Providing arts and culture organizations with information, resources, training, and experts to increase accessibility
Event Description: Open Door Arts previously led participants through the process of completing an accessibility self-assessment using its comprehensive assessment tool. Now that organizations have their results in hand, Open Door Arts returns with a sequel session focused on what comes next: transforming those results into a clear, actionable accessibility plan.
Participants will learn how to read self-assessment results with curiosity, identify meaningful patterns across policy and practice, use existing strengths to address gaps, and chart a pathway for improvement. The session will guide attendees through setting humane, capacity-based priorities and translating those priorities into a practical, living accessibility plan.
Using real-world examples and the Arts & Culture Access Hub planning tools, this session emphasizes progress over perfection and centers accountability, sustainability, and disability community engagement. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to turn assessment insights into concrete action steps that support long-term access improvement.
We will also be joined by Mariam Murphy from The Morton Arboretum to provide user testimonial!
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
Prior to the session, we encourage you to watch the training on using the free Cultural Accessibility Self-Assessment tool created by Open Door Arts: bit.ly/cacopendoorarts2025
This event has ended. A recording will be posted to this page at a later date.
Portia Brown, M.A., M.Ed.
Open Door Arts Director of Strategy & Operations
Portia is a certified ADA Coordinator with a commitment to supporting arts and culture organizations to improve their accessibility. Since joining Open Door Arts in 2018 she has supported efforts to design and implement strategic solutions to improve access and representation of people with disabilities in the arts and culture sector. Prior to 2018, she worked at Boston Ballet where she directed programming that provided accessible and inclusive dance education, trained educators and service providers, and led organization-wide accessibility efforts. Portia earned her M.Ed. in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Colorado and earned her B.A. at Colorado College. She is a former special education teacher, the Primary Consultant for United Dance, and was a finalist for the 2017 Massachusetts Non-Profit Network Young Professional Excellence Award.
Dani Rose
Director of Cultural Access
Dani Rose (she/her) is the Director of Cultural Access at Open Door Arts and a nationally recognized accessibility consultant working at the intersection of disability rights, arts, and culture. With a background in front-of-house operations, training, and organizational change, Dani brings a deeply practical and human-centered approach to accessibility work.
Dani has led accessibility planning and training for cultural organizations across the U.S., facilitated regional peer learning cohorts, and regularly presents at national conferences and convenings. Her work centers on moving organizations beyond compliance toward cultures of access grounded in dignity, accountability, and community partnership. Dani believes accessibility is not only a legal responsibility, but a creative and civic opportunity for institutions to better serve, reflect, and include their communities.
Mariam Murphy
The Morton Arboretum
Mariam Murphy is the Community Engagement Manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. With a background in special education with a love of the outdoors, her focus has become developing accessible and engaging nature-based experiences. Through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, Mariam has designed programs including Nature Play for All, seasonal tactile hikes, and an accessible maple tapping experience. She is a contributing author featured in Dr. Ruth Wilson’s book, Naturally Inclusive: Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors Mariam hopes to soon pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef while being inspired by local seasonal ingredients in everything she bakes.