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Be a Visually Impaired Accessibility Champion. Make your event  memorable for your visually impaired audience—use these tips to stand out!

Six Sandwell Visually Impaired people, including  Development Worker Sandra Troth and two dancers stand in a circle, arms around each other. They use touch and explore space in an imaginary bubble to  understand the dance movements in an  audio description.  Birmingham Royal Ballet's Freefall 21st Anniversary Exhibition, Artistic Director Lee Fisher.

Tony Avery, Chair of Sandwell Visually Impaired, feels a mini mannequin in a ballet position, helping him to access the Audio Description of a live ballet. His guide dog Amber and sighted guide Kelly is sat  either side of him. A dancer is stood in front of them. They are all smiling.

A tactile model of the "three-brain theory" for Sarah-Ann Cromwell's Be Fearless Programme, designed for the recently visually impaired. Model is adapted using air-dry clay and spray varnish.

Tactile model of a brain, featuring the hippocampus, amygdala, limbic system, and neocortex, molded using air-dry clay

What is Audio Description?

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  • A Written Introduction available before the event, covering venue accessibility, dog relief areas, trained volunteers, and a spoiler-free summary, along with character and costume description.

  • A Through Description. Audio described shows can help people who are blind or partially sighted. During an audio described performance, the action of the play is described through a headset (pictured) by trained people so that you can follow what is happening at the same time as the rest of the audience. RSC

  • A Touch Tour allows visually impaired audiences to access the set, costumes, and actors of any production. It is an amazing way of engaging with visually impaired audiences in a fun and relevant way. RNIB

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Creatives-Festivals

If you are a sighted artist, creative, or workshop leader looking to begin your accessibility journey, visit the Sandwell Visually Impaired Accessibility page for info-casts on Guide Dog Etiquette, Making Site-Specific Theatre Accessible, Visually Impaired Person Etiquette – Dos & Don’ts, a Printed Resources Accessibility Guide to help you adapt workshop materials for visually impaired participants and A Visually Impaired Champion Sheet covering etiquette, guide dog awareness, and tips on creating a safe, welcoming environment.

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https://sandwellvisuallyimpaired.org.uk/supporting-each-other/accessibility/

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Thank you to the West Midlands Combined Authority for awarding me the WMCA Activate Skills Development Grant. With this support, I completed festival audio describing training with Roz Chalmers MBE, award-winning Kerry Elkins, and Professor Louise Fryer, a leading academic in visual impairment arts immersion. I also began my blind gaming journey with Sightless Kombat, BRNB consultant, and Jennessary, audio describer for Spider-Man and the Games Awards 2024.

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Be Fearless UK Solution:
Visually Impaired Experience Creator

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