Glossary

A program designed by Easter Seals Canada, where a person requiring assistance can register for the Access2 card. They are then able to show their card at any registered venue to receive a complimentary ticket for their companion when they purchase a ticket for themselves. For more information on the Access2 program visit: www.Access2Card.ca.

A document that outlines all the access needs and/or standards of inclusion and education that you require of the organization you are working with, so that an artist can be comfortable, safe, and focus on their work.

A thorough, professional evaluation of how well your venue/policies/digital meet the needs of people with disabilities. This information is useful for infrastructure upgrades, and so folks can make informed choices about what events and spaces they can participate in and support.

An individual with lived experience and/or specialized training in the field of accessibility needs. This person will work with your organization to understand your goals and advise how best to meet the accessibility needs of your audience, performers and staff based on where you are in your learning process.

A document created to outline the ways your organization is working to become more accessible and inclusive and to list the access measures available for that specific event.

A document that outlines the timeline and steps your organization plans to take to better meet the accessibility needs of your audience, performers, and staff. Your accessibility plan should cover the current production while also looking to the future.

A video created to show audience members what to expect when they arrive at the venue. This video will give visual and verbal descriptions of the space as well as provide any warnings of elements or subject matter that may be problematic.

A washroom designed to meet the access needs of a person with a physical, visual, or sensory disability. All accessible washrooms should be tested by an accessibility advisory or by several members of the Disability community, following the accessibility guidelines in the building code is not enough.

A person trained in a way of listening using verbal and nonverbal messages and responding to that person with the goal of improving mutual understanding. Active listeners will give their full focus and attention to a person and will then confirm the messages they received by repeating them to the speaker. They may sometimes provide further resources if needed.

Text that briefly describes an online image. This text is used by blind or partially sighted individuals (who might be using screen readers) to understand what is happening in an image, or by everyone when an image does not load. For more resources to understand alt-text and how it differs from image descriptions visit the Instagram account @Higher_Priestess.

A visual language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf and hard of hearing communities in anglophone Canada (note there are other types of sign language including Maritime Sign Language, used by some here in Nova Scotia). The shape, placement, and movement of the hands as well as facial expressions and body movements all play important parts in conveying information and meaning. ASL has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages, but the grammatical structure and syntax differ from English. Like all languages, ASL grows and changes over time.

A form of education that examines an anti-oppressive framework. This means that we recognize the oppression that is built into our systems and institutions and challenge inequalities and injustices that allow one group to dominate over another. Anti-oppression training introduces concepts of power and privilege, while teaching the difference between equity and equality. An anti-oppressive framework allows us to understand our place within these systems, question our practices, and create new approaches that counter oppression and move us closer to reconciliation and decolonization.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are personal technologies that can help you communicate in one-to-one conversations. They are hand-held amplifiers with microphones that bring the sound you wish to hear closer to your ears. These small devices capture the sound you want to hear and may filter some background noise. There are other personal devices, such as wireless FM devices and propriety devices that are sold by audiologists as ancillary equipment to various brands of hearing aids and cochlear implants.

A form of enhanced narration used to provide information surrounding key visual elements, such as scene changes, settings, costumes, physical movement, and more. It is often described as speaking pictorially. Used to "fill in the gaps" for those who cannot see the content.

A policy that outlines the rules in a space for bringing children who are too young to walk or sit by themselves to a performance

A form of written language for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.

The practice of writing phrases without spaces or punctuation, indicating the separation of words with a single capitalized letter. Used as an access measure when writing hashtags, to allow screen readers to differentiate between words.

The live, word for word translation of speech and sound into text, which allows a person who is d/Deaf or hard of hearing, people learning the language, as well as neurodivergent individuals to follow what is being said aloud. CART is a service where a specially trained stenographer listens to what is being said and types it, so it can be read on-screen (also known as real-time stenography).

Community members with lived experience who are paid to offer knowledge and experience to the organization that hired them. Community consultants will use their knowledge and understanding of their community to guide decision making.

The care for children provided or subsidized by the organization while parents are at work, participating in, or watching a performance.

