Providing Access for People who are Blind or have Low Vision
Why should Arts and Cultural organisations improve access for people who are Blind or have low vision?
Audience Development
There are over 380,000 people living in Australia with legal blindness or low vision. By 2030, this number is expected to double, as a result of the ageing population. When you consider that these people also have family and friends with whom they would attend a performance or exhibition, this is a large potential audience that you could be missing out on.
It’s the Law
Arts and Cultural Organisations have a legal obligation to provide access.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is Federal legislation that makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with a disability in the areas of access to premises, venues and events that are open to the public. The DDA applies throughout Australia and affects all public and private arts organisations. Many States also have their own legislation such as the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (VIC). It is very important for organisations to comply with both Federal and State legislation.
People who are blind or have low vision have the right to participate in the arts with dignity, independence and ease.
What can you do?
Audio Description
Audio Description is a narration service that describes the visual aspects of live theatre and other art forms, for people who are blind or have low vision.
The trained describers (usually positioned in a booth at the back of the theatre) provide concise, objective descriptions of new scenes, settings, costumes, body language and ’sight gags’, all slipped in during breaks in the dialogue or songs. Audience members can listen to the description through the use of a small transmitter and earpiece that can be collected upon arrival at the theatre.
This service is availble at most major productions nationally and internationally and is offered in Victoria (free of charge) by the Vision Australia Foundation.
For more information or to make arrangements to offer this service at your next performance speak to Jane Trengove Industry & Audience Development Manager, Arts Access Victoria or contact the Vision Australia Foundation Tel 03 9864 9222 / email info@visionaustralia.org.au or contact the local provider of services for people who are blind or vision impaired in your area.
Pre-Show Tours
Providing an opportunity for audience members to explore the stage and get up close to sets and costumes prior to a performance is a great way of enhancing the theatre experience for patrons who have low vision.
These tours are usually run prior to audio described performances but can also be great when the description services are not available to increase access. When designing a pre -show tour, it is important to consult with an organisation such as the Vision Australia Foundation or consider using trained describers as guides.
Descriptive Tours / Audio Guides
Providing audio described tours in museums and galleries is a great way of ensuring that people with low vision have access to visuals arts and collections. Descriptions can be provided live by trained describers or the organisation staff / guides can be trained to deliver a tour specifically designed for people with low vision.
An Audio guide provides pre-recorded information about a collection or venue. The guide may take the form of a tour with a narrative that leads the visitor through the exhibition or it may be responsive to the visitor, providing information upon request.
When designing a descriptive tour it is important to consult with an organisation such as Arts Access Victoria, the Vision Australia Foundation or other organisations that specialise in providing services for people with low vision.
Tactile / Touch Tours
Many people who are blind or have low vision enjoy touching objects as a way of gaining information and access. This gives people an opportunity to explore items for themselves rather than relying on information from a third party.
Museums and Galleries should consider having a collection of objects that can be touched (this could include both real artefacts and representations such as models or tactile images) Many theatres display a model of the set design in the foyer that can be touched and explored.
Guide Dogs
By law, guide dogs and other assistance animals have the right to enter all arts and cultural facilities.
Be pro-active in welcoming visitors with low vision by providing water bowls for guide dogs and by placing a ‘Guide Dogs Welcome’ widow sticker at the entrance. For further information and supplies of the window stickers and brochures, contact Guide Dogs Victoria:
Tel 03 9854 4444
Email info@guidedogs.asn.au
Reserved Seating
For many people who have low vision, the opportunity to sit at the front of the auditorium is vital in order to gain access to a performance. Unfortunately at many events these seats sell quickly or are only available at the highest price.
It is important to reserve a small number of seats in the front for people who require them for access reasons. It is also advisable to ensure that people who require access at the front are not disadvantaged by being expected to pay more than a patron who is able to access seats further back – this is particularly important if no other services are being provided to enhance access eg. Audio Description.
Large Print Programs
Large Print refers to any printed materials that uses a font that is 14 point or larger. It used extensively by a broad sector of the community.
Printed programs and information brochures for performances and exhibitions tend to very inaccessible for most people with low vision. This information should be available in a variety of accessible formats. Many theatres provide an option of large or standard print programs for all productions and will also provide important program information in Braille or audio if requested in advance.
Alternate Formats
- There are a number of formats to consider when producing information and promotional materials.
- Audio cassette widely used by people who are blind or vision impaired and is an easy and cost effective way of providing access.
- Braille is a series of raised dots set out in such a way that they form words. People who are blind read text by feeling the dots.
- Disk – many people prefer to receive information on disk. These people will have access to computer technology that transform the electronic information into a format that is suitable for them.
For more information visit the National Library and Information Service (NILS):
Tel 1300 654 656
Email library@nils.org.au
Opera Glasses
Many venues have opera glasses available for hire to audiences at certain events. Promoting this service and making the glasses available for use to audience members with low vision is an easy and great way of increasing access.
