Entertainment is a great way to unwind after a long day, whether you do this alone or enjoy a social activity with friends and family. It includes going to the movies, watching TV at home, listening to music, playing video games and sports, and attending fun events such as concerts.  

While entertainment must be something everyone enjoys, unfortunately, in most cases, is not inclusive or accessible for everyone. 

We have put together tips to help enhance accessibility in entertainment below for your information;  

1. Audio description in visual content like films and series provides people with visual impairments with detailed information to understand the story. Films make audio description possible by providing a second movie version with an audio description.  
2. Subtitles and closed captions allow people with hearing impairments to experience visual content quickly. Subtitles focus on dialogue within the film, whereas closed captions include elements that aren’t a part of speech, such as ‘dog barking.’  
3. A transcript is a written record that includes speech in a film or TV series. The beauty of transcripts is that they have time stamps and names of different characters, so it helps people with hearing impairments follow along with the story.  
4. Sign Language signing is a common practice during news slots on TV stations. Sign language interpreters can be utilized during sports and music performances like Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance to create a more inclusive and accessible experience.  
5. An Accessibility Desk that acts as a point of information during indoor and outdoor events allows people with disabilities to get information that can improve their experience quickly. 
6. Wheelchair-accessible venues and ramps allow wheelchair users to manoeuvre around the event and access entertainment venues such as bowling alleys and film theatres easily.   
7. Accessible Remote Controls have large buttons and easy-to-read characters for older people, people with reduced dexterity and people with low vision.  
8. Video game controllers with Braille for people with visual impairments and buttons that are easy to push for people with dexterity issues.  
9. Events that take shorter amounts of time, with fewer people and less noise, so that people with auditory disorders or sensory issues, including neurodivergent, don’t feel exhausted or overwhelmed during an indoor or outdoor event.  

We’d love to hear from you if you have more entertainment accessibility tips that you’re using. Leave us a comment online and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or YouTube.

Written by: Linda Wairegi, Multimedia Project Manager, inABLE