Event Description: We all want our programs, our spaces, and our online events to be accessible to as many folks as possible, but if you are just getting started, you might feel out of your depth! This session will provide a basic introduction to the world of accessibility in cultural spaces. We’ll talk about where to begin, what are some affordable next steps we can take to welcome our visitors, and how to implement services such as captioning, sign language interpretation, and audio description. There will be ample time to ask questions!
Event Date: Wednesday, May 22
Event Time: 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 1:00 p.m. CST
Location: Zoom. Registered participants will receive a Zoom Meeting Link via email 24 hours prior to the event. Please be sure to check your Spam/Junk Mail filter for the email.
Program Accessibility: Real-Time Captioning and Sign Language Interpretation will be provided. Please complete the accommodation request field found in the event registration form or call 773-203-5039 to request other access services.
Suggested Donation: While our programs are free, a $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 at any time! Donations to the Collaborative are tax deductible.
Registration: Join us by completing this event registration form! Note that registrations will close on May 21 at 11:55 p.m. CST. In case of technical difficulties, please email info@CulturalAccessCollab.org for assistance.
Gather with the Collab for an in-person exploration at Garfield Park Conservatory to savor the summer season in Chicago with this workshop devoted to touch, sound, smell, and taste in nature! We are joined by Andy Slater, Chicago-based media artist, sound designer, teaching artist, and disability advocate and members of the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Team for a site-specific exploration of multisensory approaches in outdoor spaces. Grow your own personal toolkit for creating sensory opportunities for your visitors in this immersive program and learn how other cultural organizations are increasing their offerings.
Date and Time: Thursday, May 11th from 3:00 to 4:30 PM Central Time
Location: 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60624. The Conservatory is located near the intersection of North Central Park Ave. and Lake St. If you’d like to learn more about what to expect on your visit, here is a social narrative.
Program Accessibility: Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided for the facilitated program. Exploration of the Conservatory grounds will follow. 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. Masks are strongly encouraged when not actively eating or drinking.
Registration: Please register at https://tinyurl.com/yubz3tae
Andy Slater is a blind Chicago-based media artist, writer, performer, and Disability advocate/loudmouth.
Andy holds a Masters in Sound Arts and Industries from Northwestern University and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is a 2022 United States Artists fellow, 2022-2023 Leonardo Crip Tech Incubator fellow and a 2018 3Arts/Bodies of Work fellow at the University of Illinois Chicago.
He is a member of the Society of Visually Impaired Sound Artists and a teaching artist with the Atlantic Center for the Arts’ Young SoundSeekers program, Midwest Society For Acoustic Ecology, and Creative Users’ Sensory Shift program.
Andy’s current work focuses on advocacy for accessible art and technology, Alt-Text for sound and image, the phonology of the blind body, spatial audio for extended reality, and sound design for film, dance, and digital scent design.
Read Andy’s full biography at https://tinyurl.com/2p8r9per
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/yubz3tae. Registered participants will receive an email the day prior to the event with additional details. 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.
Parking: The Conservatory has a free visitor parking lot with designated accessible parking spots located in the northeast corner. There are paved pathways from the parking lot to the building entrance, as well as ramps and a push button automated door.
Public Transit: You can take the Green Line to the Conservatory Stop. The glass building of the conservatory is just north of Lake Street on the West side of the street. Please note that as of April 27, the Harlem-bound platform elevator at Conservatory (Green Line) has been fixed, and the station should now be accessible again. Check the CTA’s accessibility alerts for the most up-to-date information.
Bicycles: Bike Corrals and a Divvy bike station can be found in front of the building on Central Park Avenue.
Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided for the facilitated program. Exploration of the Conservatory grounds will follow. 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.
Wheelchairs: There are a limited number of wheelchairs available for free use on site. They are checked out with a photo ID on a first come, first served basis. Wheelchairs will be thoroughly wiped down between visitors.
Social Narrative: If you’d like to learn more about what to expect at Garfield Park Conservatory, here is a social narrative to prepare you for your visit.
More information about accessibility at Garfield Park Conservatory can be found at https://garfieldconservatory.org/accessibility/.
FREE, $5 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.
What is disability? What is accessibility? This session will provide a basic introduction to the world of accessibility in cultural spaces. Learn how accessibility is defined over a broad array of varying abilities, and how we can engage to create more accessible experiences in your cultural institutions.
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 708-574-5190 to request services. Thank you!
Suggested Donation
While CCAC programs are free, donations help to cover programming costs to ensure CCAC’s mission is achievable and accessible to all. You may donate online anytime! Donations to CCAC are tax deductible.
CCAC is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, PERT Foundation, 21st Century Fox Social Impact, The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, and individual donors like you. In addition, this program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
How do people identify with disabilities? How varied are people’s experiences with access in different cultural spaces? Join us as our guest speakers share their accessibility experiences both living and working in cultural spaces. Learn what accessibility means from the perspectives of our panelists, and how we can think and engage with others around accessibility for all.
