BSL videos and details of a BSL chat via Zoom on working remotely. New to communicating remotely? Want to know more? I asked deaf friends, interpreters, and speech to text reporters for their top tips (thank you!), Everyone is different, and the type of job you have will make a difference to your choice. You … More
This is a companion article to my article for Limping Chicken ‘Tips for working remotely when you’re deaf’ which was published on 23 March. Please read that article first! Remote captioning: Some people wanted to know more about remote captioning of meetings and seminars. I have produced, in conjunction with Orla Pearson of My ClearText Ltd, a 15 … More
ICO spoke to Helen Wright, Festival Coordinator at Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) about her experience of ensuring the festival is accessible to all audiences. Helen explains how SQIFF integrates access across their organisation and events, making this integral to their work from the very start.
Make videos online more accessible. Tired of videos lacking subtitles? Substital is a browser extension that lets you make videos more accessible online by adding subtitles or closed-captions. Whether it is for entertainment, language learning, or to make the videos accessible to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Substital is the ideal solution. Get it now on … More
Since 2019, all of Matchbox Cineclub’s screenings are subtitled, part of our commitment to making our events as accessible as possible. We also provide a professional subtitling service, with a particular expertise in film exhibition. Matchbox Cine can provide descriptive subtitles/SDH/captions for theatrical and non-theatrical exhibition, trailers, social media, broadcast television or any moving image … More
Wondering how to add subtitles to your videos? Frustrated with the inaccuracy of automated transcription? In this article, you’ll learn how to create a customized SRT file to add time-stamped captions to your videos.
In our multi-tasking world, few of us sit down at our computers to watch online videos. In fact, 75% of all video plays are on mobile devices rather than desktops or laptops. And since we’re watching these videos while we’re on-the-go, a huge number of them are watched with no sound. At work, on the … More
An enormous number of people with unimpaired hearing are choosing to watch with words. Why? And is it time captions became the norm?
Deaf Awareness Week, co-ordinated by UK Council on Deafness is a campaign in which many different organisations participate, each able to promote their own work within the broad spectrum of deafness.
Many organisations collaborate and work together in a joint campaign of UK wide national and local events to raise awareness of the needs of the 1 in 6 deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK. Deaf Awareness Week aims to promote the positive aspects of deafness, promote social inclusion and raise awareness of the huge range of local organisations that support deaf people and their family and friends.
There are many ways in which cinemas and exhibitors can get involved to promote d/Deaf awareness within their organisations and for audiences. From staff learning some basic BSL signing to programming more captioned subtitled films to always adding subtitles to social media content, here are some resources to get you started.
When planning film exhibition initiatives online it is important to think about access and inclusion for everyone.
Things to think about regarding d/Deaf awareness and online film exhibition:
We would love to know about your film or cinema project at Inclusive Cinema. If you’d like to submit your own case study, please download this Inclusive screening case study template and submit it to toki[at]filmhubwales.org, so we can share your experiences, too.
The ICO commissioned this toolkit for (primarily) independent film exhibitors to support their work in making their venues and services more inclusive and accessible for visually impaired people.
People living with sight loss want to enjoy the same experiences as everyone else. This includes going to the cinema and there is therefore a strong economic argument for film exhibitors to meet this demand, as well as the obvious social and moral imperatives for cultural organisations to aim to serve everyone within their community.
In addition, cinemas have a legal duty to make their services accessible to all people with disabilities, including visually impaired people, under the Equality Act 2010. People with disabilities who feel they have been refused or denied reasonable access to a service have the option to take the service provider to court.
Organisations that are inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities gain enhanced community reputation and trust. People with disabilities are loyal to organisations which provide a consistently good and inclusive service.
Read the full ICO guide to Developing Visually Impaired Audiences, and check out their web page on Subtitling and audio description for information around screening accessibly to blind and partially-sighted audiences.
