CRIPtic Arts and Spread the Word are collaborating on Access to Literature research. It aims to understand the barriers to access in the literature sector for D/deaf and disabled writers, poets and audiences, and seeks to improve access to in person and online literature opportunities.

Through collecting responses through surveys and consulting focus groups, we’ll start to build a data and evidence base to support change and the opening up of opportunities for D/deaf and disabled writers and audiences. We’d love you to get involved and to help shape our research. If you’re a D/deaf or disabled writer and/ or literature audience member, or if you work for a literature organisation, we need your help.

Access to Literature information in BSL 

Complete our survey if you’re a D/deaf or disabled writer / literature audience goer / creative producer (scroll down a little bit if you’d like to get involved on behalf of a literature organisation!)

If you’re a D/deaf or disabled writer or literature audience goer or creative producer, we ask you to complete our survey, sharing your experiences and thoughts to help us build a more accessible literature sector. Your personal data will not be shared – any findings used in the report will be anonymous.

Complete the survey online here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/accesstoliterature1

You can submit an audio or video file giving your responses to the survey questions (please see the Word Document). The file should be no longer than 5 minutes. Please email your file to: [email protected] with the subject heading ‘Access to Literature’.

Or, you can find the survey as a Word document here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Access-to-Literature-writers-survey.docx

The survey is open until 10am, Monday 11 October.

One respondent will be selected to win £50 National Book Tokens voucher.

Complete our survey if you work for a literature organisation 

If you work for a literature organisation, funded or non-funded in the UK, including organisations who work primarily with and for writers and poets and/ or who develop programmes of activity and content for readers and wider audiences, we ask you to complete our organisation survey. Your personal data will not be shared and any findings used in the report will be anonymous.

You can find the survey online here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/accesstoliterature2

You can find the survey as a Word document here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Access-to-Literature-Survey-organisations.docx

You can submit an audio or video file giving your responses to the survey questions (please see the Word Document). The file should be no longer than 5 minutes. Please email your file to: [email protected] with the subject heading ‘Access to Literature’.

The survey is open until 10am, Monday 11 October.

One respondent from each survey will be selected to win £50 National Book Tokens voucher.

FAQs

What do you mean by D/deaf and disabled? 

When we say D/deaf and/or disabled, we include within that neurodivergence, chronic and long-term health conditions and mental health conditions.

Who funds Access to Literature? 

Access to Literature is funded by Arts Council England. It is a run as a collaboration between CRIPtic Arts and Spread the Word.

I’d like to get in touch with someone about Access to Literature. 

Contact Ruth Harrison, Director, Spread the Word on [email protected]

What will happen to the research?

The Access to Literature surveys and focus groups will be compiled into a report and online best practice guidance. These will be made available on Spread the Word’s and CRIPtic Arts’ websites. Three training sessions for creative practitioners, funded literature organisations and non-funded literature organisations will take place in late September/ early October. More details on the training sessions will be available soon.

I would like to respond as part of my organisation but I am not D/deaf or disabled. Can I still take part?

Absolutely. We are interested in learning about literature organisations’ different approaches to access so please do complete the organisation survey and apply to be part of the organisation focus group.

Published 24 August 2021

Updated 7 September 2021

Updated 21 September 2021