Event Description: We are thrilled to bring our Collab Social to Champaign-Urbana for the first time! Come learn about the Collab and what we offer as we grow our community stakeholder network beyond Chicago. Join us for a light info session and networking at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to chat accessibility-related topics with passionate members of the accessibility community… all with a focus on the small changes we are making at our organizations to incrementally make a big impact for cultural spaces and visitors with disabilities! Snacks, including vegetarian and gluten-free offerings, and light refreshments provided.
Event Date: Saturday, October 19th
Event Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Address: 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801-3788
Program Accessibility: Real-Time Captioning and ASL interpretation will be available for the program. Networking will follow. Please clearly indicate any additional access requests (such as sighted guides, large print material, etc) via via the event registration form at least 3 business days in advance of the event. You can also call or text 773-203-5039 to discuss specific requests.
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 October 18 at 11:55 p.m. CST. In case of technical difficulties, please email info@CulturalAccessCollab.org for assistance.
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.
Event Description: Join our panel of service dog users and legal experts in a safe space to answer your questions on guide dogs, hearing dogs, medical alert dogs, and more! Learn the responsibilities of cultural institutions in shaping policies for service animal handlers, interacting correctly with support animals and creating a sense of cultural inclusivity and safety. Examine how to create a welcoming environment for all visitors, including their working companions.
Event Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024.
Event Time: 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM Central Time
Who Should Attend: Audience facing staff at your organization, or anyone interested or involved in guest relations.
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 January 31 at 11:55 PM. In case of technical difficulties, please email info@CulturalAccessCollab.org for assistance.
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.
Do you talk to guests after a show or send out mass surveys? Do you work with accessibility consultants or develop your own advisory board? Do you co-create and receive critical feedback from people with lived experience in the disability community? Learn from our steering committee members about their experience with building each rung in the collaboration ladder. Explore tangible ways to strengthen a more genuine and responsive connection to the disability community every step along the way.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 9 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Central Time
Program Accessibility: CART and ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Cost: FREE, $5 suggested donation
Platform: Zoom (link will be shared with registrants)
Registration: Please register at https://tinyurl.com/24y6n6dj
Jesse Swanson (he/him/his) is a producer, arts administrator and comedian. 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.
Jesse is a white man in his mid-30’s who’s once boyish good looks have retreated faster than his hairline. He’s working on convincing himself that baldness is a good look. His blue eyes look through a pair of round overpriced warby parker glasses. He is pictured in a wrinkled light blue button down against a white background.
Susan A. Friel (she/her/hers) is an educator, artist and lifelong learner who currently manages education and engagement programs for the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Susan’s path along the way weaves in, out and around schools, museums and arts organizations across the globe, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Spain, Ethiopia and LA. In 2018 she initiated the first exploration of the Chicago Cultural Center through touch and sound which inspired the installation of a touch gallery and Learning Lab which celebrates all the senses. She is honored to have contributed to the inspirational book that continues to feed her spirit daily: Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit.
Susan is a white woman with a full face of freckles and a smile. Her short hair is various shades of blue that match her eyes. She is outdoors in front of blurry greenery in the background.
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 institution in Chicago, including serving as an inaugural member on The Second City’s Accessibility Board.
Bill is a white man in his 40’s with short, dark hair and beard, wearing round glasses. He is pictured in a blue dress shirt seated in front of green leafy plants at the zoo and smiling to camera.
Andy Wilson (he/him/his) is a House Manager & Accessibility Coordinator at The Goodman Theatre. Prior to his time at Goodman, he worked at the Shedd Aquarium as well as the Museum of Science & Industry. Early in his journey as a trans man, he felt like there was no longer a place for him in theatre, but realized that he could be a part of making the arts more inclusive for a much wider range of people.
Andy is a white man in his mid-thirties with dark blonde hair, cut short on the sides and grown long in the middle and pushed to the side. He has round cheeks, deep dimples and blue eyes squinted in a smile. He has a short beard that is reddish brown. He wears glasses with blue and brown frames.
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.
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.
BIPOC Providers Part Two: Audio Describers
May 10th 3:00 PM Central Time
How should we describe people who vary in terms of race, gender, disability, age and body shape? Why might the identity and voice of the describer matter? Join us as our guest speakers explore the importance of representation and cultural sensitivity in our decisions about who to hire. Learn how the lived experiences of our audio description providers can impact the accessibility of our content, and the experiences of our audience.
