Arts Access Board Member and Audio Describer Biographies

These are the board members and audio describers who volunteer their time and provide the services of our organization.

Barbara Olson:  Board Member

I have lived in the Raleigh area for over 30 years and became interested in Arts Access because of my background working with children with disabilities.  I was a career music teacher and therefore worked with all kinds of children.  Some of my most rewarding teaching moments were with non-verbal autistic students!  I found the Arts Access mission to be a natural blending of my love of the arts with my commitment to people with disabilities, so three years ago I began to devote some of my retirement time to its work.  Music has always been an integral part of my life and it still provides much retirement relaxation.

My educational background includes a BA in music education from Erskine College and and a masters degree and post graduate work in Educational Supervision and Leadership from NCSU.  I am married with two adult children and three wonderful grandchildren.  My husband and I enjoy the freedom of retirement and have occupied our time with home renovation and travel.  (January 2010)

Reid Dalton:  Audio Describer

Reid Dalton is an attorney and Presbyterian minister living in Burlington.  He took up acting ten years ago as a hobby and is now making a career of it.  He has served as an Audio Describer, primarily for shows in Durham and Chapel Hill, since 2001.  He has performed in Raleigh with Theater in the Park and in Durham with the N. C. Kids' Theatre and Find the Light.  In 2008 he played Big Daddy in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" under the direction of Gennaro D'Onofrio.  Later this year (2009) he will appear playing opposite Ellen Burstyn in the major motion picture, "Main Street", which filmed in Durham this spring.  (October 2009)

Jan Tu:  Audio Describer

Jan trained to be an audio describer with Arts Access in 2001.  Her five years of studying ballet and a brief stint teaching ballet has funneled Jan into the role of principal describer of dance for Arts Access.  She even developed specialized terminology to facilitate succinct, accurate, and easy to follow imagery of a visual art form.  (See her Ballet Terminology.)

Jan studied math, science, and art in college before raising three children in Maine, where she taught art.  Later, in Beijing, she taught English, math, and science.  It was in Maine as a dancer that she caught the theater bug.  It was in Beijing that she was able to practice her play writing skills.

After settling in the Triangle, she landed several jobs developing and teaching science and theater programs.  Her hobby of designing and making jewelry, something she started as a teenager, blossomed into a home business; a smattering of people on four continents now wear Jan's designs.  Her hobby of traveling, usually solo, has her only missing Antarctica on her continent list.  Jan continues to dance, but now it's ballroom and tap, up to five nights a week.  Rumba, anyone?  (June 2009)

Thom Haynes:  Audio Describer

Thom has been an audio describer since 2001.  He is on the Board of Directors of Cary Players community theatre and acts with them a lot.  His favorite stage roles:  Death in 'Death Takes a Holiday', Sir Andrew in '12th Night', 5 roles in 'The Dining Room', singing standards in 'Love Bits & Bites'.  He also produces shows, occasionally directs, and juggles.  He now has an agent and is trying to get some film roles on his resume too.

Thom is married (to Andrea) and has two boys:  Alex (born on St Patrick's Day 1991) and Ethan (1992) and a Cairn terrier named Louie.  He started working at IBM in 1989 after graduating with an MS in Computer Science from UNC-Chapel Hill.  He grew up near Cleveland Ohio, went to college at Texas Christian University in Ft Worth (go Horned Frogs). 

Thom is extremely near-sighted, and in an era before corrective lenses his wife teases that he could only have been a watch-maker...  He likes to jog, coach soccer, socialize on Facebook, and read the paper.  Thom does the dishes, Quicken, and the taxes.  He makes home-brewed beer, and quaffs it.  His motto is "Everything in moderation, especially moderation!"  (January 2009)

Debbie Hippler:  Our New President (and More!)

Hello, I am Debbie Hippler the Audio Description Coordinator as well as the new president of Arts Access, Inc.  I have lived in the area for 20 years now; doesn’t that almost make me a native?  I was born and grew up in northeast Ohio in Amish country.  I have lived in Texas and western Ohio before coming here.  I am a mother of three and grandmother of three and well as pet owner of three.  I have worked in accounting, insurance and legal professions as well as run my own sewing business and worked with many children’s programs.  I am very involved in the small church that my husband and I attend and love life and all its opportunities.

My opportunity to learn about Arts Access came when I read a small piece in the Cary News asking for those interested in audio description to phone them.  I did and was given an opportunity to audition.  I love describing and being able to assist our patrons enjoy the opportunities the Triangle theatres have to offer.  My husband is a user and says that I am the best describer, no prejudice there!  My goal and desire is for Arts Access to gain more recognition not only in name but in services offered.  Please take the time to share with all your family and friends about Arts Access; and if you think you are a detail person, consider joining us as an audio describer.  You don’t need any theatre background, just the time and desire.  Here’s to a great new year!  (August 2008)

Linda Curtis:  Board Member and Audio Describer

Linda received her B.A. in English magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  She has been an audio describer since 2001.  In 2004 she joined the Board, serving as Audio Description Coordinator and as a member of the Executive Committee.  Of her audio description role she says:  "I love the challenge: it forces me to be in the moment, keep on top of my writing skills and go outside of my comfort zone -- especially when I am equipment manager and panic sets in as no sound can be heard through the headset.  Its rewards are many:  giving back a part of me to my community, meeting some extraordinary people (our patrons) and experiencing live theatre, movies, ballet and music in a new, exciting unusual way."

