Loud and Proud! Maximizing Your Accessibility Info for Guests

Carly Englander (she/her/hers)
Originally from New York, Carly received her Bachelors in Sociology with a Minor in Art from New Paltz University and her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hofstra University. Carly is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She is currently working as a Career Placement Counselor at the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). The Career Center at MOPD, which was launched in July 2022, seeks to increase meaningful employment and career opportunities for Chicagoans with disabilities. Carly works directly with job seekers throughout their job search process, including career exploration and goal setting, resume creation, job search assistance, providing interview preparation, navigating disability disclosure, and requesting reasonable accommodations. Prior to joining MOPD, Carly worked at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Before moving to Chicago, Carly was an Employment Counselor at the Queensborough Public Library. She taught job readiness and technology workshops to library patrons. Carly developed staff trainings on appropriate ways to assist library patrons with disabilities and educated staff on disability laws and policies. Carly’s career has focused on helping individuals with disabilities find meaningful employment and retain that employment; Carly takes pride in helping people find work and helping them in their journey towards independence.

Bill Green (he/him/his)
is the Hart Prins Fund Accessibility & Inclusion Manager at Lincoln Park Zoo. He uses his experience from working in the disability community to foster accessibility and inclusion in all environments where people engage with the zoo. Personal experience also informs Bill’s work. Since birth, he has been low vision. He has also been a lifelong enthusiast of zoos and museums and the diverse ways people interact with these spaces. Bill has consulted with many cultural institutions in Chicago, including serving as an inaugural member on The Second City’s Accessibility Board.

Lauren Pincus (she/her/hers)
Raised in Miami, FL, Lauren Pincus has dedicated her life to the arts. After completing a BA in Theatre from Florida State University in 2017, Lauren worked at the critically acclaimed Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami before moving to Chicago in 2018 to pursue a career in ASL (American Sign Language). In May 2022, Lauren completed a second BA in ASL-English Interpretation from Columbia College Chicago. She has a love for helping others and found her passion for access through her work in the Access Committee at Second City, where she worked part-time in the Box Office while going to school. Lauren currently works at Chicago Humanities Festival as the Audience Accessibility Coordinator.

Jesse Swanson (he/him/his)
is a producer, arts administrator and comedian. He currently serves as the Executive Producer at iO Theater (formerly Improv Olympic). He has led organizations large and small and presented original work across the country and around the world. Originally from the east coast, Jesse began his career in Philadelphia, where he produced and directed original sketch, stand-up improvisation and several world premier comedic plays and musicals. His independently produced work won acclaim at The Philadelphia and DC Fringe Festivals as well as the CrisisArt Festival in Italy. After deciding to take comedy a little more seriously, he came to Chicago in 2012 and went to work for The Second City where he oversaw talent development and production of new work, partnering with companies like The Kennedy Center, LucasFilm and Disney. As an artist with a disability Jesse is an organizer and advocate for access in the arts and passionately pursuing making all art accessible to everyone.