Featured presenters:
Thomas Reid, moderator. Soon after becoming blind in 2004, Thomas Reid decided to re-ignite a dormant interest in audio production. After years of combining his interest in audio with advocacy, in 2014 he was selected as a New Voice Scholar by the Association of Independence in Radio. During that same year he began his podcast Reid My Mind Radio; where he pairs narrative storytelling with music and sound design bringing you compelling people impacted by all degrees of blindness and disability.
Through his Flipping the Script on Audio Description series, Reid continues to explore the art by going beyond surface level topics and examining its implications on the community.
As a voice talent and Audio Description Narrator, Reid has appeared on several Netflix projects. He facilitates workshops and provides consultations on various accessibility and audio description related topics. Thomas serves as moderator and panelist for discussions on audio description, podcasting, inclusion, adjusting to blindness and more.
Nefertiti Matos Olivares is a fervent advocate for accessible culture, tech, and healthcare. As a blind Latina-American, she brings a wealth of cultural competency to all that she does. Specific to her work as a bilingual Audio Description professional, Nefertiti holds such roles as Narrator, quality Control Specialist, and writer. She strongly believes in doing her part to bring about a world in which universal access is the norm, not the exception.
Ashleigh Braggs is an audio describer and trainer of audio describers. She started creating described experiences for audiences who are blind or have low vision in 2015. She’s had the privilege of describing dozens and dozens of experiences including, live animal presentations, theater, opera and multiple genres of dance. Describing the culture of the Black diaspora represents a particular passion of hers.
Who Should Attend?
This session will present resources, concepts and the sharing of perspectives for anyone who is interested in working towards greater equity, inclusion, and diversity in the hiring of access providers at your organization.
Also in this Series
Join us on Tuesday, May 3rd at 3:00 PM Central Time for BIPOC Providers Part One: ASL Interpreters. Register for the May 3rd Program.
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 following the event. 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 for any additional requests. You may also reach us at 419-262-1886 to request services. Thank you!
Suggested Donation
While ICAN and 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! CCAC is a registered 501c3 and all donations to CCAC are tax deductible.
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).
BIPOC Providers Part One: ASL Interpreters
May 3rd 3:00 PM Central Time
How does language mediate and affect access to crucial information and spaces? Why might the identity of the interpreter matter? Join us as our guest speakers explore the importance of representation and cultural sensitivity in our decisions about who to hire. Learn how the lived experiences of our ASL interpreters can impact the accessibility of our content, and the experiences of our audience.
Featured Presenters
Benro Ogunyipe, MPA, Benro Ogunyipe served for six years as president, vice president, and chair of the board of National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc. He is the author of Black Deaf Culture Through Lens of History, a short commentary on the history, culture, and education of Black Deaf People for the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) supported by the U.S. Department of Education. He also writes stories, accomplishments, and recognition of the Black Deaf Community.
Benro currently serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. He previously worked for the Illinois Department of Human Services as Senior Accessibility Specialist, Reasonable Accommodation Specialist, and Investigator of the ADA/Section 504 Discrimination Complaints for 17 years. In 2014 and again in 2016, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Benro to the National Council on Disability. Benro was also appointed by three different Illinois Governors to public bodies and was an appointed board member of the National Association of the Deaf. He is a seasoned guest lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Disability Studies and Columbia College Chicago’s Interpreter Training Program on Multicultural Issues.
Benro received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gallaudet University and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from DePaul University, School of Public Service.
Melva Flores is a Trilingual (American Sign Language, English and Spanish) Interpreter of Puerto Rican decent. She received her B.A. in ASL-English interpretation from Columbia College of Chicago in 2000. Melva has been interpreting for almost 24 years and holds the Illinois Master Level Interpreter Licensure and the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration. She is a full-time freelance staff interpreter who has interpreted for a variety of interpreting settings. These include, but not limited to: Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other elected officials, fortune 500 businesses, mental health, medical, legal, court, elementary schools, Colleges/Universities, cruises, theatrical, festivals, church and community events. She often interprets interactively between her three languages, where she is the only interpreter present and interprets into/from all three languages, either consecutively or simultaneously. Melva is the founder, and past President, of the Illinois Chapter of Mano a Mano. Although in the field for many years, Melva believes that there is always room for growth and welcomes opportunities to continue to enhance her skills. She has mentored several Interpreter Training Students and is currently in school to receive her Master Mentor Certificate.
