Descriptive Video Works’ project manager Nate Schwartz had a unique perspective of the recent Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Winter Games. Nate worked behind the scenes, helping to organize our team of describers and managing details around events and ceremonies, but he also had another very different perspective - as the brother of an Olympian.

Nate’s sister, Canadian Olympian Micah Zandee-Hart won a gold medal in Beijing for women’s hockey with Team Canada. Nate said he loved having a front-row seat to watch his sister’s journey to gold, though he admits he was often a nervous wreck watching her games. Nate said that when Micah won the gold, he had never felt more proud.

As a big sports fan, Nate was very excited to be involved with the Olympics and Paralympics. When Nate started at DVW, working on sports-related projects and events was at the top of his list. Aside from watching his sister and Team Canada play hockey, Nate really enjoyed the figure skating and big air ski and snowboard events. Nate believes that everyone should be able to experience the visual aspects that aren’t often included in traditional commentary, such as the physical actions and facial expressions of the athletes, or the settings and costumes.

Prior to working at Descriptive Video Works, Nate worked in the non-profit sector assisting youth with disabilities transition into adulthood, and in the accessible learning field, helping post-secondary students with learning accommodations. 

In his current role at DVW, Nate manages the Described Video (or, Audio Description) process from start to finish: assigning a writer, choosing the right narrator for the type of content, coordinating the recordist and mixer, and then delivering the finished project to the client. 

Nate has always been passionate about entertainment, accessibility and assistive technology, and takes our motto, #DescribeEverything to heart. Nate would like to see more media - video games, trailers, and commercials - with described video so that people who are blind and low vision can have the same experience as everyone else.

The Beijing Olympics and Paralympics were a highlight of Nate’s career: working behind the scenes to make the games more accessible, watching incredible athletes compete, and celebrating with his sister Micah as she brought home a gold medal to Canada. Nate said that it was an experience he will never forget.