UK Disability History Month takes place from November until December.
The UK Disability Month website offers a wide range of resources to understand the importance of the struggles of Disabled People.
Cinemas and film exhibitors can use this time to promote stories which explore the history and struggles of disabled people.
It is important that accessibility is addressed in all its complexity, encompassing the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services.
Cinemas across the country offer access for people who may have visible or hidden disabilities, as well as offering specific accessible screenings, such as subtitled, audio described, BSL interpreted, relaxed environment, autism-friendly, and/or dementia-friendly screenings.
Find screenings…
Your Local Cinema lists many subtitled and audio-described screenings
Accessible Screenings UK also list autism-friendly, subtitled and audio-described screenings
We Shall Not Be Removed has worked in partnership with Ramps on the Moon, Attitude is Everything,Paraorchestra, and What Next? to create a new guide for the arts and entertainment sectors to support disability inclusion. Our Seven Inclusive Principles for Arts & Cultural Organisations working safely through COVID-19 is designed to complement the suite of … More
We Shall Not Be Removed worked in partnership with Ramps on the Moon, Attitude is Everything,Paraorchestra, and What Next? to create a new guide for the arts and entertainment sectors to support disability inclusion. Their Seven Inclusive Principles for Arts & Cultural Organisations working safely through COVID-19 was designed to complement the suite of guidance documents already issued by UK Governments and sector support organisations.
The focus of this unique initiative, which builds from the #InclusiveRecovery campaign, was to ensure D/deaf, neurodiverse and disabled people were not discriminated against as creative work begun again and as venues re-opened following closure during the Covid pandemic. The Seven Principles offer practical guidance to arts and cultural organisations to support disabled artists, audiences, visitors, participants and employees.
The Seven Principles are applicable across all art forms and across all 4 UK nations and come with endorsement from a wide range of leading sector bodies including: Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, The Arts Council of Wales, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Film Institute, The Museum Association, Theatres Trust, Royal Philharmonic Society and the British Council.
Read the full document for details and examples here at WeShallNotBeRemoved.com
You can also find out more through this video.
The ability of arts and dementia to help families stay together in the face of dementia has been recognised by our specialist dementia nurses. Our list of film recommendations is focussed around films which have music, interactivity and simple plotlines at their heart.
Cinemas have an important part to play in tackling the social and economic impact of dementia, by allowing people living with dementia to continue to see films. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice and guidance for arts, heritage and cultural organisations We need organisations to take action and support people affected by dementia at this difficult time to … More
Keeping active and purposeful when staying at home will help fight off boredom and frustration. Here are some activities you can try at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
This World Alzheimer’s Month, we are highlighting the importance of talking about dementia. We want to raise awareness of how it impacts the daily lives of people affected by the condition and challenge the stigma that surrounds it.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, with World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September. It’s a chance to start conversations, raise awareness, and break the silence around dementia.
Nearly 50 million people worldwide live with dementia. It affects daily life in countless ways, and stigma remains a barrier. This month is about understanding those challenges and showing how we can support people to live well. Learn more and get involved via the Alzheimer’s Society.
We can all play a role—by sharing information, joining the Dementia Friends movement, or simply talking openly with friends and family.
Film has the power to connect, inspire, and include. Dementia-friendly cinema screenings create a welcoming space for people living with dementia and their families. Screenings are adapted for comfort and accessibility, offering the joy of cinema in a relaxed setting.
The UK Cinema Association, Alzheimer’s Society, and FAN have worked with venues nationwide to support these screenings.
Looking to run your own? Explore our training and resources to help you plan. Many of the ideas also work for making your wider film events more inclusive—through staff awareness, relaxed screenings, quiet spaces, or better signage.
Cinemas and cultural organisations can also reach people at home. The Alzheimer’s Society suggests:
Do you run dementia-friendly film events? We’d love to hear from you. Download our Inclusive screening case study template and send it to includeme[at]filmhubwales.org so we can showcase your work.
Battersea Arts Centre is relaunching itself as what it claims is the world’s first relaxed venue, in a move it said will help make it more accessible to disabled and neurodivergent audiences, artists and staff. As a fully relaxed venue, BAC said it will embed access and inclusivity across all its activities, applying the principles … More
Many theatres with inaccessible spaces exclude disabled people, says Jess Thom, who explains how relaxed performances make space for inclusivity and foster a more accepting, exciting experience for everyone.
