Only Four Percent of Disabled Moviegoers Report Ideal Theater Accessibility Conditions, Study Finds

A new study by disability advocacy organization the Inevitable Foundation surveyed over 100 disabled moviegoers about their experiences at theaters over the past two years.

By Mia Galuppo

Illustrated by: Meeya Tjiang

A new study finds that 65 percent of disabled moviegoers said they would prefer to watch a movie at theaters as compared to at home, but only four percent of respondents say that movie theaters meet their ideal accessibility needs.

The study from the Inevitable Foundation, the non-profit that advocates for disabled filmmakers, surveyed over 100 disabled moviegoers about their experiences at theaters over the past two years, with questions ranging from wants and needs for accessible seating to open captioning.

“By investing in disabled audiences and their communities, exhibitors and distributors have a rare opportunity to increase general audience satisfaction by prioritizing comfort and experience while simultaneously tapping into an underserved market segment,” reads the report.

42 percent of respondents said that when they needed accessible seating, ranging from reclining seats to wheelchair spaces, it was not available to them, while 68 percent have been in movie theaters without accessible restrooms.

When it comes to sensory accessibility, for those with disabilities that make them sensitive to light and sound levels, 63 percent of participants noted they prefer to watch films in a low-sensory theater that can employ lower capacities and raised lighting.

As for captioning, even when handheld or other captioning devices (which can be notorious for malfunctioning) are available at the theater, respondents indicated that they prefer to have open caption options, with subtitles appearing on the film screen alongside the movie. However, 58 percent of the disabled audiences surveyed would like to see open captions available sometimes, and 22 percent would like to see it as a constant.

The report concludes, “By reimagining accessibility as an investment rather than a cost, theater owners and distributors can foster loyalty, build trust, and capture an underserved market segment that holds $21 billion in discretionary income.”