DOC NYC is committed to supporting individuals and groups who need accommodations in order to fully attend and participate in DOC NYC film screenings and events.
Our website features an accessibility plug in located in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
For online industry and festival events taking place in 2023, we are able to provide live, on-camera ASL interpretation; facilitation of a telecommunications relay service (TRS); and/or live-captioning / communication access realtime translation (CART) for audience members and attendees who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing.
For in-person industry and festival events taking place in 2023, we are able to provide live ASL interpretation for post-screening Q&As. Additional information on access to closed captioning, audio descriptive and assistive listening options can be found in the FAQ section below.
If you are seeking any accommodations, please email accessibility@docnyc.net for assistance. We will respond within two business days.
What do the different accessibility options listed on film pages mean?
Assistive Listening. Assistive listening devices transmit and boost the volume of the film through headphones. This technology is available in all theaters and for all films.
T-Coil. Assistive listening devices that work with T-Coil-compatible hearing aids to boost the volume of films through a receiver either wired into the room or via a “loop” device worn around the neck. This technology is available at IFC Center for all films.
Descriptive Audio. Descriptive audio narration describes the visual setting and action as it happens on the screen alongside dialogue. Look for this indication to see if a desired film has descriptive audio; not all films have descriptive audio available. IFC Center and Village East by Angelika have the technology available to provide access to these options when available.
Closed Captioning. Texted captions – like the closed captions displayed on a TV – on a single device that mounts in your cup holder. Look for this indication to see if the desired film has closed captions; not all films have closed captioning available. IFC Center and Village East by Angelika have the technology available to provide access to these options when available. Additionally, we are able to provide closed-captions via our secure screening platform when such captions have been made available to us by the film’s content owners. Viewers wishing to find closed-captioned films in the DOC NYC program are encouraged to filter our film lineup by the “closed-captioned” theme. Please note that access to closed-captions via the screening platform may be limited to users viewing screenings from a computer or laptop.
All in-theater devices can be checked out from venue staff via the venue’s regular box office. Devices are loaned out at no charge. Please note that descriptive audio and closed captioning tracks are not available for all titles. If you have any questions, feel free to email accessibility@docnyc.net.
How do I request accessibility devices (headphones, personal captioning devices) for in-person screenings?
No advance request or reservation is required at any of the three screening venues for accessibility devices such as the headphones and T-Coil loops for assistive listening and audio descriptive tracks and the person closed captioning devices.
When you arrive to the screening venue, please ask to speak to a member of the venue’s staff (not festival staff) to request a device. Devices are loaned out free of charge, but you will need to provide proof of identification in order to check out the devices.
Please note that not all venues are able to provide technological support for closed captioning and audio descriptive options; additionally, not all films will have closed captioning and audio description options available. Information about each film’s accessibility features are listed on individual film pages.
How do I request an ASL interpreter for an in-person Q&A or PRO event?
Please email us at accessibility@docnyc.net with your request, including details one the event you are interested in attending.