New digital navigation system launched at cultural institutions in Delhi

Pictured above: Mayor, Councilor Patricia Logue, as Derry City and Strabane District Council’s access and inclusion team launches a new social narrative video initiative for 14 local cultural venues. Pictured are co-chair Catherine Hemelik of CCA, Ollie Green of Studio2, Catrionia Doherty, Head of Access and Inclusion, John Kerr, Head of Arts, and Damien Coyle MBE, Chief Executive of Atypical University. Mr. Amanda Cree, Visiting Team Leader. Services, DCSDC. (Photo: Martin McCune)

Visitors and service users at 14 cultural institutions in Derry and Strabane can now plan their experiences using a new online navigation system.

The social narrative video was launched this week by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Access and Inclusion team and is aimed to be particularly helpful for disabled and neurodiverse customers who have additional needs when planning their visit.

This work is supported by Community Access and Inclusion Program funding and the videos can be accessed at the venue and on the Council’s website.

Caitriona Doherty, the council’s access and inclusion co-ordinator, said the project would enable disabled users to participate more confidently in the venue.

“This project aims to make working at arts and culture venues a more positive experience by allowing all users to plan and visualize their visits in advance and make the necessary advance preparations. “I am,” she said.

“Service users who require additional support want to feel safe attending a venue. We want to give them the reassurance they need with videos they can watch beforehand to familiarize themselves with the venue. I am.

“The video includes information about the facilities they may be using, their location, and any additional support they may need.”

The Social Narrative Video Project is presented by the University of Atypical Arts and Disabilities (UofA). It is a disability-led organization and the leading sectoral organization for arts and disability.

UofA takes an empowerment-based approach to enable deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse people to participate in the arts as artists and audiences.

DCSDC has made a number of physical changes to the venue’s infrastructure to improve access for people with disabilities.

This video project is the next step in this process by providing visual and audio guided tours as well as information and guidance to improve access to arts and cultural activities.

The purpose is to show the important points when people with disabilities use the venue, and to help people using services for people with disabilities use the venue more smoothly and enjoyably.

Each digital video and audio tour video includes ISL or BSL with captions and narration, a reduced narrative approach, and plain English for accessibility purposes.

Videos for each venue are available on the website and all videos are available on the Council website.

Participating venues are as follows. Millennium Forum Theater and Conference Centre, Derry Contemporary Arts Centre, Blue Coat School Heritage Center at First Derry Presbyterian Church, North West Cultural Partnership (New Gate Arts and Culture Centre), The Alley Theater and Arts Centre, The Guildhall, Brady & District Ulster and Scottish Development Association, North West Play Resource Center (Playhouse), Free Derry Museum, Siege Museum, Void Gallery, Echo Echo Dance Theater Company, Waterside Theater Company – Limited, Destined Limited, Foyle Valley Railway Museum.