Access Tools
Access means designing your project, opportunity or event so that everyone can take part, either as artists, arts workers, staff (employees), participants and audiences. Making your programs, workshops, projects and events accessible is about meeting people’s access requirements and creating equality for everyone.
Duties can include:
Access support workers have varied roles due to the diversity of the people that they work with. Roles include: Access Assistant; Sign Language Interpreter; Creative Enabler and Audio Describer (AD).
Indicates Access Support Workers are available. Please see Access Support Workers (ASW), Creative Enabler (ASW) Auslan interpreter (ASW), and Audio Describer (ASW).
Designed for people with physical impairments and as a safe space for everyone who uses the bathroom.
Indicates suitability by age groups. On this website, they are classified as:
A short text description used to describe an image. Alt text communicates an image to people who are blind and vision impaired (and others) who use assistive technology, such as screen readers.
Refers to broader mediums for artistic expression. On this website, the art forms are:
Refers to more specific art form genres and practices.
The term 'arts and disability' is used to describe arts projects specially set up for disabled people, usually led by non-disabled people.
Assistance animals are highly trained to provide a variety of support to people who are blind or have low vision; Deaf and hard of hearing people; people who need physical support; people who experience episodic and serious medical crisis; and people who experience psychological and emotional conditions. There are variations among states and territories of accreditation and regulation of assistance animals. (Also see companion animals.)
Indicates facilities for assistance animals. Can include seating, water, grass area or that the animal can be left with staff.
Assistive listening systems (augmented hearing, or hearing loop) are installed in many venues and are used to amplify or enhance sound quality via hearing aids, headsets or other devices. They include infrared, loop and FM systems. Portable systems may be available from the same audiovisual equipment suppliers that service conferences and meetings.
A trained professional or trained volunteer who creates and delivers, and/or records, audio description. Please note, live audio description services are not available in all states and territories.
Supports a person who is Blind, or vision impaired to access visual information. For example, describing the environment, or a physical action to a person who is blind or vision impaired.
Audio description enhances live performance, film and visual art for people who are Blind or have low vision. Using a small radio receiver, the person receives a spoken description of visual elements by an audio describer.
Audio description enhances live performance, film and visual art for people who are Blind or have low vision. Using a small radio receiver, the audience member receives a spoken description of the visual elements by an audio describer.
The sign language Australian Deaf people use to communicate.
Professionals qualified to interpret effectively and accurately for people who are Deaf from English to Auslan and from Auslan into spoken English.
Using the Sign Language Interpreting symbol tells Deaf Australian Sign Language (Auslan) users that Auslan interpreting is provided for a performance, film, guided exhibitions tour, forum, workshop or event. Interpreting makes sure Deaf Auslan users can engage with the performance or event using their first language.
A Deaf person who uses Auslan as their first language to communicate.
This symbol can be used to indicate access for people who are blind or have low vision, including: a guided tour, a path to a nature trail or a scent garden in a park; and a touch/tactile tour or a museum exhibition that may be touched.
Braille indicates that written materials are available in Braille. This could include labelling, marketing, publications and signage at the venue.
Captioning turns audio content into text for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Dialogue and other sounds are translated into text that is displayed on a screen for everyone to see, or an individual device enabling the audience member to read what is being said.
An Accessible Adult Change Facility is a toilet and change facility that caters for people with high support needs and their carers where they require additional space, assistance and specialised equipment to allow them to use toilets safely and comfortably.
A companion animal, unlike an assistive animal, may not have had special training to support someone with disability. The person claiming their animal is a companion animal must meet the definition of a person with disability. Currently, companion animals are not covered under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Indicates that the provider is a Companion Card Affiliate. The Companion Card is issued to people with disability who require lifelong attendant care support, to enable participation at events, activities and venues without incurring the price of a second ticket for their companion. www.companioncard.gov.au
Is the art of today. Contemporary art is considered as art that has been produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century.
Supports an artist to deliver their creative output. Assistance can include supporting a person to understand and interpret the creative process either through speech or movement. Assistance can also include communication support or facilitation in live performance.
Led by Deaf people, Deaf arts provide an authentic and unique cultural voice for the Deaf community.
Disability arts is made by and led by disabled people. Originally it was defined as 'art made by disabled people which reflects the experience of disability'.
In an arts practice context, disabled people have creative control and make the creative decisions. In an organisational context, disability-led is defined by having a majority of Deaf and disabled people in charge of the running and governance of the organisation.
Indicates Easy Read is available. Easy Read documents have short, simple sentences with pictures.
An emerging artist is someone who is a practising professional artist in the early stages of their career and who show significant potential. Age is not a factor in determining if someone is an emerging artist.
Emerging and experimental arts are new types of artistic expression and new forms involving a range of art disciplines combined with disciplines outside the arts. They sometimes include art and science, bio art, live art, socially engaged practices and new technologies. They often explore cultural issues.