Linda brings to Arts Access an accomplished radio career, as air-personality at country stations in eastern North Carolina and Virginia.  She has previously operated a Bed & Breakfast and was a military spouse for over 24 years.  She has volunteered extensively with organizations related to the military, and she has volunteered with the Carolina Ballet since 2000, another avocation she thoroughly enjoys.  She also works part-time as an Administrative Assistant for Life Plan Trust, a non-profit in Apex and service agency of the Arc of North Carolina.  And she loves to travel, including as far away as China. 

You can read more in Linda's detailed biography.

Mike Feltman:  Equipment Coordinator

Starting out as an audio describer for Arts Access, and spending a couple of years on our board, Mike rapidly assumed the role of equipment coordinator, the person who takes care of all of our equipment associated with audio description.  Mike has overseen the purchase, repair, and problem solving for five transmitters, countless receivers and earpieces, and equipment carrying cases, performing an invaluable role for the organization.  We call him our equipment guru.

Born and raised Chicago, Mike got his degree in Sociology but formed a career in computer engineering and moved to Raleigh in 1993.  He has been working for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals since 2002.  He volunteers his time supporting web pages for several organizations, including the internal support pages for Arts Access, and he likes rock 'n roll and even plays blues on a 12-string guitar occasionally.  You can read more in Mike's detailed biography.

Susi Michelau:  Our most senior audio describer

Susi is our most experienced audio describer, the one trained first.  She has taken the time to detail her experience for us in Susi's detailed biography which includes the early history of audio description, as well as more insight into her personal life and beliefs.  Susi is also one of the mentors for our newly trained audio describers, and we can all agree, she's one of our finest and most talented describers!

Susi has worked as a CAD drafting designer for Square D since 1990, and she mentors middle school children.  Raised in Minnesota, she has called North Carolina home for over 30 years.  She has audio described countless plays for Triangle theatre patrons who are blind, and she likes to describe everything from heavy drama to Broadway to dance.

Elizabeth Kahn:  Our longest serving board member

Elizabeth is our longest serving board member.  She joined Arts Access in the early 1990s and became one of our first audio describers.  For the past six years she has trained other audio describers for us and several other organizations in the Carolinas.

Elizabeth has a BA and MFA from Brandeis in music and a PhD in comparative literature from Harvard.  She moved to Raleigh in 1976 and taught high school English and Latin for six years.  Now, she and her husband, Joe, operate their own business writing classical music program notes for organizations around the country.  She also works as a consultant for the Description and Caption Media Program, helping to develop a system for adding described video to educational media for K-12.  Her own lifelong vision problems have sensitized her to the need for and value of audio description.  When you hear a described opera, it will undoubtedly be Elizabeth describing!

Fred Brack:  Webmaster, Audio Describer, President (2004-2006)

Fred is an audio describer, plus the webmaster and former President of Arts Access.  He is the second longest-serving board member.  Fred got involved in Arts Access right after retiring from IBM in 1999, when his wife, Kathy (who is blind), urged him to take the audio describer training class.  His favorite type of play to describe is drama, and he also enjoys describing movies at the NC Museum of Art each summer.  Today, in addition to his work with Arts Access, he is a reader and board member at the Triangle Radio Reading Service, and he operates an internet-based business selling wine racks as a second career.

Shawn Faircloth:  Board President (2006-2008)

Shawn Faircloth has been a member of Arts Access for over four years and has been President since July 2006.  Her interest in the Arts had been non-existent until she moved to Raleigh.  “Being from a small town I went to school plays but missed a lot because there was no audio description service.  I had never done well in art class because of this, and thus I had no interest in the art world.”  It was an audio described exhibit of Ansel Adams that would forever draw her into the wonderful world of art.  “I felt like I got more information than the people around me about the photographs through the description.  It is interesting how my world has expanded.”

Touch tours and audio description for plays have been the main things Shawn is drawn to.  However, that all changed when audio description came to local movie theaters.  “When I got married, one of my husband's favorite things to do was go to movies.  I hated going!  I mean, if you have to lean over and ask the person next to you what is happening during that chase scene and the person behind you Shhh’s you, it is really not worth the effort,” says Faircloth.  “Now I have to beg him to go see movies -- what a blessing!” 

While serving as Arts Access President, Shawn's goals are outreach, seeking grant funding, and to have fun!  During the day Shawn works for the state of NC.  During her off hours she attends New Community Church, and spends time with her husband Chris, dog Gabba, and cat Dixon.  She vacations in upstate NY with her Niece Nina and sister Jaime Lemieux.  She is also an avid reader and an outdoors person.

Rock Kershaw:  Audio Describer

Rock Kershaw has served as an Audio Describer for Arts Access since 1993 and is a past member of the board.  He has described musicals, dramas, dance concerts, film, art exhibits, and ballet.  Rock is the Cultural Arts Coordinator for the Town of Apex, where he is helping to plan for a Grand Opening in early 2008.  The Cultural Arts Center has a 2nd story jewel box theatre, 3 galleries, and 3 studios.  Rock also serves as a Facility Supervisor for the Garner Historic Auditorium.  And if you think with that beard he likes to play the role of Santa Claus, you're right!

Rene Cummins:  Board Member

Rene Cummins is the Executive Director of Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living, based in Raleigh and serving 5 counties.  Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Alliance, Rene was the Access Specialist at the NC office on Disability and Health, and she served as a consultant on all of the projects through that office.  Rene is also a trainer for the Southeast Disability and Technical Assistance Center in Atlanta and provides training on the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as various other disability rights laws.  She earned a doctorate in Psychology in the Public Interest from NC State University, which reinforced her passion for advocacy and community organizing on behalf of the disability community.

Rene joined the Arts Access Board to further the recognition of audio description as a means to provide effective communication for people with vision loss, and in an effort to promote equal access and full participation in society for people of all ages and abilities.

Additional biographies will be added here over time ...

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