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Blind Teen's 140-Mile Cinema Trek Highlights Access Gap
7 May
Summary
- A 14-year-old blind teen traveled 140 miles for a film with audio description.
- Local cinemas lacked essential audio description services for visually impaired patrons.
- Advocates call for improved accessibility in cinemas across Northern Ireland.
A 14-year-old girl, blind since birth, was compelled to travel 140 miles for a cinema screening due to a lack of accessible options closer to her home in County Fermanagh. Eryn's family discovered that the nearest cinemas, including IMC Cinemas Enniskillen, did not provide the necessary audio description headsets for the film "The Magic Faraway Tree." This forced a three-hour round trip to Belfast.
Eryn shared her frustration, noting that while sighted individuals take cinema access for granted, visually impaired people often struggle. She emphasized the reliance on audio description for a fuller understanding of films, stating that local venues' inability to cater to her needs was "extremely disappointing." This situation underscores a broader issue affecting an estimated 57,500 people with sight loss in Northern Ireland.
Political representatives and disability advocates have voiced concerns over the persistent lack of accessible screenings. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine highlighted that despite previous discussions with cinema groups, little has changed. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) echoed these sentiments, calling for improved access and stating that such extensive travel is not feasible for many. Omniplex has indicated plans to expand audio description availability in the coming years, dependent on film studio content.