Rorri Burton is a Black, queer, community-raised interpreter who hails from Chicago, where she began learning American Sign Language at an early age. After graduating college with her degree in Deaf Education, she taught in school districts around the country for ten years, before beginning what she assumed would be a temporary foray into a career as a full time ASL Interpreter. Twelve years and five cities later, and Rorri has worked as an interpreter in a variety of settings, including Video Relay Service, vacation cruises, Hollywood sets, operating rooms, theme parks and theaters, among others. Her current pursuit involves coordinating a group of Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latinx interpreters who are providing ASL access for virtual and in-person assignments, with a focus on cultural connectedness.
Who Should Attend?
This session will present resources, concepts and the sharing of perspectives for anyone who is interested in working towards greater equity, inclusion, and diversity in the hiring of access providers at your organization.
Also in this Series
Join us on Tuesday, May 10th at 3:00 PM Central Time for BIPOC Providers Part Two: Audio Describers. Register for the May 10th Program.
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 following the event. 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 for any additional requests. You may also reach us at 419-262-1886 to request services. Thank you!
Suggested Donation
While ICAN and 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! CCAC is a registered 501c3 and all donations to CCAC are tax deductible.
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).
How can cultural institutions utilize a disability rights lens to advance inclusion? Join CCAC for a brief history lesson on disability rights followed by a rich panel discussion integrating diverse perspectives. Expert guests will discuss components of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Principles of Universal Design (and more) as they relate to employees, patrons and artists. The session will close with a live Q&A portion and attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance upon registration.
Program Accessibility: CART and ASL Interpretation will be provided.
Featured Presenters and Panelists:
Ashley Eisenmenger (she/her/hers)
Public Relations Coordinator, Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
Ashley obtained a bachelor of arts degree in Organizational Communications from North Central College. While at North Central, Ashley competed as the first NCAA triathlete with a disability that required sport-specific accommodations and advocated for the inclusion of people with disabilities in collegiate sports and the fitness and recreation industries. She currently works as the Public Relations Coordinator at Access Living. Ashley speaks regularly to groups about topics such as perspective, adversity, performance, and disability. She has given a Tedx talk and continues to advocate for the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in the fitness world.
Charles R. Petrof (he/him/his)
Senior Attorney, Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
Charles Petrof joined Access Living in 2016 as a Senior Attorney focusing on enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. His litigation while at Access Living has focused on government and business accessibility, with significant work spanning the fields of medical care, education and transportation. He has also worked on several legislative efforts, including a successful effort to provide non-police mental and behavioral health support for non-violent individuals in crisis. Before coming to Access Living, Charles was a Supervisory Attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation (now Legal Aid Chicago), and Senior Attorney at Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. He specialized in litigation under the Fair Housing Act, and in access to public benefits. He received his BA from Northwestern University and his JD from Wayne State University.
Richard Costes (he/him/his)
Actor, Director, and Freelance Accessibility Consultant
Richard Costes is a Chicago-based actor, director, and accessibility consultant. Selected roles include Snout in Midsummer Night’s Dream at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Bosun in Mosquitoes at Steep Theatre Company, Arjun in Opportunities of Extinction (World Premiere) at Broken Nose Theatre, and Rev D./Baby in In the Blood at Red Tape Theatre. Richard was one of 10 recipients of a 3Arts Award in 2019 and is also a 2020 ADA 25 Advancing Leadership Member. A 2006 graduate of Kent State University (B.A. Theatre) he has presented at Gallaudet University’s symposium on Visual Shakespeare and was a panelist and member of the 2019 Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session hosted by HowlRound at Emerson College and now sits on the board of the National Theatre of the Deaf.
Whitney Hill (she/her/hers)
Accessibility Specialist at LCM Architects and Founder/Director of SPORK!
Whitney Hill is a specialist on accessibility with over a decade of experience in program management and communication. Her background in universal design and public accessibility combined with her personal background of identifying as someone with a disability give her a unique skillset to connect individuals with needed services, while also empowering them to advocate for themselves. Throughout her career, Whitney has aimed to ensure that public and institutional spaces are made readily accessible. She is also the founder and director of SPORK!, a 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit and online platform that serves as a voice for the disabled community.
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.
FREE, $5 suggested donation
Accessibility
Real-Time Captioning and Sign Language Interpretation will be provided. Please complete the accommodation request field found in the event registration path or call 419-262-1886 to request other access services, or to learn more about event accessibility.
Suggested Donation
While CCAC programs are free, the $5 suggested donation helps 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.
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).
Day 2: FUTURE | Cultural Accessibility After the Pandemic
Zoom Webinar Series
Thursday, April 29 3:00 PM Central/ 4:00 PM Eastern
Cost:FREE; $10.00 suggested donation to help offset the cost of program expenses
Living during a pandemic has transformed the way we present cultural programming – revealing both limitations and limitless opportunities. On Day 2 of this series, Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium (MAC) in New York and Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) explore how cultural organizations across the country are using lessons learned to create a more inclusive future.
