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Since 1992, December 3 has marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day that “aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life” (United Nations).
Here at the National Arts Centre (NAC) we view this as a duty on multiple fronts, and prioritize providing a safe, dignified and welcoming environment for everyone.
We are becoming more and more aware of different physical and cognitive experiences that can affect the artistic experience. And this is influencing how we present theatre, dance, and concerts. The last Pops concert of the NAC Orchestra (NACO) conducted by Jack Everly, in June, gave rise to a friendly and intergenerational artistic experience. The parents of a seven-year-old autistic child shared with emotion:
“Our son is a big fan of Jurassic Park. When he saw the ads for the concert, he was really excited... but he told us he couldn’t attend because he’s afraid of crowds and noise. However, we had the opportunity to attend a NACO rehearsal. Our son came out of it saying: “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in my life. It was so, so good!”
In a few days, Cispersonnages en quête d’auteurice will be premiering at the NAC. It is an uninhibited show by Joe Jack & John in which five neurodivergent performers meet in the rehearsal studio to launch a creative process about unicorns! Caught between artistic vision and many ethical principles, this quirky comedy takes the bold step of fearlessly encouraging debate.
In honour of the event, and thanks to the hard work of Véronique Lavoie-Marcus (Programming assistant for Children and Youth and Project manager, French Theatre), several accessibility measures have been put in place. These include audio description in the theatre, a live commentary of the main visual elements of a performance (sets, characters, action, movement), narration delivered between the dialogue and the sound effects of the performance.
In parallel, a tactile tour allows persons who are blind or visually impaired and their companions to explore the stage space where the actors perform. By touching the sets, props and costumes used in the show, blind and visually impaired audience members can get a better sense of the show’s volumes and spaces.
This same show will also result in a relaxed performance, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all audience members in a calmer and more inclusive environment. These include allowing show-goers to enter and leave the venue at will and stand up, move around and react. The lights will stay on throughout the performance and a space near the venue will be available for attendees who need to take a break or relax.
“It is estimated that around 20% of the population lives with a physical or cognitive limitation. Working to make our place more accessible and inclusive is fundamental to the NAC. Everyone should be able to benefit from these artistic programs that we care so much to put together. The accessibility projects I work to implement—in collaboration with wonderful human beings—are incredibly enriching for our team, for the artists on stage, for audiences living with disabilities and their loved ones. The road ahead is still long, but punctuated with beautiful sparks. »
– Véronique Lavoie-Marcus
All NAC disciplines are expanding their efforts to make their programming more inclusive. Some additional examples: MYÜZ, an immersive experience combining escape games, art and sensory therapy, was sold out. English Theatre organized a special performance of Come from Away for people with visual limitations, including a tactile tour and audio description of the show. Indigenous Theatre has put on relaxed performances and offered simultaneous interpretation in American Sign Language (ASL) for several of its shows, such as the musical comedy Bear Grease. This summer, NACO offered its very first concert adapted to sensory sensitivities: the musicians were installed on raised platforms, while the audience, placed as close as possible to the artists, sat comfortably on mats.
The audio description of the theatrical dance for wheelchairs Quand tu me regardes, last year, also sparked a vibrant reaction from a family:
“We’re so grateful to have been invited to and to have attended this show. As parents, it meant the world that our 14-year-old daughter’s visual disability could be accommodated and she could fully experience the show!! Our family loves music, dance and theatre, but sadly, we rarely go see live performances because we know our daughter will have trouble seeing, be disappointed and not catch everything she needs to understand the show and to enjoy the experience. Finally, there’s an inclusive, top-notch cultural event that’s accessible to everyone.”
In addition to the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the NAC has recently added a new initiative: the Accessible Programming Committee, led by Aimee Bouchard (Learning & Engagement Coordinator, English Theatre) and Rich Coburn (Senior Manager Community Partnerships and Programming Diversity, NACO). This committee reviews how accessible programming is handled across the NAC in order to standardize our actions as much as possible, better communicate our accessible programming to interested communities, and promote more collaboration across disciplines in the face of shared challenges for accessible programming.
Our employees and volunteers are trained in how to interact with persons with disabilities and those who require the assistance of a support person. All our performance venues are accessible and have spots reserved for people using mobility aids. We also have assistive devices (wheelchairs, hearing assistive devices, etc.) available for anyone who needs them.
We invite you to consult our Accessibility Policy and our Accessibility Plan before coming to a show at the NAC. These documents detail all of the steps we take to ensure our venues are accessible and to communicate feedback on accessibility for continuous improvement.
We recognize that there’s still work to be done, but we know we’re on the right path— looking forward to welcoming you all!
