Some cinemas in Malta make use of the loop system. This enables people who are hard of hearing and who use a hearing aid to be able to ‘hear’ to some extent. On the other hand, people with a greater hearing impairment cannot use such systems. This means that deaf people cannot enjoy the cinema, as they have no way of understanding what is being said on screen.

In other EU countries cinemas provide subtitles during films on particular days of week or during specific times. If the person purchasing the ticket is deaf and no subtitles are provided, that person is often entitled to a discount.

Unlike most of the EU, however, no cinema in Malta provides subtitles during films. It is also sad to note that even though one cinema gives a discount to all people with a disability, the other cinemas do not.

I contacted one of the largest cinema complexes in Malta and asked why their establishment did not provide subtitles or a discount for people with a disability.

Their reply was that I should contact KRS as they are the local film distributors and as such it is their product the cinemas provide to customers.

I e-mailed KRS but have as yet received no reply.

Deaf people should be given equal access to entertainment and the opportunity to participate in the social activities that other (hearing) people are used to enjoying without any difficulty.

Since we are in the European Union, we should abide by EU standards. Even in the UK, where films are shown in English, subtitles in English are shown for many films.

It would be a shame if our country should lag behind other EU member states even on the sensitive issue of inclusion of people with disabilities in social life.