Accessible Events
One in seven of the population has a hearing impairment and one in thirty five is visually impaired. This means that many events are difficult or impossible to follow for people who are visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing. Accessible events interpret the visual parts of a performance or event through sound, or the sound parts of a performance or event visually.
Accessible events can be:
• Audio described
• BSL interpreted
• Captioned or subtitled
Audio description helps make sure visually impaired people don’t miss out on the visual parts of a performance or film, such as the costumes, set, scenes, movements and facial expressions. A description of the visual elements is given by an audio describer through a headset.
British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation ensures that people who are Deaf and use BSL can understand spoken, sung and other sound elements. At a BSL interpreted performance or event, an interpreter translates the spoken, sung and sounds parts into British Sign Language.
Captions are used to ensure that anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing can fully understand spoken, sung or other sound elements. These are translated into written English and displayed either on screen or on a display unit.
There are a wide range of audio described, BSL interpreted and captioned plays, films and events taking place around Manchester, so why not take a look at what’s on offer.
For information about disabled access, WC, seating and parking provision check access details on the relevant venue information page. Many venues in the region have special arrangements for guide dogs.
For more information about accessible events in the North West visit AccessibleEvents.org.uk