Removing Barriers for D/deaf and Disabled People

The following resources are focused specifically on access and removing barriers for d/Deaf and disabled people. For other diversity and inclusion resources, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion Resource Library.

General Access Resources

• 7 Principles to an Inclusive Recovery for the Arts and Culture Sector: A guide for the arts and entertainment sectors to support disability inclusion. Produced by We Shall Not Be Removed, Ramps on the Moon, Attitude is Everything, Paraorchestra and What Next?
• National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters - BSL Interpreter Awareness Guide: This guide is for anyone that uses the services of BSL interpreters. It will help you ensure you're booking the most appropriate support at the fairest rates
• Flow Observatorium - Neurodivergent language guide: This guide covers appropriate neurodivergent/autistic language
• Unlimited - Cards for Inclusion: A card game helping the arts sector explore how barriers can be removed
• UK Association for Accessible formats: An industry association that sets standards and promotes best practice for accessible documents in the UK, helping organisations understand how to meet the needs of individuals with print impairments, and how to source and provide quality accessible documents
• What is an access audit?: Information from O'Herlihy Access Consultancy on what an access audit is and what it covers

Removing barriers for your audience

• Access London Theatre brochure and newsletter: The Society of London Theatre produces a diary of access performances taking place in London and compiles venue information to help audiences plan a visit. We also send out a regular brochure and newsletter for audience members with access needs. SOLT and London-based UK Theatre members should email us at enquiries@soltukt.co.uk to add your performances and venue information
• National Autistic Society: Autism - A Guide for Theatres: This guide explains some of the small adjustments that can make a huge difference to an autistic person's visit to theatre
• The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers - Accessible Ticketing Guide: A best practice guide to making ticket sales accessible to disabled customers
• Ticketing Without Barriers: Led by Attitude is Everything, this is a coalition of ticketing companies, venues and other organisations working together to remove barriers to ticketing
• Unlimited - Demystifying Access: A guide for producers and performance makers to help create better access for audiences to the performing arts
• Visit Britain - Creating an Accessibility Guide: Advice on producing an accessibility guide to communicate your facilities and services to disabled people and other customers with access needs

Removing barriers for your workforce

• Access Rider Open Template: A downloadable template put together to help freelance disabled artists approach naming access requirements for organisations they work with
• Access to Work: A Guide for the Arts and Cultural Sector: A guide to the Access to Work scheme, written by Disability Arts Online
• Access to Work factsheet for employers: A government produced factsheet explaining the basics of the Access to Work scheme
• Equity - Guide to Casting and Working with Autistic Artists: Provides insights as to how diversity and accessibility in the arts can be achieved for people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
• Equity - Guide to Good Practice with BSL in the Arts: Helps the industry make sure its working practices are as inclusive as possible, and meet the needs of D/deaf actors and the wider D/deaf community
• Equity - Self-tape & Zoom Auditions Guidance: Guidance for Casting Directors including best practice for accessible auditions and self-tapes for deaf and disabled talent 
• Graeae - 'How to...' videos for making accessible work online: This series of videos cover top tips for online accessibility, working creatively online, setting up accessible online meetings, digital stage management and working with neurodiverse and visually impaired and deaf artists online
• New Ways of Storytelling with Ramps on the Moon: A free, on-demand recorded webinar featuring a discussion between UK Theatre and Ramps on the Moon and how to increase the number of d/Deaf and disabled people both on and off stage
• ProFile: A video database of 250+ d/Deaf and disabled actors for use by casting directors, hosted by Spotlight and the National Theatre
• Ramps on the Moon - Removing Barriers Access Training: SOLT and UK Theatre partnered with Michèle Taylor, Director for Change at Ramps on the Moon, on an online series of access training, recorded webinars are available to view free and on-demand. 
• The definitive guide to disability inclusion in the workplace: An article exploring the key aspects of disability in the workplace, looking at inclusive policies and working styles, showcasing key data and methods to create a more inclusive culture
• VocalEyes - Making your meeting presentation accessible: Guidance to help you make your presentations accessible to blind and partially sighted people

The following organisations work within the creative industries and offer resources and consultancy services for other organisations. Many of the organisations listed have comprehensive resources on their websites aimed at employers.

• Access All Areas: A learning disabled and autistic theatre company who also offer a Performance Making Diploma for learning disabled adults as well as consultancy services
• Attitude is Everything: A charity working to improve Deaf and disabled people's access to live music. The resources section on their website features many practical guides relevant to theatre employers, and they also offer training courses and consultancy services
• Disability Arts Online: An organisation led by disabled people, set up to advance disability arts and culture. Their website contains a wealth of resources and they offer consultancy services
• Graeae Theatre: A deaf and disabled theatre company who also offer access support and consultancy
• Neurodivergent Creatives Network: A network for neurodivergent creatives in the arts to help address issues faced by artists, share opportunities and highlight work by its members
• Ramps on the Moon: A a collaborative partnership, led by the New Wolsey Theatre, of six National Portfolio Organisation theatres. They aim to enrich storytelling by normalising  the presence of deaf and disabled people on and off stage. The website contains lots of useful resources for employers
• Shape Arts : A disability led arts organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people, and provides resources, training and access audits for organisations
• Touretteshero: a project to celebrate and share the creativity and humour of Tourettes in an accessible way, with the widest possible audience, and increase awareness of Tourettes and its challenges
• Unlimited: An arts commissioning programme that enables new work by disabled artists to reach UK and international audiences. Their website features a useful resources section
• Vocal Eyes: An audio description organisation working to bring art and culture to life for blind and visually impaired people. They offer audio description services and training for the theatre and performing arts sector

A Younger Theatre has compiled a comprehensive list of theatre companies that are run by and for disabled people across the UK. 

The following charities may be able to help with specific access requirements. Please note - inclusion of these links is not to endorse an impairment-based approach, but rather to signpost to specific charities with useful information about removing barriers for their particular user groups. Several of these charities have dedicated resources for employers available on their websites.

• Disability Rights UK: For people with lived experience of disability or health conditions
• Guide Dogs UK: For people with sight loss
• National Autistic Society: For people on the autism spectrum
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): For blind and partially sighted people
• Royal National Institute of Deaf People (RNID): For deaf people or those with hearing loss or tinnitus
• Sense: For those living with complex disabilities and who are deafblind