Australia doubles the number of ‘age-accessible’ cinemas

May 11, 2009 | By Kim Walker

This system provides captioning and audio descriptions as well. Captions are an English-language text version of the movie soundtrack, which includes not only speech but other important sounds. The captioning is seen by all audience members at a designated captioned screening.

Audio description (AD), is where the important visual information is presented in an audio format, such as scenery or sight gags, so that people can listen to it whilst the movie is playing. The AD soundtrack is available via headphones, so does not affect other audience members.

Here’s a website listing all the ‘Captioned Cinema’ schedules.

Since 2004, audio description has been made available on a small percentage of DVDs in Australia, however until now this has not been available in cinemas, apart from at special events or festivals.

Under a Government scheme, ‘Helping Older Australian Enjoy the Movies: Accessible Cinema’, a grant of $350,000 was provided to purchase and install the equipment.

• In mid-2007 the USA had over 830 accessible cinemas, representing about 15% of locations and an accessible cinema for every 357,000 people.
• As at October 2008, the UK has over 300 cinemas, representing nearly 39% of locations and an accessible cinema for every 203,000 people.
• NZ has 3 accessible cinemas (captions only), representing 3% of locations and an accessible cinema for every 1.4 million people.

Prior to the launch of this project, Australia had only 11 accessible cinemas (captions only), representing 2% of locations and an accessible cinema for every 2 million people.