Awareness | Accessibility technology requirements for cinema
Explore how cinemas can enhance accessibility through technology and learn the requirements needed for successful implementation.
Information
The United States Americans with Disabilities Act requires a certain number of augmentative and alternative communication devices to be present in cinema spaces. These include hearing impaired (HI), visually impaired (VI), or closed captioning (CCAP) devices.
Assistive Listening Devices
As described by 2010 ADA Standards Section 706, the following is required.
| Number of Seats | Minimum Number of Receivers | Minimum Number of Hearing Aid Compatible Receivers |
| 50 or less | 2 | 2 |
| 51 to 200 | 2, plus 1 per 25 seats over 50 seats1 | 2 |
| 201 to 500 | 2, plus 1 per 25 seats over 50 seats1 | 1 per 4 receivers1 |
| 501 to 1000 | 20, plus 1 per 33 seats over 500 seats1 | 1 per 4 receivers1 |
| 1001 to 2000 | 35, plus 1 per 50 seats over 1000 seats1 | 1 per 4 receivers1 |
| 2001 and over | 55, plus 1 per 100 seats over 2000 seats1 | 1 per 4 receivers1 |
1 Or fraction thereof.
Closed Captioning Devices
As described by 2016 DOJ 36.303(g)(3)), the following is required.
| Number of auditoriums showing digital movies | Minimum required number of captioning devices |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2-7 | 6 |
| 8-15 | 8 |
| 16+ | 12 |
Tip
More detailed information is available through our Accessibility Requirements document.