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Accessibility as Storytelling: Innovations in Caribbean Theatre
Accessibility as Storytelling: Innovations in Caribbean Theatre
This work accompanies the poster and presentation “Accessibility as Storytelling: Innovations in Caribbean Theatre,” which was presented at the 19th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education (IASE), hosted by the Royal Thimphu College (RTC) in Bhutan, held from 21–26 June 2026.
The project explores how accessibility can be embedded directly into the structure of theatrical storytelling. It developed through Alpha, a Trinidad and Tobago theatre production staged at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2025.
Rather than treating accessibility as an add-on, the work has led to the development of framework called Layered Narrative Accessibility (LNA) which positions access as an integral part of the narrative experience itself.
Project Overview
Project Overview
This research introduces a framework called Layered Narrative Accessibility (LNA), which reimagines accessibility as an integrated part of the storytelling process. Rather than treating accessibility as an external accommodation, this work explores how it can be intentionally designed into narrative, performance, and audience experience from the beginning.
A guiding principle of this project is: “Access to meaning requires more than access to space.”
In practice, this means accessibility is not only about physical entry into a theatre. It is also about supporting audiences in:
following the story
connecting with cultural references
understanding characters
interpreting symbolism
engaging with emotional content
and meaningfully participating in the performance experience
Layered Narrative Accessibility (LNA)
Layered Narrative Accessibility (LNA)
LNA is a multi-dimensional framework that integrates accessibility into the narrative structure of performance. It consists of five interconnected layers:
Linguistic Access: Supports understanding of language used in performance, including dialogue, slang, dialect, and communication styles.
Sensory Access: Addresses sound, lighting, visual information, captions, and sensory preparation for audiences.
Cognitive Access: Supports comprehension of story structure, character relationships, symbolism, and narrative flow.
Experiential Access: Supports emotional readiness, audience comfort, trauma-informed engagement, and overall participation in the performance experience.
Cultural Access: Provides context for cultural references, traditions, dialects, and social meanings that may not be universally familiar.
Together, these layers demonstrate how accessibility can function as part of storytelling itself, rather than something separate from it.
Accessibility Design in the Production
Accessibility Design in the Production
Several accessibility tools and supports were developed as part of the Alpha production to implement the LNA framework.
Accessibility Guide
Accessibility Guide
An Accessibility Guide was provided before the performance as part of pre-show access. It served as a comprehensive orientation document designed to prepare audiences for both the sensory and narrative experience of the production.
This guide combined several accessibility functions, including:
sensory profile information (sound, lighting, and visual intensity)
content advisories and trauma-informed communication
narrative orientation and story context
cognitive accessibility supports for understanding structure
explanation of accessibility features used during the performance
It also included practical details about:
lighting transitions and effects
sound design and intensity
movement and staging style
costume symbolism and interpretive cues
available audience supports during the show
The purpose of this guide was to reduce cognitive load, support emotional preparedness, and allow audiences to engage with the performance with greater confidence and clarity.
Provides audiences with information about content, sensory elements, venue expectations, and available supports prior to the performance experience. This was paired with a pre-show accessibility briefing which was shown to audiences prior to the start of the show (this can be viewed in the next section).
Visual Character Guide
Visual Character Guide
The Visual Character Guide was another a pre-show resource designed to introduce audiences to the characters, cast, and symbolic design elements of the production before the performance began.
It included:
cast and character profiles
visual references for each character
costume and transformation cues
explanation of symbolic costume elements
guidance on how character shifts would be represented on stage
This guide was included to support cognitive and visual orientation, helping audiences recognise characters quickly and follow symbolic transformations throughout the performance.
It was particularly important because the production used minimalist and symbolic costume changes rather than full costume switches. This meant audiences needed early visual grounding to interpret how identity shifts were being represented on stage.
📹 Pre-Show Accessibility Briefing & Visual Character Guide
Introduces audiences to the performance environment, characters, and accessibility supports before the production begins.
Colour-Coded Live Captioning System
Colour-Coded Live Captioning System
A key innovation in the Alpha production was a colour-coded live captioning system designed to function as an integrated layer of performance, rather than a separate accessibility feature.
Each performer was assigned a consistent caption colour, allowing audiences to immediately identify speakers and follow dialogue with greater ease. The system was synchronized in real time with live performance dialogue, requiring precise coordination between actors, captioners, and timing cues.
To support this system, performers underwent specific training in:
dialogue timing and pacing
coordination with caption entry
awareness of delivery rhythm and pauses
consistency in performance cues
This ensured that captions were not simply reactive, but embedded into the rhythm of the performance itself.
In practice, the captioning system functioned similarly to live lighting and sound design, where timing, precision, and performance awareness are essential. Just as lighting cues shape mood and sound cues shape atmosphere, captioning in this production shaped comprehension, orientation, and emotional engagement in real time.
🎨 Understanding the Colour-Coded Captioning System
Demonstrates how captioning strategies/surtitles were used to support comprehension, orientation, and engagement throughout the performance.
Key Insights
Key Insights
This project demonstrates that:
Accessibility can enhance comprehension, engagement, and emotional connection
Low-cost, adaptable strategies can have meaningful impact
Inclusive design benefits a wide range of audiences, not only disabled audiences
It also highlights the importance of developing accessibility practices within Caribbean and resource-constrained theatre contexts, where integrated models are still emerging.
Accessiblity Portal & Supplementary Resources
Accessiblity Portal & Supplementary Resources
Different people engage with information in different ways. This page offers multiple ways to explore the project and its resources.
Conference Poster
Conference Poster
View the full conference poster presented at the 19th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education (IASE), Thimphu, Bhutan.
Proceedings Paper
Proceedings Paper
Read the full conference proceedings paper.
📄Read the Paper
Audio Overview
Audio Overview
Listen to a narrated overview of the project and framework.
Large Print Version
Large Print Version
Access a high readability version with enlarged text and simplified formatting.
Plain Language Summary
Plain Language Summary
Explore a simplified overview of the project and its main ideas.
About the Presenter: Hannah Sammy, M.A.
About the Presenter: Hannah Sammy, M.A.
Hannah is an inclusive education specialist, lecturer, and accessibility consultant based in Trinidad and Tobago.
As the director of Holistic Learning Center Limited, a private practice specializing in neurodiversity-affirming care and intervention, her work primarily focuses on educational therapy.
With experience in both the private and public education sectors, she designs meaningful access across learning, cultural, and community contexts, with an emphasis on inclusive and equitable participation for neurodiverse individuals.
Her professional interests include accessibility, inclusive education, equitable participation, and the intersection of accessibility, learning, and participatory design.
Access to meaning requires more than access to space.
Access to meaning requires more than access to space.
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