Theatre Development Fund and The Broadway League are Breaking Barriers to Broadway with the launch of Theatre Access NYC, www.theatreaccess.nyc, a new website designed to assist theatregoers with disabilities in finding accessible performances of Broadway productions.
This website is a way to help theatregoers with physical disabilities or autism and other sensory sensitivities find Broadway shows with the particular type of accessibility service they require. Theatre Access NYC is an intuitive, user-friendly show finder that allows users to filter and sort through dozens of Broadway shows based on accessibility, and provides details including dates, times and ticket availability for accessible performances.
Theatre Access NYC (Photo provided by The Broadway League.)
“We are pleased to be part of Theatre Access NYC, in collaboration with Theatre Development Fund, which will bring more people with disabilities to Broadway. Our goal for the new website is to provide all theatregoers who want to experience our shows an easy-to-navigate place where they can find extensive information in one location,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.
“It’s at the heart of Theatre Development Fund’s mission to do what we can to make theatre accessible to all who want to attend, no matter what the barrier,” said Victoria Bailey, TDF’s Executive Director. “Theatre Access NYC will make it easier for New Yorkers and visitors with these functional needs see more theatre.”
‘School of Rock’ will offer an American sign language and open captioning performance on May 25, 2106. (Photo: Matthew Murphy via The Broadway Blog.)
“Theatre Access NYC is bringing much needed information to people with disabilities in one, accessible location and moving NYC one step closer to achieving its goal of being the most accessible city in the world,” said Victor Calise, Commissioner for the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
TDF and The Broadway League worked with their developer to conform to web accessibility standards, ensuring that all people with all disabilities are able to access the site.
Among the services listed are:
- Mobility issues – wheelchair access, info on stairs/elevators in theatres, accessible restrooms, water fountains, etc.
- Mild to severe hearing loss – theatres that regularly provide iCaption units (handheld closed caption units) and assistive listening devices (headphone units that amplify the sound onstage), as well as listings of upcoming specially scheduled open captioned and sign language interpreted performances.
- Mild to severe vision loss – theatres that always provide D-scriptive audio devices (which provide a detailed account of all onstage activity) as well as listings for upcoming specially scheduled audio described performances).
- Autism friendly performances – upcoming scheduled autism/sensory friendly performances (creating a safe, supportive environment for an audience of families with children and adults on the autism spectrum. The shows are performed with minor adjustments to lighting and sound cues).
