Since 2018, Connec-T, a non-profit organization, has been providing live audio descriptions and hearing support to make a wide range of shows and events more accessible to diverse audiences. Connec-T aims to transform the visual culture by fostering inclusion of blind, visually impaired, and hearing-impaired individuals in the cultural and social fabric.
We want to help cultural institutions make their productions accessible to an audience that is too often marginalized. To achieve this, we work closely with teams that produce theatrical or opera works in order to write a high-quality audio descriptive script. During the live show presentation, the team of volunteers travels to the venue with a Sennheiser broadcasting system. Blind, visually impaired, and hearing impaired spectators are invited to download our app on their phones. Once they are sitting comfortably in the theater, they can listen to the play or opera with the aid of audio description, or access the amplified audio of the dialogue directly in their ear buds or hearing aids. When their faces light up, we have reached our goal!
In January 2012, Sylvain Noël’s sister Sylvie learns that she has an invasive mass growing in her brain. The surgery to remove it succeeds, but renders Sylvie blind. Over the next two years, Sylvain accompanies his sister on her travels and to various events. As a result, Sylvain notes the lack of adaptation measures to meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people in the field of visual culture. It is his desire to allow his sister to “see with her ears” that Sylvain creates Connec-T.
Sylvain wants to find the technology that will allow the public broadcast of live audio description for blind and visually impaired spectators. During his research, he finds the Sennheiser Mobile Connect broadcast system. Thanks to the financial support of the Conférence régionale des élus, Sylvain acquires this unique broadcasting system as it can be installed in any theatre. The audio description of the show, sets, costumes and actions taking place on stage, as well as the actors’ voices, are routed to the Sennheiser system, and are broadcast via Wifi network to the receiving devices (iOS or Android), which are themselves connected to the Mobile Connect app.
Blind and visually impaired spectators are delighted with the service offered by Connect-T. However, it is still difficult to convince some producers and performance venues of the need to make their productions accessible.
Marc-André has a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and also studied Quebec studies, political science, and international law and relations. He continues his career in the food distribution industry where he has been working for almost 20 years. Through his involvement on Connec-T's board as well as in the field, he wishes to help make culture accessible to people with limitations so they too can thrive on all that various artistic events bring.
With over 25 years' experience in the hotel industry, Daniel has worked mainly in the Banquet & Convention department for major hotel chains, including The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton Hotels and Delta Hotels. This passion for events led Daniel to start his own business in December 2008, under the name DNL Events & Logistics. Daniel's dedication and dynamism for event planning flow freely through his veins, as does the desire of his peers to achieve.
Valérie has been working as a professional actor since 2004. After graduating with a college degree in drama, and being awarded the Governor General’s Award of Excellence, she completed a Bachelor of Arts, Creative Profile. In 2006, she co-founded the company Plateau Théâtre and in 2023, she became a co-producer of Baluchon Magique. Active as an audio-descriptor for Connec-T since 2016, she also successfully piloted the Relaunch Project in 2023 as operational coordinator. Driven by the desire to marry the arts and social commitment, she continues her journey with creativity and passion!
Émilie is a young person with a passion for administration. Passionate about universal accessibility, the human being and administration, she studied special education at the Cégep du Vieux-Montréal and administration at the Collège de Rosemont where she graduated in 2019. Humans being at the core of her preoccupations, she does her utmost to implement Connec-T’s mission on a daily basis.
Louisane LeBlanc is a translator, teacher and doctoral candidate in translation at the Université de Montréal. Her thesis, in partnership with the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) where she completed an internship as a researcher and audio describer, focuses on the issues of audio description for blind and partially sighted people in a museum context.
Kim is an experienced administrator and efficiency expert who has honed her expertise in optimizing operations and driving business growth across various industries such as retail, real estate, international trade, publishing, construction, health, and events. She believes that operational optimization, communication, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction are key factors for business success. Kim is also a dedicated volunteer and board member at Connec-T, where she contributes her knowledge and grant writing skills to help foster universal accessibility in the cultural sector.
Camille has a degree in environmental science, where she conducted research on the hydraulic operation of trees in the boreal forest. Passionate about theatre and social inclusion, she has been working with Connec-T since 2022, first as a technician, then as a Connec-T expert. She has been a member of the board since January 2024, while continuing her activities within the organization. She uses her free time to enjoy nature and discover new ways of connecting people through culture.
Silvana is a citizen who is committed and implicated in various social causes that are near and dear to her heart. She has held the positions of Office Director and Political Advisor for federal and provincial constituency offices, as well as the role of Municipal Political Attaché in the Laval region. Being hearing impaired herself, and a great lover of cultural activities, she has been a Connec-T board member since 2022.