Display Text / Labels
Vision impaired visitors benefit greatly from clear signage, clear text on exhibition panels and large display labels. Display labels should be as large as possible (24 point and larger) with bold text. Labels inside cases can be difficult to read as people cannot get close enough to them. Labels in cases should be made large and a simple border can be used to enhance visibility.
Although the number of Braille readers in Australia is quite small, Braille labels give readers a degree of independence but should be accompanied by large print labels for partially sighted people.
Physical Access
Many organisations consider access for patrons who use wheelchairs but forget that for people with low vision poor physical access is one of the major barriers to participation.
Things to consider:
- Levels and Obstacles
Changes in levels are extremely dangerous for everyone but particularly people with low vision. Any changes in floor level should be clearly marked. Overhanging barriers such as signage and display cases are easy for people to walk into and cause injury. Many venues have confusing corridors and obstructions or hazards that people can walk into. Ensure that there are clear accessible paths of travel through the venue.
- Lighting
The lighting needs of individuals vary greatly depending on their eye condition but it is important to consider the following: Lighting should be level to avoid pools of light and dark. Subtle changes can be used however to highlight different areas of the venue eg. Box office.
- Contrasting Surfaces
Many arts and cultural facilities make the mistake of having large amounts of the same colour throughout the venue on floors, walls and pillars etc. For partially sighted people this can be extremely dangerous and makes it very difficult to navigate and orientated. Using different wall and floor finishes, contrasting colours and tactile markers can greatly assist.
- Lifts
All lifts should have audible announcements and Braille / tactile buttons
Websites
The growth of the World Wide Web means that many people with low vision now have the opportunity to enjoy a wealth of information and services that were previously unavailable to them. Unfortunately many sites are unusable by people with a disability simply because they are inappropriately designed.
Many people who are Blind or vision impaired read web pages with the assistance of Synthesized speech software that reads the content of web pages aloud through a speaker, or Braille software that prints the content on a Braille display so that the web page can be read by touch.
People with low vision usually read web pages in exactly the same way as fully sighted people: with their eyes. However the needs of people with poor sight vary considerably. Some people require large text, while others can read only smaller letters. Most need a highly contrasting colour scheme, and some have very specific needs, for example yellow text on a black background. To cater for everyone, websites should be flexible in design, enabling individual users to use their own browser to adjust the text and colour settings to suit their own particular needs and circumstances.
Accessible pages needn’t be boring! They can be well designed, attractive and interactive, while at the same time providing access for everyone.
Whenever possible, ask a range of people with various abilities and disabilities to test your pages and give you feedback. For detailed information about accessible web design go to:
Web Accessibility Guidelines www.w3.org/WAI/
Information
Let people know!
Some organisations spend much time, energy and expense improving access, only to be disappointed by the lack of people who take advantage of the improved services and facilities.
Many people who are Blind or have Low vision have become accustomed to living in an environment where access is limited and very few opportunities are available to them. Unless every effort is made to advise people of the accessibility of an event, people will often assume the worse and not attend, rather than risk arriving to find that access is limited or that they are unable to participate at all.
Access information should be provided in all public information (for example newsletters, websites and promotional brochures). This information should be concise and honest. It should let people know what services are available, any access issues they may encounter, how you will try and address these and who they should contact for further information.
Consider developing a specific disability access guide that lets people know of your services, facilities and any access issues. This can be distributed through the disability community and should be easily available upon request.
If you have developed a range of opportunities for people with low vision or have significantly improved your services you may want to hold a public briefing for people with disabilities and other interested parties. This is also a way of developing a relationship of trust with the disability community and provides an opportunity for you to get feedback and ideas.
Send information to disability groups for distribution amongst their members. This is a way of making your disability services known and could be the start of partnership forming between you and the disability sector.
Staff Training
To ensure your organisation is able to provide a welcoming environment for people with low vision it is important that a commitment to access is made at every level of the organisation. Disability awareness training can assist staff in developing confidence and skills in providing services to people who are blind or vision impaired.
Arts Access in partnership with the Vision Australia Foundation provides customised customer services training for the arts and cultural sector.
Arts Access Victoria’s Ease Ticket Service
Arts Access Victoria has a large membership of people who are vision impaired. We produce a regular events newsletter in a range of formats promoting accessible service and arts events throughout Victoria.
Through the EASE Ticket service we distribute free and reduced priced tickets to people with a disability or those who are disadvantaged. We coordinate Audio described events, tours and many other accessible services.
For more information regarding EASE contact:
Sarah McCusker, EASE Manager
Arts Access Victoria
24 Eastern Road South Melbourne 3205
Voice 03 9699 8299
TTY 03 9699 7636
ease@artsaccess.com.au
