AUDIOVISABILITY Cultural Definition Policy

The purpose and scope of this policy statement

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to define how Audiovisability refer to deafness in our communications.

We believe that:

• Deafness is a wide spectrum and can include those with hearing loss through to those who are born and identify as culturally deaf and communicate through British Sign Language (BSL).

• We have a responsibility to represent the whole of the deaf community, to be inclusive, and to not isolate or exclude any person who identifies as being part of the deaf spectrum.

• Our website and communications should include BSL and we are actively trying to ensure that all of our information is accessible to all audiences.

• Everyone should be able to attend our events and we shall ensure that no one feels excluded.

• It is our duty to improve hearing audiences’ understanding of what it means to be deaf and to foster relationships between hearing and deaf communities.

We recognise that:

• There is debate within the deaf community regarding the use of d/Deaf.

• There are two models commonly used when referring to d/Deaf; we aim to be inclusive and use deaf to refer to all deaf people regardless of hearing levels, language and identity.

Our definition:

• For the purposes of our communications we will use ‘deaf’.

Contact details

Audiovisability Artistic Director

Name: Ruth Montgomery

Email: ruth@audiovisability.com

This policy was last reviewed on: 1st May 2021