We believe arts and culture are for everyone.
Our mission is to empower Illinois’ cultural spaces to become more accessible to visitors with disabilities.
Cultural Access Collaborative, formerly Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium, facilitates a dynamic community of cultural administrators and people with disabilities to remove barriers in Illinois’ cultural organizations. We are primarily run by passionate volunteers.
We represent theaters, museums, orchestras, park centers, zoos, and other cultural organizations across the state of Illinois. Cultural Access Collab shares resources, information and support to ensure more accessible and inclusive experiences for guests, collaborators, and employees with disabilities.
Central to our work, we provide the following free opportunities to cultural organizations and visitors with disabilities:
2013: Cultural Access Collaborative begins as a volunteer group known as Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC).
2015: CCAC partners with the ADA 25 Chicago initiative to launch “ADA 25 for 25: Cultural Access Project” to advance accessibility in at least 25 area cultural organizations.
2017: CCAC incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2020: With funding from Illinois Arts Council, CCAC launches Illinois Cultural Access Network (ICAN).
2023: In celebration of our tenth anniversary, we expand our vision and reach to all of Illinois. Our new name reflects this change: Cultural Access Collaborative.
2016: Lifeline Theatre awards CCAC the Raymond R. Snyder Commitment to the Arts Award.
2015: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts awards CCAC’s Steering Committee Co-Chairs (Christena Gunther, Evan Hatfield and Lynn Walsh) the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Emerging Leader award.
Cultural accessibility: ensuring that people with disabilities have full access (including physical and content access) to cultural organizations.
Cultural administrators: the paid staff and volunteers who work in cultural organizations.
Cultural organizations: a broad term for any organization that seeks to preserve and advance culture. Includes museums, theaters, zoos, parks, concert venues, historic sites and more.
Disability: Cultural Access Collaborative follows the Social Model of disability – placing emphasis on the institutions and systems to remove barriers. One is more or less disabled depending on their environment.
The Cultural Access Collaborative Steering Committee sets the schedule and coordinates our programs.
Learn more about Steering Committee members and its Co-Chairs:
Evan Hatfield, Founding Co-Chair (2013-2018) and Steering Committee Member Emeritus
Lynn Walsh, Founding Co-Chair (2013-2017) and Steering Committee Member Emeritus
Arkey Adams (2021-2022)
Rachel Arfa (2013-2020), Founding Steering Committee Member
Bri Beck (2021-2022)
Dave Becker (2021-2023)
Matthew Bivins (2017-2021)
David Carrasquillo (2019-2023)
Yolanda Cesta Cursach (2015-2017)
Chauncey Alexander Davis-Mauney (2017-2018)
Jason Harrington (2013-2017), Founding Steering Committee Member
Alyssa Harsha (2017-2019)
Tsehaye G. Hebert (2021-2023)
Robin Jones (2013-2015), Founding Steering Committee Member
Nick Joseph (2021-2023)
Kinneret Kohn (2019-2021)
Lucas Livingston (2013-2015), Founding Steering Committee Member
Emma MacLean (2019-2021)
Chaitanya Mantanda (2019-2020)
Christina McGleam (2021-2022)
Theresa Pacione (2013-2015), Founding Steering Committee Member
Casey Peek (2019-2022)
Brittany Pyle (2017-2021)
Jeanna Rathell (2015-2019)
Bonnie Rosenberg (2019-2021)
Whitney Rosier (2023-2024)
Mike Shaw (2015-2019)
Jaclyn Wegner (2013-2015), Founding Steering Committee Member
Andy Wilson (2019-2023)
Sandie Yi (2013-2015), Founding Steering Committee Member