The 18 Million
As a deaf-led charity, Stagetext is committed to breaking down barriers and creating inclusive experiences for deaf, deafened or hard of hearing people in arts and culture.
This year we are highlighting the 18 million deaf, deafened or hard of hearing adults in the UK. What do we mean by the 18 million? Recently the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf people) published some research, showing that 1 in 3 adults in the UK are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. That’s 18 million people who might need a little extra support to fully enjoy arts and culture
You can read more about the research here.
Studies show that hearing loss can have a negative impact on people’s social and mental health – leaving people feeling isolated, depressed or lonely. Being able to fully access a theatre show or live performance can have a transformative effect.
As part of Captioning Awareness Week, we are inviting you to book your first captioned or live subtitled event. Or, if you know someone that would benefit from captions, why not let them know about captioned events.
As well as deaf audiences, there are many other people who can benefit from captions. They are useful for anyone for whom English isn’t their first language, for instance, or for people who need support with concentration.
How can you get involved?
- Pencil a date: Ready for your first captioned show? Browse our What’s On page to find the perfect event for you.
- Let us know: Been to a captioned or live subtitled event? Share it on social media. Your experience might inspire someone else to try their first accessible show or event.
- Newsletter: Never miss an accessible event: Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.
- Get instant updates: Want updates about events as soon as we put them on our website? Set up email notifications about upcoming shows and talks near you.
- Become an Ambassador: Join our family of ambassadors and help spread the word about accessible arts. Learn more about becoming an ambassador here.
- Donate: Every donation, big or small, helps us create more accessible events. Support our mission to make arts and culture accessible to everyone. Donate today.
