Maxine Clare: Why I organised Hearing Dog friendly cinema screenings in Hackney! 

You know the story, it’s the same old one where you’ve been patiently waiting for a subtitled screening of that feature film. You’ve seen the trailer read the reviews and your hearing friends have been raving about it.

So, you check out your local cinemas, only to find the measly one or two subtitled screenings available clash with work and other commitments.

It’s just so much more fun at the cinema, meeting family, friends or colleagues to enjoy the film, then discussing it afterwards, you know the whole social experience is what it’s all about.

With all that in mind, I approached Hackney Picturehouse to ask if they could organise a Subtitled/Pet Dog Friendly screening, to see if we could generate some more deaf awareness, and much to my delight, they agreed to run them once a month.

Having a progressive hearing loss from the age of 13, I’m now profoundly deafened and use a Cochlear Implant processor and follow lip pattern.

Coming from a hearing background, all of my formative years were mainstream.

So as much as I don’t have a deaf identity, I’m constantly reminded of communication barriers, issues and misunderstandings of the hearing world I come from and live in.

Now days I have a Hearing Dog, who’s is allowed access to public places.

My black Cocker Spaniel has changed my life forever!

He’s name is Walter and apart from helping make sure the general public are aware that I’m deaf, he alerts me to sounds I would otherwise miss.

When I remove my processor I have no natural hearing any more, so when I’m home alone or staying in a hotel, for example, I can sleep soundly, confident in the knowledge that Walter will wake me up should there be a knock at the door, someone calling or a smoke alarm.

We belong to the wonderful Hearing Dog community, arranging regular meet ups over parks and other public places, getting to know like minded people who can understand each other and not have to worry about communication barriers.

We’re confident that we won’t get left out in a conversation.

We give each other advice and tips on any issues we might be worried about or struggling with.  And of-course, like mum’s at playgroup we chat about our pups, show off new tricks they’ve learned, tell stories of how they’ve helped us in our daily lives.

Since the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Charity found the perfect dog for me, my world feels so much safer.

I’ve met up with other types of Assistance Dogs, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Canine Partners for physically disabled, Medical Detection for Epilepsy, Seizures or Diabetes, Therapy Dogs for Anxiety or PTSD, to name a few.

So it was a given that we’d invite our fellow pet dogs along to share this experience, enabling owners to enjoy their precious time and not have to worry about pet sitters or rushing back after the film.

You don’t have to be deaf or own a dog to join in, we want these screenings to be as inclusive as possible.

We’re not covering all the bases yet, but with the help of Marketing Manager, Angelika Kupczyk and Picturehouse Cinemas, we can make the changes needed for the future of all inclusive experiences.

As many of you deaf and HOH cinema goers know, the promise of a subtitled screening of a feature film, on the big screen is something to get excited about.

The first event at the Hackney Picturehouse, back in September this year, was a sellout, a great success, with as many dogs as humans, where we all enjoyed Downton Abbey.

The second event on November 3rd exceeded all expectations, doubled sales, and again, all the best behaved dogs turned up and were made welcome with the blankets and water provided.  We watched Official Secrets in comfort, snuggled up next to our furry companions.  Both occasions proved beyond doubt, that dogs truly are our best friends.

The smiles on everyone’s faces after the show was priceless.

The next Subtitled/Dog Friendly is at Hackney Picturehouse on Sunday December 1st at 11.30am.

Tickets: https://ticketing.picturehouses.com/Ticketing/visSelectTickets.aspx?cinemacode=010&txtSessionId=53325&visLang=1‬

Address: 270 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 1HE.

Everyone is welcome and well behaved dogs go free at these special once a month screenings.

But, if you’d rather an all human experience, there’s also a number of different accessible screenings including subtitled shows twice a week, which run on a Sunday morning or a Tuesday afternoon or evening.  If you don’t want to be surrounded by species of the four pawed kind, but want a subtitled film experience, then check the link below for more information at the Hackney Picturehouse.

As well as subtitles, there are a number of Audio Description screenings available during the week, plus Autism and Dementia screenings, please check listings or contact the cinema for more information.

Community is not just about your next door neighbours, it’s about supporting your fellow human, taking the time to check in and making sure everyone is included.

Asking what their needs are and striving to cater for everyone in your group.

Welcoming everyone regardless of their abilities or disabilities, and changing the venue to suit all, no matter what.

Time is the most precious thing you can spend, once it’s gone, you can never get it back, you can’t bank it, there’s no change or refund.  So next time you take the time, spend it wisely on those that might be excluded or isolated, be it that they have a  physical, auditory, visual, sensory, mental or any other restriction in their lives.

Ask your local providers what facilities they have to cater for your family and friends;  then if they can’t be met, find somewhere that can.

From a personal perspective, it might not seem like a huge thing to hearing people, but to a deaf or hard of hearing person, providing subtitles means the world and really makes a difference, even for just the duration of a film.

So, next time someone asks “Pardon” more than once or twice, please take the time to repeat or rephrase, it could prove frustrating to you, but the relief that you took the time will be beyond measure for that deaf or hard of hearing person.

We hope to see you up the Picturehouse, where they’re striving to make screenings as accessible as possible.  The more we support this effort, the easier our experiences will become.