The Access Grid
Page 3 of 7: The Plan
Seven parts, one routine
Everything the pilot delivers, and what each part leaves behind when the seven months are over.
Stock photo: Vishnu R Nair / Unsplash. Illustrative, not a project participant.
What we'll do
The parts work together, but none of them needs a brand-new event. They plug into nights venues already run.
KSL-interpreted nights
Two KSL interpreters at three of each partner venue's regular live-music nights: nine nights in all. Interpreters get lyrics and set lists in advance, and the venue gives them a well-lit spot with a clear sightline.
AccessibilityCommunityDisabled-led access audits
Disabled reviewers audit each venue for physical, sensory and communication barriers, including an evacuation check for wheelchair users and for Deaf and blind guests. Each owner gets a written report with priorities.
AccessibilitySafetyPractical fixes
Low-cost changes chosen from the audit, such as a hired or bought portable ramp, a quiet zone, signage and clearer entrance information. We don't build structural platforms.
AccessibilityPublic access guide
A published guide to each venue's access features, plus a checklist any other venue or promoter in Nairobi can use.
AccessibilityCommunityBraille menus
Braille versions of each venue's menus, produced with a menu-to-braille tool being developed for this project using open-source braille translation libraries. Blind readers test every menu before it's used.
AccessibilityPaid slots for disabled artists
Every interpreted night includes a performance slot for a disabled artist, paid at a normal fee.
DiversityCommunityA simple booking tool
A request form and a curated list of vetted interpreters, linked to the KSL interpreters' registry, so venues can book without a long search. A full matching platform is a possible phase two if bookings justify it.
Accessibility
What an interpreted night looks like
Before
The listing says exactly what's provided: KSL interpreted, step-free entrance, quiet zone, braille menu. It goes out through Deaf and disability networks, not just venue channels.
On the night
A lit interpreter position, visible signs, and a named access contact on staff. Access is opt-in, and no guest is labelled.
After
A short accessible survey in KSL and written form, an opt-in attendance count, and consented photos and video for the documentary.
How we'll measure success
Counts tell us what happened. Outcomes tell us whether it worked.
- Interpreted nights delivered (target: 9)
- Deaf and disabled guests reached, through opt-in sign-in or survey
- First-time attendees among them
- Disabled artists paid (target: 9 slots)
- Venues audited (3) and fixes completed
- Venues still offering access measures three months after the pilot
- Guest and venue satisfaction, from a survey in KSL and written form
- Interpreter hours paid, staff trained, access guide downloads
What could go wrong, and our plan for it
| Risk | Response |
|---|---|
| Too few interpreters free in the evenings | Confirm availability and rates early, and keep a backup list. |
| A venue drops out | Keep a reserve venue ready. |
| Interpreting in loud, dark rooms | Agree lighting, sightlines, volume and set lists with each venue in advance. |
| Low attendance | Promote through Deaf and disability networks, not only venue channels. |
| Equipment safety | Use portable ramps from suppliers. No structural building. |
| Privacy and dignity | Opt-in access and counts, no visible labels, consent before any photo. |
| Exchange-rate swings | Budget in euros with a 10% contingency against shilling costs. |