Time Synchronized text that reflects the audio track and can be read while watching visual content. Closed captions are in the same language as the audio.

A written contract between the organization/employees/contractors that outlines the terms and conditions of employment.

A picture symbol board that can be used to facilitate communication. The pictures on the board will enable a person to make comments, requests, or give direction without the need for verbal communication. Communication boards are traditionally used by members of the autism community and by people who are non-verbal, although they have many other uses, such as for individuals who do not speak the language or for patrons with anxiety.

A free ticket offered to the companion of a ticket buyer who requires support to navigate the space and support their needs during the performance.

Verbal and written notices that warn of potentially sensitive content within the material. It is best for these to be identified with approximate time stamps of the sensitive content so those engaging with it can prepare themselves to adequately engage or disengage for their own well-being.

A d/Deaf interpreter (DI) is an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing and possesses excellent communication skills in both ASL and English. They have been trained in interpreter ethics and may also have specialized communication training in use of gesture, mime, drawings, and matching sentence structure and language of the deaf person they are interpreting. The DI also has an extensive knowledge and understanding of deafness and of Deaf culture.

Disability awareness training is a type of education that helps companies, leaders, and teams understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities in order to improve accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.

A process used to identify or measure the happiness and satisfaction of employees and/or audience.

A first aid kit or medical kit is a collection of supplies and equipment used to give immediate medical treatment, primarily to treat injuries and other mild or moderate medical conditions.

A work structure where employees create their own schedules without the location and time constraints typical of traditional work schedules.

Washrooms that anticipate and accommodate the needs of members of all genders and where individuals of any gender can feel comfortable and safe.

Detailed explanations of an image that provides textual information to describe visual images to a person who is blind or partially sighted. When using Image Descriptions to describe art we can use a little more creativity than with typical image descriptions, and it provides another layer of artistic expression for the artist. For more information on Image descriptions visit the Higher Priestess Instagram account at: @Higher_Priestess.

A person hired to facilitate communication and who works to ensure that both parties feel their needs are being heard and respected.

An intimacy director or coordinator is a choreographer, an advocate for actors, and a liaison between actors and production for scenes that involve nudity / hyper-exposed work, simulated sex acts, and/or intimate physical contact.

A statement that a non-Indigenous person or visiting Indigenous person gives to recognize and honor the land they are working on and the Indigenous people who are the caretakers of the land.

A legend that outlines the level of language comprehension a person would need to follow the performance.

Large print documents are clear easy to read print documents without images and may aid readability

A policy put in place if someone arrives late to the theatre, ie. patrons are allowed to their seats at any time, patrons are allowed in at a suitable break, or patrons are allowed in at the end of the act. Latecomers policies should be posted in advance to adequately prepare audiences before they arrive to the theatre.

Transmit or receive live video and audio coverage over the internet

A policy regarding the use of masks in the venue, ie. Masks Recommended. Mask policies should be clearly posted so people can decide if a space is safe for them to participate in.

A training program to prepare individuals to help you give to someone developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.

Variety of hotlines, online information services, mobile apps, and even video games available to help people cope with mental illness.

A relationship between two people where the individual with more experience, knowledge, and connections is able to pass along what they have learned to the person with less experience.

The use of a microphone helps to stabilize a presenters volume and significantly improves the function of a hearing aid. This helps not only those in the hearing loss community, but also removes barriers for people who have trouble processing and understanding.

Assistive devices used to enhance a person�s level of mobility. These are tools that add to their quality of life rather than �binding�, �confining�, or �limiting� them.

A kit containing Naloxone, which acts as an opioid antagonist, meaning it can be administered during an opioid overdose to temporarily reverse the effects so that treatment can be sought.

A policy banning flash photography, which can distract, or even temporarily blind the performers and crew, and trigger those with sensitivities to light.

Open captions are always in view for everyone and cannot be turned off.

A parking space that is clearly identified as reserved for use by a person with a disability and meets the local government requirements.

A pricing strategy where consumers can pay what they are able to afford. A recommended price can be available but options should range from $0 to offer a fully accessible option.