Accessible Cinema

= Audio Description

= Open Captions

Whyalla residents with a hearing or vision impairment will now be able to enjoy the latest films, thanks to the ‘accessible cinema’ initiative at Country Arts SA’s Whyalla Cinema thanks to a new partnership with Media Access Australia (MAA) and the Independent Cinemas Association, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing.

Nearly 4 million Australians have hearing or vision impairments, and this number is growing as our population ages. Until now, many Australians have been unable to fully participate in the important social ritual of going to the movies.

The Whyalla Cinema is one of 12 independent cinema’s nationally that have been assisted to offer captions and audio description services on a regular basis.

Captions are  an  English-language  text  version of  the movie  soundtrack, which  includes  speech and other  important  sounds. This is seen by all audience members during captioned screenings. Audio description is where important visual information is presented in an audio format, so that people can listen to it whilst the movie is playing. The audio description soundtrack is only available via headphones and is not heard by other audience members.

The ‘accessible cinema’ initiative aims to double current cinema access levels across the nation for those Australians who are hearing impaired seniors, and it will mark the first time seniors with a vision impairment will be able to fully experience cinema on a regular basis.

Captioned movies will be advertised with OC next to the movie name and audio described movies will be advertised with AD. Dependant upon films being available with these features the Whyalla Cinema will screen captioned and audio described movies twice a week on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

A new accessible website, www.yourlocalcinema.com.au has been launched to provide up-to-date screening schedules for consumers.