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 708-574-5190 to request services. Thank you!
Suggested Donation
While CCAC programs are free, donations help to cover programming costs to ensure CCAC’s mission is achievable and accessible to all. You may donate online anytime! Donations to CCAC are tax deductible.
CCAC is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, PERT Foundation, 21st Century Fox Social Impact, The Michael and Mona Heath Fund, and individual donors like you. In addition, this program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Our bet is that virtual events, hybrid experiences, and remote meetings are here to stay. We want to help events professionals know how to make accessible services work in platforms like Zoom and YouTube. Let our experienced panel of production people, event planners, and service providers show you how they get set up. Take a peek through the back end of platforms; learn what ASL interpreters, captioners, and audio describers need from you tech-wise in order to do their work; and anticipate what roles and responsibilities you’ll need to make virtual events run smoothly. Nerd out with us for a series of tutorials and Q&A!
Featured Speakers:
Risa Jaz Rifkind will discuss setting up ASL interpretation for virtual events.
Risa is a justice advocate who seeks to make change by shifting access to power and influence.
As Director of Civic Engagement and Marketing at ADA 25 Advancing Leadership, Risa propels the organization to realize its vision to have people with disabilities lead with power and influence. By identifying and developing strategic partnerships, Risa positions Members to take on leadership roles that advance their careers, civic engagement, and equity for people with disabilities. By integrating this vision into all internal and external communications, she leads Advancing Leadership’s brand awareness, public and private Member programming, and community engagement and outreach. She is also an Advancing Leadership Member.
Risa is passionate about the arts and serves as the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium as well as on its Board of Directors as Treasurer.
Eddie Medrano will discuss setting up captions for virtual events.
Eddie graduated with a B.A. in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College in 2010 and has been actively involved in live production since. With over 10 years of experience in live events, Eddie currently serves as the Assistant Director of Production at Chicago Humanities Festival. When not planning events or livestreaming from his basement, he lends an occasional hand to Fitzgerald’s Nightclub filling in as an AV tech and production manager.
Through his efforts, he is proud to stand among the countless individuals working to normalize accessibility in the arts and entertainment industry.
Bridget Melton will discuss setting up audio description for virtual events.
Bridget most recently live extemporaneously audio described the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and the 2020 Democratic National Convention, both partnered with Martin Wilde. As the main describer for Hamilton: An American Musical (Broadway in Chicago) during its three year residency in Chicago, she live described over 25 performances. Active in the cultural accessibility community for many years, she works to create a welcoming environment for all. Around the United States, and virtually, she can be found at various theatres promoting inclusion as an audio describer, advisor, or volunteer. She holds a BFA in Theatre Studies from SMU Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, TX.
Hillary Pearson will discuss how to plan for virtual event roles and responsibilities.
Hillary (she/her/hers) is the Senior Manager of Operations and Accessibility Services at the Harris Theater, overseeing daily facility communications, front of house plans surrounding visiting companies’ events, and accessible services for engagements. Hillary works internally and externally to inform staff and renters on accessibility features in-house and share further resources on accessibility, maintains relevant access and inclusion training initiatives for all users of the space, and helps navigate collaboration with service providers. Hillary has also recently been selected as a Co-Chair of the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) Steering Committee and has had the privilege to attend the annual Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference for several years. Hillary has both presented and co-coordinated many CCAC Professional Development workshops geared around patron experience and customer service practices and has also co-presented a workshop centered around strategies for rental venue accessibility at the national LEAD conference in August of 2019.
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.
Recording Available Following Event
A recording will be shared on our Past Programs page a couple of weeks after the event. We’ll let registrants know when the video is live. The video will be captioned and audio described.
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 217-840-5875 to request services. Thank you!
This session was planned by the Illinois Cultural Accessibility Network (ICAN), made possible through the funding of the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) and the support of the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC).
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)
Captioning makes our art accessible to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Open and Closed Captioning can be presented via a variety of platforms to offer a text translation of auditory elements such as dialogue, sound effects and music.
This workshop will offer a survey of services and programming that theaters, museums and other cultural institutions can provide to make themselves accessible for visitors who are blind or have low vision.
Following the patron path, from outreach and initial point of contact through the visit’s conclusion, this workshop will offer a survey of services and programming that theaters, museums and other cultural institutions can provide to make themselves more accessible for visitors who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
Join us to learn how you can make incremental improvements to ensure ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance and a more inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors with disabilities.
We will discuss best practices for online and digital accessibility, highlight innovative apps currently in use, and share top tips for tech accessibility
This workshop will help you take the first steps toward creating a more inclusive experience at your organization.
Is your organization thinking about ways to engage more inclusive practices for visitors with disabilities, but you’re not sure where to begin?
Take the first (or second, third, or fourth!) steps toward creating a more inclusive experience at your organization, even if the pandemic has your organization working solely in virtual space.
Successfully integrate accessibility, such as captioning, ASL interpreters, and audio description, into your next staff meeting or public program using the provided tools and strategies.