A year-long commitment to online professional learning.
Participants will build knowledge and skills in cultural accessibility and inclusion for their personal and organizational growth and development. Join the Art-Reach team along with experienced educators and consultants with expertise in content areas for five online workshops throughout the year. Each workshop will build upon the next, adding valuable resources, reflection points, and action steps to growth.
Be sure to checkout 4th Annual Cultural Accessibility Conference Recordings
Engage in Wrap-Up Talks with presenters of Cultural Access Forum & Exchange (CAFE) series. CAFE webinars bring cultural organizations together with members of the disability and low-income communities in January, March, and May, 2023 to focus on improving cultural access for everyone.
Voluntary reading, viewing, and listening assignments will be shared on the page prior to every workshop, along with a workbook to build capacity for growth and strategic development within your organization.
All workshops will be hosted in zoom meeting, links will be emailed the day before.
Class Calendar
Class 1: History of Disability and the Disability Rights Movement
October 11, 2022 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
(NOTE: Intro Session time is 30 minutes longer)
Disability is everywhere in history once you begin looking for it. This session builds a foundation for understanding disability in the present-day US, taking you through a brief history of disability in the US, pausing at key moments that have led us to where we are today, and where we need to go. Participants will learn how disability intersects with histories that are commonly taught in schools and the key goals and strategies of the disability rights movement. Lastly, the session examines the purpose and impact of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities and ongoing disability issues.
Class 2: Access Services: Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communities
(Hands Up Productions) & Dr. Tina Childress (Audiologists & Self-Advocate)
November 15, 2022 4-6 PM
What are the required accessible services for patrons in 2022 and beyond? What are best practices and emerging trends? Let’s meet accessible service providers involved in Captioning and American Sign Language interpretation for the Deaf/deaf and hard of hearing community. How have services changed since COVID and what steps can an organization do to create a welcoming space and community for audiences as well as services providers.
Class 3 (Asynchronous): Americans with Disabilities Act & Language
December 2022
View Art-Reach Pre-Recorded Classes to better understand the Americans with Disabilities Act and its application in the cultural sector. Understand the current landscape of language, whether it is person-first language and/or identity-first language, recognize the fluidity and how to be an ally in building awareness, humility, and patience.
Class 4: Blind and Low Vision Experience
February 7, 2023 4 - 6 PM
Learn how folks who are blind or have low vision navigate through the world and what are the tools and services that they have found to be most effective to their needs in arts and cultural spaces. Learn about technological and physical barriers and how smartphones, service animals, and verbal description have allowed for greater independence and experiences.
Class 5: Creative Aging
April 11, 2023 4 - 6 PM
This is not your usual Zoom workshop! Bring your imagination, paper, and pen. When possible, keep cameras on. Discover the fundamental principles of creative aging to develop and deliver programs that inspire and engage older adults. Guided by research and best practices, this interactive workshop will boost your current understanding to address social connection, growth, wellness, and culture shift.
Class 6: DIY Accessibility Plan
June 13, 2023 4 - 6:30 PM
After a year of the conference, classes, and discourse, Cohort participants meet with an accessibility consultant to understand what it takes to make a plan that means action. Art-Reach invites Scott Artley, a guest facilitator with years of experience working in arts and cultural inclusion. Scott will reflect on the “soft skills” that accessibility requires, then we’ll spend time “network-weaving” to identify your next steps––and the allies that can help you get there.
