introducing viewers to an audio description narrator, Nefertiti Matos Olivares, a blind Latina woman. Upbeat Latin dance music sets the scene as the short transitions from meeting Olivares to a cruise ship sailing the ocean before transitioning to focusing on the dogs.
Right away I noticed how much audio description can add to a film even to someone who is sighted, as the audio description guided me to notice things I didn’t see at first.
This film experience is designed to be accessible for people of all vision levels. For those who are sighted, “At See” provides the opportunity to experience audio description and learn more about how assistive technology and guide dogs are used in the daily lives of those who are blind and partially sighted. One cruise attendee, Cindy, explains how she uses the compass app on her phone to assist in navigating the cruise ship, comedically stating “…it’s okay to get lost. I don’t care. I’m not gonna fall off,” something all viewers could take as a cruise mantra!
Blind and partially sighted people interviewed in the film express their favorite parts of this experience include meeting new people, doing new things, and even getting a chance to swim with dolphins. Noemi describes how sometimes sighted passengers on the cruise were less than enthusiastic about seeing the guide dogs around, even going as far as to close elevator doors when they saw the guide dogs and their partners coming.
“People are afraid of things they don’t understand,” Noemi shares, a concept many in the disabled community are familiar with. Many people in the film share how their guide dogs give them confidence to fully experience life, while one person, Jackie, recounts how her guide dog saved her life early in their partnership.
The recurring message of this film is as clear as a sunny day on the ocean: disabled people are just as entitled to vacations— and just as capable of enjoying them—as non-disabled people. Everyone should have the right to relax, unwind, and have some much-needed fun in the sun.
“At See” is a beautiful example of disabled joy, highlighting how inclusion can look when blind and partially sighted people live life to the fullest with their guide dogs. Inclusive travel opportunities like All Paws on Deck is a fun and safe way for people of all different disabilities to vacation all over the world.
As an animal lover, it was enjoyable to see the diligent pups showcased in “At See.” The intense training and hard work of guide dogs are a vital part of accessibility that merits respect and appreciation. A final reminder—when you see guide dogs working with their partners, make sure you let them do their job without interruption or distraction!
“At See” will premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival as part of the Shorts Program 4 on Sunday, March 30 and screen virtually through CIFF Streams, April 6-13, 2025.
