arts
Access for people who are deaf stage, translating spoken word and and sound cues are lessened. There
or hard of hearing sound effects for audience members. is usually a quiet space for people
There are a range of access options
to go to if they need a break and the
for people who are deaf or hard of Relaxed performances theatre doors are left open. Audience
hearing. Many theatres feature a Relaxed or sensory-friendly members are free to move around and
hearing loop. Designed for people performances are designed for who use hearing aids, hearing loops people who may find the experience will send the sounds from the stage of going to the theatre overwhelming Companion cards
directly to compatible hearing aids. or who have trouble sitting still for Companion cards are designed
Assistive listening is similar to a hearing long periods. They may be of benefit for people with disability who need a
loop, but instead of sending sound to to a range of people including those companion or carer to assist them to
hearing aids, patrons wear a special on the autism spectrum, people with access events. Theatres that take part
headset. Assistive listening usually intellectual disability, people with in the scheme will provide a free ticket
needs to be booked in advance. dementia, young children or people for a companion, when a companion
recovering from trauma. card holder purchases a ticket. See
Many performances also include
Auslan interpreted sessions. In these
sessions, an interpreter stands on the
In these productions, the house
lights are left on and harsh lighting
make noise during the performance.
the web link at the end of this story for
how to apply for a companion card.
There’s a lot more to accessing the
theatre than wheelchair accessible
seating. Many people with disability or
chronic illness have limited amounts
of energy. For them, the time of day
a performance is held can affect their
ability to access a show. Matinees,
usually held on weekends, are a great
option for people who struggle with
late nights.
Not everyone can easily sit up for a
whole performance, and some theatres
now offer reclined seats. Another
option is live streaming or videoed
performances, allowing people who
are housebound or in hospital to enjoy
the theatre from their bed.
So, next time you see an
advertisement for an exciting
theatre performance, don’t put
it in the too hard basket. Get in
contact with the theatre and find
out about accessible options.
www.companioncard.org.au
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linkonline.com.au