We have an access centred practice, drawing on our experiences as disabled artists and extensive training including “Train The Trainer: Disability Equality Training” from Little Cog

 

We want to work in flexible, transparent, welcoming ways and to create and share accessible, inclusive opportunities, spaces and support structures.

 

We know that this is an ongoing process and that we won’t always get everything right for everyone all the time. We want to know if there are things we could be doing differently. 

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• If you’d like to contact us about anything relating to access please:Email info.ladykitt@gmail.com with the heading “Access”

• You can also book a brief 121 access chat with Kitt / project coordinator Beth Stead by emailing info.ladykitt@gmail.com with the heading “Access chat”.

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We'll aim to get back to you within 2 weeks of receiving your email, however at busy times (particularly during the summer) we may take a little longer.

 

We have developed the access manifesto below collaboratively and are currently doing the following things to grow our work in accessible ways. We will:

• ·                 Ensure there is an access fund for all our activities: providing vital funds for access & helping to weave conversations about access throughout our processes

• ·       Invite artists/ communities we collaborate with to share their access requirements / statements:  advocate for artists creating access riders by sharing Disability Arts Online template https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/opinion/access-rider-open-template/ 

• ·       Approach access as a multisensory and creative practice: smell, taste, sight, sound and touch can be included in our processes and projects. Be led by “aesthetics of access” (developed by Graeae  Theatre)-  ways in which accessibility influences and shapes creative work in wonderful, unexpected ways

• ·       Remember that Haste Excludes: doing things in a short time frame, especially if this includes long / extra / late working hours creates a vast array of barriers- we will advocate for longer time scales for projects & activities and build a “beat of pauses” into our own ways of working

• ·       Build work on the understanding that access isn’t only about removing barriers experienced by disabled people: ·we know that barriers to access are created and perpetuated by, endemic, systematic, global inequalities and we will make spaces, opportunities, networks of mutual care and sites of creativity & connection that actively challenge and dismantle these

 

What we won't do, EVER:

• Use the phrase “fully accessible”- we understand that nothing is, or can be. Everyone’s access requirements are different and may sometimes be in direct opposition to each other. 

• Ask people to disclose their specific conditions / diagnosis / ask for medical details. 

• Make assumptions about someone's capacity and ability

 

 

Ways we are making this happen:

 

General:

• Commit to having an access / well being / care check in at the start of our regular weekly meetings and project meetings. Add this to meeting agendas / workshop plans

• Do an access / well  being / care check out at the end of longer workshops / meetings / days. Add this to meeting agendas / workshop plans / schedules

• In meetings have a least a 5 minute break for every 60 minutes. This gives people a vital opportunity to stretch/ lay down / get a drink / take medication / re-centre focus, etc.

• Add an access budget line to all future budgets and fundraising targets / initiatives

• Commit to supporting and holding each other accountable for growing our activities from a place of access and creativity. If we see something a colleague, other organization or artist is doing that is great- we will share and celebrate it. If we notice something that we feel could be different / improved, we will get in touch, in a spirit of kindness and support. We will be open to other people’s suggestions and experiences. 

 

Events:

• Find out about access in the spaces we are meeting / using and share this info in a timely and accessible manner with attendees / artists / colleagues/ visitors / collaborators

• Refer to and display the illustrated Safer Braver Spaces agreement  in online and physical spaces

• Always invite attendees / artists / colleagues to share their access requirements / documents / riders with us (add this as an action to project plans)

 

Marketing / comms / social media:

• Add Image descriptions / ALT text to all images

• Add subtitles / audio description to all videos

• Add info about step-free access, close by accessible parking options, accessible toilets / changing places / baby changing and feeding, hearing loops, for all non-digital activities. Add invitation to get in touch with any questions / suggestions re access with an email address / contact number of a relevant person who has capacity to respond to enquiries. On our websites / publicity etc give an honest and achievable estimate about how long it will take to reply to access enquiries.

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