Event Description: Hosting inclusive and accessible experiences often requires equipment and resources. Has your organization thought about offering an accessible performance, tour, or lecture, but you’re just not confident about the equipment or steps needed? Did you know that the Collab rents out equipment to support cultural organizations’ accessible offerings at no cost to renters?
Come check out the offerings of the Cultural Access Collab’s Accessible Equipment Loan Program in real life at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and discover for yourself in this interactive, exploratory open house session! Whether you’re a frequent borrower or you’re just curious to learn more, this casual setting will encourage you to ask questions, network and engage with service providers and community members alike!
Bonus: We have some updated resources for the Collab community that we can’t wait to highlight at this open house!
Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
Cost: FREE, $5 suggested donation
These four wonderful folks will be there to answer your questions!
Hudson Therriault is a full-time audio describer based in Chicago. His first experience with audio description was a regional theater tour in Montana, and he has since trained with seasoned audio description professionals. He is passionate about building access for all into the foundation of artistic expression. HJTdescriptions.crd.co
Jo Gayle has been a CART captioner for almost 20 years, providing CART services for such local organizations as Cultural Access Collaborative, Chicago Humanities Festival, Chicago Hearing Society, and WBEZ, as well as for students at most of the colleges and universities in the area, and such national organizations as the Hearing Loss Association of American (HLAA), Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), and World Institute on Disability (WID). “I live in Chicago, and I would be happy to discuss ways to make your events more inclusive for people with hearing loss who do not use ASL.”
Eddie Medrano got his start in the events industry over 15 years ago. After cutting his teeth working at various music venues, he eventually made his way into the non profit sector. He is currently the Senior Event Producer at Chicago Public Media.
Matt Bivins is a “recovering actor” who created CaptionPoint alongside his wife Lindsay, who is profoundly deaf. Their goal was to enable Lindsay to fully experience Chicago’s vibrant Storefront Theater scene alongside Matt. Now, six years later, this passion project, driven by a do-it-yourself ethos, has successfully provided captions for a wide range of live theater performances throughout the entire country.
Hudson, Jo, Eddie, and Matt will be demonstrating various accessible services in action with equipment from Cultural Access Collaborative’s loan program.
Program Format: There will be no formal address or presentation for this program. Registrants can freely explore various ‘demo stations’ that showcase our accessible equipment, including: a CART captioning station; an audio description station; an assistive listening station; and a resource table highlighting our new handbook and borrowing process. Each area will be staffed by Collab representatives and access providers who can answer your questions and facilitate hands-on opportunities with the equipment and resources.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation and Assistive Listening devices are available by request. Indicate your access needs during the registration process, and we will coordinate coverage given at least 3 business days notice. Please inform us of any additional requests that would enable you to participate. You may also reach us at 773-203-5039 to request services.
COVID Policy: Masks are strongly encouraged when not actively eating or drinking.
Parking: Please be advised that parking may be extremely limited in the area due to Lincoln Park ZooLights. We recommend you arrive early to allow plenty of time to find parking; or, consider carpooling, using public transit, or catching an Uber/Lyft.
Free parking is available on Cannon and Stockton Drive. A flat-rate lot maintained by the Chicago Park District is located at 2431 N. Cannon Drive. Learn more about lot rates.
A limited number of wheelchair accessible parking spots are located near the front entrance on Cannon Drive.
Public Transit: The Nature Museum is accessible by CTA bus routes #76, #151, and #156.
Uber/Lyft: If you using a rideshare service, inform your driver that the bus turnaround near the front entrance may be used for drop off.
Entry: All guests should enter through the front entrance located on Cannon Drive. The entrance is wheelchair accessible and is equipped with activation push buttons. Our program is located on the second floor, via a passenger elevator that is wheelchair, walker, and stroller accessible. All restrooms on all levels are stroller and wheelchair accessible. All-gender restrooms are available for anyone who prefers a single-occupancy restroom. Service animals are welcome.
Registration: Please register at https://tinyurl.com/55kv4a8s
Suggested Donation: While most programs are free, the $5 suggested donation helps to cover programming costs to ensure Cultural Access Collaborative’s mission is achievable and accessible to all. You may donate online anytime! Donations to the Collaborative are tax deductible.
Cultural Access Collaborative is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, PERT Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, and individual donors like you. In addition, this program is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Rescue Plan as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In this relaxed, “Ask Me Anything” info session, join current members of the Cultural Access Collaborative Steering Committee to delve into the responsibilities of the Collab. The Steering Committee is made up of volunteers from all walks of experience in cultural spaces, focused on the varying aspects of our mission. Learn about the Steering Committee’s application process, professional development planning, equipment loan program management, the access calendar, and other opportunities to engage!
