Cathy Piquemal - Accessibility and Inclusion Specialist

Recently in my freelance practice, and spurred on by my lived experience of disabilities and access needs, since 2020 I have made the positive and conscious choice to specialise in Access and Inclusion so Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse people have genuine equal access to the Arts and are enabled to participate fully working towards removing the multiple and persistent barriers that exist across the arts sector.

I also work part-time as the Strategic lead for the Craidd, a pan-Wales initiative that seeks to to embed access in 5 mainstream theatre producing organisations and training providers, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Sherman Theatre, Torch Theatre, Theatr Clwyd and Pontio Arts

short video edit of examples of my access work in 2022/23

short video edit of access work on Aberetwm May 2023

I work with organisations, projects, festivals seeking to make their creative output, project or production more accessible for Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent artists, crew, staff or audiences. This can mean (but is not limited to) :

I work from inception of an idea/production to think how to creatively embed access.
I conduct accessibility audits and produce detailed reports which include details of adjustments and accommodation measures to address identified accessibility gaps.
As access coordinator during production I problem solve and trouble shoot dynamically as problems and issues invariably arise to keep initial access aspirations and intentions on track.
I work across departments, from Coms/PR and box office to technical and producing teams to ensure access ambitions are kept in focus and delivered and then monitored.
Deliver training and awareness to educate and upskill individuals and teams.

I work with and for individual Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse artists or talents can mean (but is not limited to) :

- assessing needs, supporting the creation of individual tailored access riders and plans - general or adapted to a specific production and environment.
- act as access coordinator during production - working across departments to ensure access provision agreed is consistently implemented and reassessed or adapted when needed.
- acting as advocate and become a 'one stop shop' so the artist has only one person to deal with and can work in an optimised environment so as to focus on their creative work.

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