How CityMaaS Assist Me Can Make Arts Ticket Booking More Accessible

We saw last week in the news how disabled audiences report struggling to book tickets online and it made us think... Disabled audiences report struggles with online ticket booking - Arts Professional

​Recent research by audience specialist consultancy Indigo has highlighted significant challenges faced by disabled individuals when booking tickets for arts events online. According to their Access Culture report, disabled audience members are nine times more likely to encounter difficulties with online booking systems. The study, encompassing over 19,500 responses from attendees of various performing arts organizations, revealed that two in five disabled visitors lack confidence that their access requirements will be met by venues. Additionally, 38% reported missing out on cultural events due to uncertainties about accessibility. A notable 75% of disabled respondents struggle to find clear accessibility information on venue websites, and many expressed frustration over the inability to fully communicate their access needs through existing online booking tools. 

Addressing these challenges is crucial for arts organizations aiming to create inclusive experiences for all patrons. Implementing tools like CityMaaS's Assist Me can significantly enhance website accessibility and user experience for disabled visitors.​

Assist Me is an automated web accessibility solution designed to make websites more user-friendly for individuals with disabilities. It offers a range of features that can be customized to meet diverse user needs.

• Content Adjustments: Options such as readable fonts, title and link emphasis, text alignment adjustments, and spacing modifications to improve readability.​

• Style Adjustments: Features like high contrast modes, colour inversion, and monochrome settings to assist users with visual impairments.​

• Navigation Adjustments: Tools including a built-in screen reader, the ability to mute sounds, stop animations, highlight focus areas, and enable keyboard navigation to enhance user control over their browsing experience. ​

  
  

By integrating Assist Me, arts organizations can improve their compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), ensuring that their websites are accessible to a broader audience. This not only enhances the user experience for disabled visitors but also opens up the organization to the significant spending power of disabled households, estimated at £274 billion in the UK and $490 billion in the US. ​

Incorporating accessibility tools like Assist Me demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, allowing arts organizations to better serve their communities and ensure that all individuals, regardless of ability, can enjoy cultural events without barriers.