Program will be approximately 90 minutes long. View the full line up of scheduled speakers.
Join us for one or both programs. Register for April 22nd’s program!
Due to our limited timing, we will not be facilitating a formal Q&A during this session. While we will aim to answer any questions submitted via the chat day-of, we encourage registrants to submit questions in advance via the prompts found on the registration path.
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.
Suggested Donation
While CCAC and MAC programs are free, donations help to cover programming costs to ensure both organizations’ missions are achievable and accessible to all. You may donate online anytime! Donations for these specific programs will be shared among both organizations and 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, Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donors like you.
This MAC Event has been made possible through funding from The New York Community Trust and The FAR Fund, and through the generous support of private donors.
Day 1: PRESENT | Being Creatively Accessible During a Pandemic
Zoom Webinar Series
Thursday, April 22 3:00 PM Central/ 4:00 PM Eastern
Cost:FREE; $10.00 suggested donation to help offset the cost of program expenses
Living during a pandemic has transformed the way we present cultural programming – revealing both limitations and limitless opportunities. On Day 1 of this 2-day series, Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium (MAC) in New York and Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) explore how cultural organizations have inventively adapted to incorporate accessibility into their work during the past year.
Program will be approximately 90 minutes long. View the full line up of scheduled speaker.
Join us for one or both programs. Register for April 29th’s program!
Due to our limited timing, we will not be facilitating a formal Q&A during this session. While we will aim to answer any questions submitted via the chat day-of, we encourage registrants to submit questions in advance via the prompts found on the registration path.
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.
Suggested Donation
While CCAC and MAC programs are free, donations help to cover programming costs to ensure both organizations’ missions are achievable and accessible to all. You may donate online anytime! Donations for these specific programs will be shared among both organizations and 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, Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual donors like you.
This MAC Event has been made possible through funding from The New York Community Trust and The FAR Fund, and through the generous support of private donors.
Join us for a brief ADA introduction geared towards beginners, especially focusing on how the law relates to cultural organizations like yours.
Representatives from organizations of all scales are encouraged to join us for an interactive “train the trainer” workshop, which will include a panel of visitors with disabilities who discuss their own (non-scolding) positive and negative experiences in cultural spaces.
We will start with the basics: introducing you to this diverse audience that ranges from people on the autism spectrum, to adults with dementia, to visitors with Down syndrome.
You don’t have to go it alone! Internal access committees and external advisory committees can help your organization, and support and further your accessibility initiatives.
In this workshop presenters will share practical outreach techniques that really work. Bring your organizational event brochures and flyers and brainstorm on effective outreach ideas through social media and other marketing strategies with workshop attendees.
Join us as we explore this topic and others to learn how the recent changes to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations impact your seating and ticketing policies.
A panel of professionals share the basics of development and discuss the increasing attention funders are paying to accessibility.
Learn best practices for ensuring your programs are inclusive for the children with disabilities and their families who visit your cultural institution.
Hear from cultural administrators in the midst of this process to learn about their successes, challenges, and how to move your own organization’s process forward.
Hear from experienced emergency planners on best practices to address the needs of staff and visitors with disabilities in your emergency plan. Experts will present their planning process and practical tips.
Creative engagement programs invite elders to share their imagination – to help connect to and shape the world around them. Anne Basting will demonstrate how, rather than lamenting our aging audience and citizenry, we might build on strengths to create a more connected community as we age.
Visiting cultural organizations may be unsettling for visitors with sensory issues, including those on the Autism Spectrum and those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The bombardment of sensory information, a change in routine, and concern over others’ reactions to their unique needs and helpful tools can translate into a stressful–or even impossible–visit for people in the sensory community.
Through presentation, exercises and discussion, participants will explore the benefits of descriptive language for all audiences, learn the purpose of more thorough description for visitors who are blind or have low vision, and discuss strategies for developing and facilitating multisensory experiences.
Learn how to create a low-cost, ongoing staff training plan for access and inclusion for all staff and volunteers.
Learn about some of the barriers that can prevent a Veteran from having an enjoyable experience.
Hear from panelists representing cultural spaces and partner organizations about how they are better considering older adults in their programming and services so our older audience members can continue to participate in our cultural spaces as they age, maximizing independence and choice.
Get ready for summer in Chicago with this session devoted to providing accessible events outside!