Accessibility for People with Hearing Impairments

In France, Law No. 2005-102 of 11 February 2005 on equal rights and opportunities, participation, and citizenship for persons with disabilities establishes the fundamental principle of universal accessibility to services, venues, and communications for all people with disabilities, including those with hearing impairments.
👉 Official text of the law (French government information):
https://www.info.gouv.fr/accessibilite/loi-accessibilite-cadre-legal-et-obligations

This law applies in particular to public-access buildings (ERP) such as performance venues and theaters. It requires that access, circulation, information, and service delivery be adapted in order to reduce barriers related to disability.

📌 For events and live performances, this implies the obligation to implement reasonable accommodations, such as live captioning, sign language interpretation, sound amplification systems, or induction loop systems.

📜 2. The European Framework: European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU Directive 2019/882, which aims to harmonize accessibility requirements across the European Union for certain products and services, in order to reduce barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in social and economic life.
👉 European Directive 2019/882 (EAA) on EUR-Lex:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj?locale=fr

The EAA entered into force across the European Union on 28 June 2025, introducing obligations including:

• the harmonization of accessibility standards for products and services marketed within the EU;

• the obligation for Member States to transpose these requirements into their national legislation.

🎯 Although this directive does not specifically target live performances, it strongly promotes the accessibility of digital and information services, including:

• online ticketing systems;

• event-related communications;

• service platforms.

🎤 3. Recommended Best Practices

Even when not explicitly mandated by law or directive, several recommended best practices significantly improve access to performances for people with hearing impairments:

✔ Real-time captioning for theater performances, conferences, and panel discussions
✔ Sign language interpretation (e.g. French Sign Language – LSF) when needed
✔ Induction loop systems or adapted sound amplification for people using hearing aids
✔ Training front-of-house staff to better meet the specific needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences
(See initiatives such as Accès Culture, which promotes accessibility of performances for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.)

🛠 Conclusion

Today, the legal framework in France and Europe establishes strong accessibility principles, but practical implementation still varies widely depending on venues and event organizers. France enforces a general accessibility obligation through the 2005 law, while the European Accessibility Act promotes harmonized accessibility for digital services and products across the EU.

OHAIO Live Speaker enables event organizers to make their events and live performances significantly more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
📩 Contact us: contact@ohaioai.com