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December 24, 2004

Charity Celebrates Cinema Subtitles Boost

From: Scotland on Sunday - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK - Dec 24, 2004

By Ben Pindar, Community Newswire

A national charity for the deaf has today welcomed new figures which show more than 130 cinemas nationwide are now offering subtitled screenings of all the Hollwood blockbusters.

The RNID, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, has spent the last five years vigorously campaigning to have cinema access improved for deaf people.

Last year there were just 22 cinemas in the UK with adequate subtitling equipment but a major funding programme from the UK Film Council has seen that figure soar.

Mark Morris, head of the RNID Access to the Arts Campaign, said: "This is the first Christmas that deaf and hard of hearing people have considerable choice over which of the latest blockbuster films they want to see.

"It is great news as deaf and hard of hearing people have been excluded from the enjoyment of cinema since the end of silent movies in the 1920s."

Five million people use subtitles regularly to enjoy television and the RNID says the increase in cinemas showing subtitled screenings marks a turning point for millions of would-be cinema goers across the country, at long last allowing them the chance to enjoy big screen films with friends and family.

The move to improve access means the cinemas now comply with new Disability Discrimination Act duties.

To find listings of all subtitled screenings around the country visit www.yourlocalcinema.com

RNID is the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. For more information about RNID, visit www.rnid.org.uk or contact RNID's Information Line on freephone 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000.

©2004 Scotsman.com