Promoting choice

The underlying philosophy of using access as a creative tool is that by providing options for your audience, regardless of impairment or status, you are, in turn, promoting their ability to choose for themselves.

The Social Model of Disability states that it is not an individual's impairment that disables them but rather the built and social environment around them - in other words, it is other people who disable us through their attitudes, prejudice, or lack of consideration. 

By approaching accessibility in the arts with an open mind, honest outlook, and willingness to adapt, you are not only increasing the potential audience size and engagement of your project, but you are embedding a positive and affirming attitude around disability more broadly.

You can think of autonomy - a person's capacity to  make decisions for themselves - as a cornerstone of best practice when it comes to accessibility. You should aim to avoid segregating or sidelining accessible formats or accessible performances so as not to further push away a marginalised community. Choice is the goal, and you should consider from the outset of your work how you might provide options for individuals - whether disabled or not - to engage with your project in a way most comfortable and meaningful for them.