As Cultural Access Collaborative’s work grows to include all of Illinois, we are adding representation to the Steering Committee, and hosting professional development programs across the state. If you or a fellow Illinoisan is interested in being involved on a leadership level with the Collab, then this is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what the expectations are.
2023 is a recruitment year for the Steering Committee, and we look forward to getting to know more passionate allies and advocates for cultural accessibility. Come with your thoughts and questions. We look forward to connecting!
Date and Time:
Session One: Thursday, March 30th from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Central Time
Session Two: Tuesday, April 11th from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM Central Time
Platform: Zoom (link will be shared with registrants)
Program Accessibility: Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Cost: FREE
Registration:
Please register for Session One here.
Please register for Session Two here.
Registered participants will receive a Zoom Meeting Link via email from this email account the day prior to the event. Please ensure that Info@CulturalAccessCollab.org is an approved sender to your email account, or be sure to check your Spam/Junk Mail filter for the email.
ASL Interpretation and Real-Time Captioning (with a streaming link option) will be provided. Please complete the accommodation request field found in the event registration path or call 773-203-5039 to request other access services, or to learn more about event accessibility.
If you would like to apply to join our steering committee, Please complete the Steering Committee Application Google Form and attach your resume/cv where prompted. Note that this submission process does require a Google email address. If you require any assistance or are unable to submit your form electronically, please contact Info@CulturalAccessCollab.Org
Clare Killy, Steering Committee Co-Chair (she/her/hers) is Vice President of Digital Experiences at Aspire. She leads Aspire’s DEI Consultation services, which include training and support for businesses and organizations specific to inclusive practices. She also leads the production of Aspire’s free resources for the community to raise awareness, share knowledge and invite advocacy around disability inclusion – including the Amplify Inclusion podcast and The Inclusion Exchange webinar series. Clare also oversees the Virtual Life Coaching team, which includes Life Consultants who provide customized life skills coaching for adults with disabilities. Clare has over a decade of professional experience working with individuals of all ages, families and providers across diverse environments.
Clare joined the Steering Committee in 2019, becoming a Co-Chair in 2021. She is a white woman with brown hair. She is positioned in front of a brick wall and wearing a blue shirt underneath a gray blazer.
Favorite Cultural Memory: My father is a professional artist and I recall my first time seeing his work in a gallery after having witnessed the lengthy artistic process that led to that point. Seeing the artist in action, and then the final result on such pristine display taught me to consider the process as much as the product – to this day, when I walk through a gallery space, I wonder about the idea that sparked each piece and the dynamic journey that brought it to life.
Hillary Pearson, Steering Committee Co-Chair (she/her/hers) is the Program Manager of Accessibility Services in the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services at the American Library Association. Previously, Hillary spent 12 years in patron services and operations at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, working directly with companies to ensure front of house needs were met, connecting renters with resources and options for accessible programming, and communicating daily operations in the facility. Hillary is excited to further the accessibility goals of the ALA, as well as learn from and with other professionals from Chicagoland cultural institutions.
Hillary joined the Steering Committee in 2017, becoming a Co-Chair in 2021. She is a white woman with a round face and medium length brown, straight hair. She wears square-framed, purple glasses and a purple sweater and looks directly into the camera with a smile.
Memorable Cultural Experience: As a vocal performance major at Northwestern, a small volunteer group of singers had the chance to perform comedic opera scenes in English at the Kohl Children’s Museum up in Glenview a few times a year. It was a lot of fun performing opera for these kids in such a nontraditional setting (sometimes they even laughed with us instead of at us!), and it created a unique outreach opportunity for both the university and the museum.
Cultural Access Collaborative is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, PERT Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, and individual donors like you. In addition, this program is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Rescue Plan as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
In this relaxed, “Ask Me Anything” info session, join current members of the Cultural Access Collaborative Steering Committee to delve into the responsibilities of the Collab. The Steering Committee is made up of volunteers from all walks of experience in cultural spaces, focused on the varying aspects of our mission. Learn about the Steering Committee’s application process, professional development planning, equipment loan program management, the access calendar, and other opportunities to engage!
As Cultural Access Collaborative’s work grows to include all of Illinois, we are adding representation to the Steering Committee, and hosting professional development programs across the state. If you or a fellow Illinoisan is interested in being involved on a leadership level with the Collab, then this is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what the expectations are.
2023 is a recruitment year for the Steering Committee, and we look forward to getting to know more passionate allies and advocates for cultural accessibility. Come with your thoughts and questions. We look forward to connecting!
Date and Time:
Session One: Thursday, March 30th from 4:00 to 5:00 PM Central Time
Session Two: Tuesday, April 11th from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM Central Time
Platform: Zoom (link will be shared with registrants)
Program Accessibility: Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Cost: FREE
Registration:
Please register for Session One here.
