Marketing your accessible show

Autism Network Scotland
Autism Network Scotland connects and communicates with those interested in the field of autism. 
We are a signpost for autism professionals and practitioners, people with autism, their families and carers toward examples of good practice, resources and useful information.
Website: theautismnetwork.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @AutismNetworkScotland

Pasda
Our mission is to empower and support families of adults on the autism spectrum.
Website: pasda.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @pasdaofficial
X: @pasdaofficial

Tailor Ed
Tailor Ed Foundation is an effective and empowering charity that teaches daily living skills to children with autism in Edinburgh.
Website: tailoredfoundation.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @tailor.ed.1

SightScotland 
Supporting people of all ages with sight loss across Scotland and ensuring their voices are heard. 
Website: sightscotland.org.uk
Email: [email protected] 
Facebook: @SightScotland
X: @SightScotland

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
We offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. We raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaign for change to make our society more accessible for all. 
Website: rnib.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @rnibuk
X: @rnib

Deaf Action
Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity that has been working for an equal and better future for Deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard-of-hearing people.
Website: deafaction.org
Facebook: @DeafActionUK
X: @DeafAction

Deafblind Scotland
Raising awareness and providing an array of services for the deafblind community in Scotland.
Website: dbscotland.org.uk
Email: [email protected] 
Facebook: @dbscotland
X: @dbscotland

Solar Bear 
Solar Bear is a theatre company that does things differently. Inclusion and collaboration are at the heart of our mission. We work with deaf and hearing actors, theatre makers, artists and young people. We reach out to those often excluded from the arts. 
Website: solarbear.org.uk/about
Email: [email protected] 
Facebook: @solar.bear

Capability Scotland
We work with disabled people, their families and carers to provide a creative mix of services that meet their aspirations at all stages of  their lives.  At Riccarton, we offer wellbeing and therapeutic therapies through sensory experiences, communication and exercise.
Website: capability.scot/contact-us
Email: [email protected]

The Donaldson Trust 
The Donaldson Trust is the National Body for Neurodiversity. In addition to supporting neurodivergent individuals, we assist organisations in creating neuro-inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
Website: donaldsons.org.uk/the-donaldson-trust/#about
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @thedonaldsontrust/
X: @Donaldson

ELCAP
Support provider for learning disability.
Website: elcap.org/useful-links
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @ECLAPCommunity

Forth Valley Sensory Centre
Forth Valley Sensory Centre is a place where people with a visual or hearing loss, their friends,
families, carers and the wider community can access quality services and advice from our partner organisations.
Website: forthvalleysensorycentre.org/contact
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @FVSensoryCentre

Gig Buddies
Employed by Thera, a volunteer service to accompany people to late-night gigs.
Website: gigbuddies.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @gigbuddiesthera

Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCIL)
We provide a range of services to support Independent Living, developed and managed by and for disabled people.
Website: lothiancil.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

Neighbourhood Networks
We support vulnerable adults mainly with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health issues to live an independent life, safely, within their own homes and be fully involved within their local communities.
Website: neighbourhoodnetworks.org
Facebook: @neighbourhoodnetworksscot

• Include references to any audio description on your standard marketing, include it on posters and flyers rather than thinking of marketing your audio described performance as being an entirely separate thing to marketing your show as a whole.
• The earlier you can confirm your show will feature audio description, the better for everyone.
• Important information when marketing your show is the name of the audio describer and the method of audio description you are using.
• Produce an audio flyer (an MP3 audio recording) with a synopsis, character list, description of the visual aspects of the show and booking information. This can be included on your show listing on the Fringe website.
• If producing an online video to advertise your show, include audio description. This can also be included on the listings page on the Fringe website.
• Have a Word document available with show information (these can be downloaded and put through a screen reader).
• Ask the Fringe Society for a list of groups to contact who may be interested in your show.

Remember the importance of word of mouth, especially at the Fringe, so consider more than one performance!

• The earlier you can confirm your show will feature captioning, the better for everyone.
• Include references to any captioning on your standard marketing. Include it on posters and flyers rather than thinking of marketing your captioned performance as being an entirely separate thing to marketing your show as a whole.
• Important information to include in your marketing is the name of the captioner or if it is being produced in-house.
• Provide information on how the captioning will be conducted. Will it be on an LED screen (and if so, where will the screen be?), via tablets or are you using another innovative method?
• If the captioning is conducted via tablets, advertise whether they need to be reserved beforehand or not and where this can be done.

• Marketing a relaxed performance can have the added purpose of preparing the audience for your show and the environment they are going to enter. It is also necessary for those attending, even if they themselves do not require the accessibility of a relaxed performance, to ensure that they are respectful of people who do require it.
• Include references to any relaxed performances on your standard marketing. Include it on posters and flyers rather than thinking of marketing your relaxed performance as being an entirely separate thing to marketing your show as a whole.
• On the Fringe website, your show listing will include a list of triggers and other factors audiences should be aware of contained in the performance.
• If possible, make a video trailer for your show. This could contain the same information as your show’s introduction and as the social story, feature cast members using Makaton and, if possible, provide a tour of the venue space. This could also be included on your show’s listings page on the Fringe website.
• Alternatively, find out if the venue has a video or photographs detailing what the venue space looks like.
• Use social media to the fullest when promoting your relaxed performance. Ask the Fringe Society to supply a list of groups who have requested to be sent information of this kind to be shared among their networks.
• The Fringe Society provides sensory resources to autistic people, and others, who find the Fringe to be a stressful environment. These contain items intended to reduce stress and lessen the impact the busy atmosphere the festival can have on the senses. This information could also be made available when promoting your show.

• Include references to any signed performances on your standard marketing. Include it on posters and flyers rather than thinking of marketing your signed performance as being an entirely separate thing to marketing your show as a whole.
• Putting on more than one signed performance can create further interest in the show, as many in the Deaf community rely on word of mouth when deciding what to see on the Fringe. More than one signed performance is cost effective and means there will be a higher probability of attendance from Deaf audience members.
• The earlier you can confirm your show will feature sign language, the better. Important information to include in your marketing is the name of the signer or Deaf performer and where their location will be on the stage. Are they shadowing another performer? Is sign language embedded in the show or are they standing to the side of other performers (and if they are, where)?
• If possible, make a short video flyer in sign language with a synopsis of the show for promotion online. Social media is a key resource for reaching out to the Deaf community. The Fringe Society can supply a list of groups who have requested to be sent information of this kind to be shared among their networks, and it can also be included on your show’s page on the Fringe website.
• Details to include in a video include the name of the signer and their role within the production. It is also useful to include key information such as the sign names of characters.

Remember the importance of word of mouth, especially at the Fringe, so consider more than one performance! This is incredibly important for spreading information and creating interest among D/deaf audiences.

• Include references to any touch tours on your standard marketing. Include it on posters and flyers rather than thinking of marketing your touch tour as being an entirely separate thing to marketing your show as a whole.
• The earlier you can confirm you will provide a touch tour, the more beneficial this will be for the audience as it gives them time to plan and prepare.
• As touch tours are often paired with audio described or relaxed performances, see further marketing advice in the audio description and relaxed performance guides and marketing sections.