Access to Literature – a new report on the barriers deaf and disabled people experience in accessing the literature and publishing sectors

CRIPtic Arts and Spread the Word today publish Access to Literature, a report that presents the first national picture of the barriers deaf and disabled people experience in accessing the literature and publishing sectors as writers, creative producers and audience members.

Authored by Jamie Hale, Artistic Director of CRIPtic Arts, and Ruth Harrison, Director of Spread the Word, it is based on early stage research carried out by Spread the Word and CRIPtic Arts between June – October 2021, through focus groups and surveys with both individuals and organisations, alongside an online deaf and disabled writers’ retreat, with access provisions embedded within it. The research aimed to:

• Understand the barriers to access in the literature sector for deaf and disabled writers, creative producers and audiences, and how these can begin to be addressed; 

• Establish the demand and need for more accessible opportunities, and for further research in this area; 

• Identify the support and upskilling needs of organisations to make their programmes more accessible/ increase awareness about access;  

• Identify best practice on access and inclusion among literature organisations and networks.  

The report is for people working in the not for profit literature sector (funded and unfunded) and commercial literature organisations, publishing houses and presses, agents, funders and sponsors of literature and the arts, and non-disabled writers and creative producers. 

We hope that it will start to build an evidence base to support change, opening up a wider conversation regarding access and inclusion in the not for profit literature and publishing sectors as well as with funders for more opportunities for deaf and disabled writers, creative producers and audiences. 

The Access to Literature research and report have been made possible through support using public funds by Arts Council England. 

Download and read the report 

• The Full Report can be downloaded as a .pdf and .doc.

• The Executive Summary can be downloaded as a .pdf and .doc, and Easy Read format.

• The Case Study can be downloaded as a .pdf and .doc.

The Access to Literature Report is also available in the following formats: 

• Executive Summary: audio and BSL video.

• Full Report: BSL video

• Case Study: audio, BSL video and Easy Read (which will be available soon). 

Join the conversation on social media using #AccessToLiterature

Published 14 October 2022

Updated 25 November 2022