Please register for Session Two here.
Registered participants will receive a Zoom Meeting Link via email from this email account the day prior to the event. Please ensure that Info@CulturalAccessCollab.org is an approved sender to your email account, or be sure to check your Spam/Junk Mail filter for the email.
ASL Interpretation and Real-Time Captioning (with a streaming link option) will be provided. Please complete the accommodation request field found in the event registration path or call 773-203-5039 to request other access services, or to learn more about event accessibility.
If you would like to apply to join our steering committee, Please complete the Steering Committee Application Google Form and attach your resume/cv where prompted. Note that this submission process does require a Google email address. If you require any assistance or are unable to submit your form electronically, please contact Info@CulturalAccessCollab.Org
Clare Killy, Steering Committee Co-Chair (she/her/hers) is Vice President of Digital Experiences at Aspire. She leads Aspire’s DEI Consultation services, which include training and support for businesses and organizations specific to inclusive practices. She also leads the production of Aspire’s free resources for the community to raise awareness, share knowledge and invite advocacy around disability inclusion – including the Amplify Inclusion podcast and The Inclusion Exchange webinar series. Clare also oversees the Virtual Life Coaching team, which includes Life Consultants who provide customized life skills coaching for adults with disabilities. Clare has over a decade of professional experience working with individuals of all ages, families and providers across diverse environments.
Clare joined the Steering Committee in 2019, becoming a Co-Chair in 2021. She is a white woman with brown hair. She is positioned in front of a brick wall and wearing a blue shirt underneath a gray blazer.
Favorite Cultural Memory: My father is a professional artist and I recall my first time seeing his work in a gallery after having witnessed the lengthy artistic process that led to that point. Seeing the artist in action, and then the final result on such pristine display taught me to consider the process as much as the product – to this day, when I walk through a gallery space, I wonder about the idea that sparked each piece and the dynamic journey that brought it to life.
Hillary Pearson, Steering Committee Co-Chair (she/her/hers) is the Program Manager of Accessibility Services in the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services at the American Library Association. Previously, Hillary spent 12 years in patron services and operations at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, working directly with companies to ensure front of house needs were met, connecting renters with resources and options for accessible programming, and communicating daily operations in the facility. Hillary is excited to further the accessibility goals of the ALA, as well as learn from and with other professionals from Chicagoland cultural institutions.
Hillary joined the Steering Committee in 2017, becoming a Co-Chair in 2021. She is a white woman with a round face and medium length brown, straight hair. She wears square-framed, purple glasses and a purple sweater and looks directly into the camera with a smile.
Memorable Cultural Experience: As a vocal performance major at Northwestern, a small volunteer group of singers had the chance to perform comedic opera scenes in English at the Kohl Children’s Museum up in Glenview a few times a year. It was a lot of fun performing opera for these kids in such a nontraditional setting (sometimes they even laughed with us instead of at us!), and it created a unique outreach opportunity for both the university and the museum.
Cultural Access Collaborative is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, PERT Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, and individual donors like you. In addition, this program is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Rescue Plan as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
We all want our programs, our spaces, and our online events to be accessible to as many folks as possible , but it’s easy to feel out of your depth, especially when you’re first starting to implement services such as captioning, sign language interpretation, or audio description into your programming. The first step? Questions, and lots of them! Here’s the time and space to ask accessibility providers and users where you can begin, what they recommend, and how to build a program or event that works for your guests.
Featuring Speakers:
Beth Finke, Author, Teacher, Journalist
Chuck Gruman, Accessibility Consultant
Susan Elizabeth Rangel, ASL Director, Teacher
Zoom Meeting Notes
Registered participants will receive a Zoom Meeting Link via email from this email account the day prior to the event. Please ensure that Info@ChicagoCulturalAccess.org is an approved sender to your email account, or be sure to check your Spam/Junk Mail filter for the email.
Accessibility
Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Please complete the accommodation request field found in the event registration path with what service(s) you will want to access, or for any additional requests. You may also reach us at 419-262-1886 to request services. Thank you!
This session was made possible through the funding of the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) and the support of the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC)
In this “Ask Me Anything” Lunch and Learn, join current members of the CCAC Steering Committee to delve into the responsibilities of the Consortium. The Steering Committee for CCAC is made up of volunteers from all walks of experience in cultural spaces, focused on the varying aspects of CCAC’s mission. Learn more about the Steering Committee’s application process, professional development planning, equipment loan program management, the access calendar, and other opportunities to engage!
If you or someone you know in the Chicagoland area is interested in being involved on a leadership level with CCAC, then this is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what the expectations are. 2021 is a recruitment year for the Steering Committee, and we look forward to getting to know more passionate allies and advocates for cultural accessibility. Come with your thoughts, questions, and your lunch. We look forward to connecting!