Frequently asked questions
If the questions below do not answer your query please contact Media Access Australia via phone (02) 9212 6242, fax (02) 9212 6289, TTY (02) 9212 6461 or send us an email.
Where can I find out captioned and audio described movie session times?
Is every performance of a theatre production accessible?
Is there a charge for using an audio guide or personal captioning device at a museum or gallery?
Is there a charge for using audio description or closed caption devices at cinemas?
Why are some captioned movies not also audio described?
How does Australia compare globally?
Where can I find other information and links?
Where can I find out captioned and audio described movie session times?
Session information can be found on each cinema's website and in their newspaper advertisements. Accessible sessions are noted with either the initials CC (for closed captions), OC (for open captions) or AD (for audio description). Some cinemas note accessible sessions with abbreviations of C Cap (for closed captions) or Aud-Des (for audio description).
Is every performance of a theatre production accessible?
No. You will generally find that one or two performances of major productions within the yearly season of some major theatre companies are captioned and audio described. If a company does provide access features for a production, these often do not extend to the touring performances of the production, particularly to regional areas and cities outside of Australia’s eastern seaboard. Search for captioned or audio described theatre performances.
Is there a charge for using an audio guide or personal captioning device at a museum or gallery?
Some museums or galleries may charge either a returnable deposit for a service that is considered an access service (for example a personal captioning or audio description device), or a non-returnable charge for an audio guide that is part of the standard exhibition that provides enhancements to the artworks for all users. Please check with the museums and galleries you wish to visit regarding their access services.
Is there a charge for using audio description or closed caption devices at cinemas?
No. These are included in the ticket price for the movie itself. You may need to leave a deposit of some description, for example a driver’s licence or monetary returnable deposit, which will be kept safe by the cinema and returned to you upon the safe return of the equipment to the box office. Please check with your local cinema about its procedures for loaning out equipment.
Why are some captioned movies not also audio described?
For most Hollywood studio movies these days, audio description and closed captions are both provided. For features that don't get audio described, there are a number of reasons for this, such as the fact that audio description is a newer technology and producers are not yet educated on how to provide the service, and some producers have limited funds and can only afford one access feature.
How does Australia compare globally?
The responsibility for access accommodations internationally is often focused on the venue itself, as opposed to a production company.
Many venues have access accommodations as a requirement in their hiring agreements, where the hiring production company must adhere to the venue's conditions.
This approach is driven by different nations' disability discrimination laws and is yet to be adopted in Australia.
Read about the use of audio description and captioning access in the arts in the United Kingdom and United States.
Where can I find other information and links?
Vision Australia's event page. Search for audio described events around Australia.
Go Theatrical. Search for captioned theatre events around Australia.
Stagetext - UK's premier theatre captioning company.
VocalEyes - UK's premier theatre audio describing company.
Your Local Cinema UK - a website for accessible cinema throughout the United Kingdom.
Captionfish - a captioned movie search engine for the USA.
Theatre Development Fund - a website dedicated to accessible tickets to on and off Broadway productions in New York City.