Refers to public performances, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, etc.
Indicates skill level. There are four categories used on this website:
Refers to an artist that has knowledge, skills and experience in particular arts activities or art forms gained from doing the arts activity for a long time.
Refers to professional skill development, personal skill development, artistic skill development, social and community participation and pathways to work. These focus areas can be funded in your NDIS plan.
Guide dogs assist people who are blind or vision impaired. Also refer to assistance animal.
An arts activity or event that is accessible to disabled people and non-disabled people is simply 'accessible' or 'inclusive'.
Indicates you have a location where someone can get specific access information or materials, such as Large Print.
The Graphic Artists Guild (USA) has created a set of free Universal Access Symbols. The symbols are intended to help you advertise your access services. graphicartistsguild.org
Large Print is printed in 18 point or larger text. As well as indicating that large print versions of books, pamphlets, museum guides and theatre programs are available, you can use the symbol on conference or membership forms to indicate that print materials can be provided in large print. Sans serif with good contrast is highly recommended as well as following clear print guidelines for readability.
Includes composition, bands, singing, choirs, orchestra, electronic music, experimental music, instruments, accessible music and sound art.
You can include arts activities in your NDIS plan under categories such as:
An NDIS provider is an individual or organisation delivering a support or a product to an NDIS participant.
Core: A support that enables a participant to complete activities of daily living. Capacity building: A support that enables a participant to build their independence and skills. Capital: A support that enables an investment, such as assistive technologies, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, or funding for capital costs (e.g. to pay for specialist disability accommodation).
The independent statutory agency responsible for administering the NDIS.
Supports people with permanent and significant disability. It is jointly governed and funded by the Australian and participating states and territory governments.
"Is a phone solution for people who are Deaf or have a differing speech pattern". https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service
Refers to opportunities offered on this website which include workshops, projects, auditions, internships, masterclasses, residencies, and other professional development opportunities.
Genres include dance, music, opera, film, theatre, drama, magic shows, circus, stand-up comedy, related forms and combinations of these.
A professional artist is someone who has achieved some of the following:
Ongoing and regular workshops or projects.
An organisation or individual who is offering arts programs, opportunities or events on this website.
A space to facilitate the calming or alerting of senses as needed. Quiet spaces are used to avoid or recover from sensory overload or to provide sensory input to meet a sensory need (e.g. tactile, auditory or visual stimulation). Also known as a chill out area or zone.
Arts activities that are done for enjoyment, or social and community participation, for interest, to learn new skills and have fun.
Indicates that only registered assistance dogs are welcome.
Relaxed performances, screenings or events are designed to reduce anxiety and create a supportive atmosphere for people with autism spectrum conditions, learning disability and other sensory and communication disorders. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement among the audience and some small changes made to the light and sound effects. Audience members can enter and exit the venue throughout the show.
Includes all areas and styles of screen-based arts. For example, documentary, animation, video clips, short films, YouTube, gaming and post production.
A professional who translates spoken English into Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and 'voicing over' from Auslan into English.
Developed by disabled people, the social model is based on equality and human rights. It is used to identify and take action against discrimination. It recognises that people are disabled by the barriers created by society, not by a condition or impairment. The degree to which a person is disabled is directly impacted by the inaccessibility of the environment, communications and attitudes. This model recognises people’s full participation as citizens. We do not use the word disability to mean impairment. The word disability means barriers and discrimination. The problem is NOT the individual and it involves everyone in identifying and removing barriers.
Refers to who the program, opportunity or event is aimed at. The target groups are primarily impairment groups. Groups can include:
A Touch Tour allows audiences who are Blind, or vision impaired to explore the set and some crucial props and costumes, helping them to get a fuller picture of the production. Touch Tours can also work in other settings. Sometimes referred to as tactile tour.
Visual art is created primarily for visual perception. Visual Art includes painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and ceramics. Many other art forms also involve aspects of the visual arts.
The Visual Eye Symbols indicates what percentage of a performance or an event that is accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing people.
No music or dialogue or all dialogue is open captioned.
May have music or sounds in the background, or may be partly open captioned or scripts and descriptions are given to the audience before the event on request.
Fully open captioned providing access to spoken word but no background music or sounds.
To help people prepare to attend a relaxed performance, a Visual Story can be created about what to expect during an outing to the theatre, cinema or an activity. Similar to Social Story.
Using both words and pictures, a visual story introduces people on what to expect during an outing to the theatre, cinema or other activities. They should be short, factual, offer positive options to help with fears about triggers such as loud sounds, tell the story briefly, and share any big surprises.
Indicates access for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. For example, the symbol is used to indicate an accessible entrance, bathroom or that a phone is lowered for wheelchair users. Remember that a ramped entrance is not complete access if there are no curb cuts, and an elevator is not accessible if it can only be reached via steps.
Includes creative writing, literature, poetry, prose and drama.