Blog
Deaf people needed to feedback on cinema access
The Independent Cinema Office is the national organisation for the development and support of independent film exhibition in the UK. They exist to develop an open, thriving and challenging film culture. They are conducting research to understand the cinema subtitling needs of deaf people in the UK, with a view to improving provision for them. They are looking for responses so that they can demonstrate the needs of this audience to their funders.
Goal: More subtitled films for deaf people
The ultimate goal is to improve subtitling provision for deaf people, train staff to make venues more accessible, improve the technical provision in cinemas and to create or strengthen relations between cinemas and deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
The data they gather will be used only in a private context when demonstrating need to their funders and when discussing the need for this project with other industry partners. It will not be made public.
Survey for deaf people – your feedback is needed
The Independent Cinema Office is carrying out a survey with view to improving access to cinema for people with hearing loss. Please complete the survey on accessible cinema.
First searchable listings database for UK cinemas
A new accessible screenings website has been launched for movies that are subtitled, audio described, or autism friendly. This is the first searchable listings database for all subtitled, audio-described and autism friendly screenings for UK cinemas.
The fully accessible website will provide the following:
- Information on what each type of accessible screening entails;
- Pages outlining the access features at each UK cinema;
- A feedback forum for customers;
- A news page sharing all the latest information on accessibility at events, screenings in UK cinemas.
Feedback is needed from subtitle users. Please tell them what you think using the ‘Contact us’ link on the website.
Note: The UKCA continues to provide support and guidance to its members, however how each cinema operates is ultimately the decision of that cinema. So your voices still need to be heard!
Deaf people tell it as it is
Don’t forget you can get a CEA Card for £6 per year. This card allows a disabled visitor to bring a guest with them for free, so you get half price entry to all UK cinemas in the scheme.
Join the Accessible Cinema campaign on Facebook: Accessible Cinema Campaign.
Have you had good or bad experiences of visiting the cinema and watching a subtitled film? Tell us about your experiences, we’d love to hear about them.
One of our team went to a screening and after 5 minutes, she realised they forgot to put the subtitles on! She went to find the manager and pointed out there were no subtitles. They were apologetic and started the film again. Being assertive works!
Interview with Ofcom: Subtitles on television
Ofcom talk about subtitles on television
DURATION: 11:28
Are you interested in the quality of subtitles on television in the UK? See Hear speak to Peter Bourton of Ofcom about the regulation of subtitled and signed television in the UK, as well as a new consultation about signed television services.
To find out more about subtitles for your pre-recorded TV program or video, contact us at bookings@121captions.com
HMRC offers online access to deaf and hard of hearing customers
You can now arrange an appointment with HMRC online.
HMRC are running a pilot to introduce a new service for customers who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment. The pilot will run from 2 September 2013 until 31 October 2013 and a new online form is available to request a face to face appointment.
The online form must not be used by other customers to request face to face appointments. If you are not deaf, hard of hearing and don’t have a speech impairment, please call one of the HMRC helplines first. If the helpline is unable to answer your enquiry, the telephone operator can arrange to set up an appointment for you at an HMRC Enquiry Centre in your location.
My favourite part of the form says;
How do you want to talk to us at your appointment?*
Please tick the boxes below that meet your needs.
I have to say, I am impressed. I wish more businesses would offer this facility – they would get my money!
If you would like to know how to make your business more accessible to deaf and hard of hearing customers, contact us to find out more. Our certified access auditors have a hearing loss and they know what access is all about.
DDA compliance – where are the captions?
Is DDA compliance difficult to achieve? No!
The National Disabilities Conference on 4 July in London was organised by Government Knowledge. This is an important event at this moment in time as benefits are being cut, wages are frozen, jobs are cut, and people with disabilities are increasingly marginalised. Yet, DDA compliance is still expected, as the Disability Discrimination Act has been law since 1995.
98% of deaf people could benefit from captioning and DDA compliance
In the UK, less than 70,000 deaf people use sign language however there are approximately 10 million deaf and hard of hearing people who do NOT use sign language – they might lipread and/or use their residual hearing, and therefore rely on captioning and lip speakers. We would expect, therefore, that a national conference of this nature about access, inclusion and disability would be accessible to its OWN customers. We would also expect such an event to be accessible without having to fight for such access – which is our right, not a privilege, under the 2010 Equality Act. We expect and have a right to DDA compliance.
NADP (National Association of Deafened People) asked Lidia Best to attend on their behalf. They requested communication support (captioning) as Lidia is deaf, she does not use sign language. Captioning support provision at the event was confirmed by the organisers. Delegates were asked to pay almost £300 each to attend and NADP paid a reduced fee.
After NADP’s request for captioning support, 121 Captions were contacted by Government Knowledge for information on providing captioning for this conference. They did not book any captioning services.
Lidia turned up to the National Disabilities conference to find only sign language interpreters were available, and there was no captioning support. There was an induction loop but it did not work. A loop can work for some deaf people, but not all deaf people have enough residual hearing to be able to use one. A lip speaker can work for those deaf people who can lipread, but not all deaf people can read lips. Therefore captioning is a necessary service.
Mrs Lidia Best, NADP Trustee
What is shocking is that such access had been requested by NADP and confirmed by the organisers Government Knowledge. This conference is expensive to attend, but for a disabled person to attend and to find it inaccessible, when it had been confirmed that it would be, is unacceptable.
The conference organisers should be making this kind of event affordable and accessible for disabled people on benefits who would be best placed to explain the relevant issues. Government Knowledge say they have provided access for all delegates and have followed all requests – which we know not to be true. Government Knowledge checked their system and they had no special requests for communication support. They asked Lidia if she had organised the captioners herself. They even blamed Lidia for not telling them.
We have asked the deaf community if any sign language users attended this conference. There has been a deafening silence….
This is a common occurrence for deaf and hard of hearing people who do not sign, to request captioning support at events and find it is not provided, or to turn up and find there are only sign language interpreters. We have had enough. This has got to STOP.
Deafness can happen to anyone. It could happen tomorrow to your friend, your parent, or even YOU.
There are 1 in 6 people in the UK with a hearing loss who don’t sign. Could you be next?
Support ALL deaf people on Facebook: Hearing Loss Worldwide
…. and to add a little more irony, check THIS out – another shining example of our government’s inclusive attitude towards the disadvantaged, where Government Knowledge hosted a conference about financial inclusion… a shame the tickets are £320!
You can join the Deaf People Against Welfare Cuts campaign on Facebook – look out for connected talks and events happening across London.
If you’d like to find out how to make your event more accessible to the majority of deaf and hard of hearing people, contact us for a chat with our access auditors about successful DDA compliance for your organisation.