The Tennessee Arts Commission works to ensure that the arts are available to every Tennessean regardless of geography, income, age, race, physical ability and/or any other barrier. All of our grantees sign a contract assuring that they will comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The information listed below can be used as resources in expanding accessibility efforts.
General Information
The Civil Rights Office of the National Endowment for the Arts 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook: A key administrative requirement of Section 504 and ADA regulations are for state agencies and cultural organizations that receive federal funds to conduct a self-evaluation to identify barriers to accessibility. Grantees of the Commission are encouraged to complete the 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook after each receipt of federal funds and upon completion, print and file within the organization’s office.
Arts & Inclusion: A Guide for Expanding Access to The Arts for Persons with Disabilities: The Tennessee Arts Commission in partnership with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities hosted a series of conversations across the state and this guide developed from those conversations (2014).
Downloadable Disability Access Symbols: Download appropriate symbols for your organization’s communications.
Downloadable TN Arts Commission’s Accessibility Checklist: Download the Accessibility Checklist.
Website Accessibility
The Commission does not endorse any of these sites, but references them as resource options.
Best Practices for Web Accessibility
Testing a web page for accessibility
National Resources
American Foundation for the Blind: The American Foundation for the Blind removes barriers, creates solutions, and expands possibilities so people with vision loss can achieve their full potential.
Institute for Human Centered Design: Promotes design that works for everyone across the spectrum of ability and age and enhances human experience. It provides easy access to information and guidance about the civil rights laws and codes that provide a bedrock of accessibility in the US, as well as providing education and consultation about strategies, precedents and best practices that go beyond legal requirements to design places, things, communication and policy that integrate solutions to the reality of human diversity.
The Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employent (OCREEO) of the National Endowment for the Arts: This office is the advocacy-technical assistance arm of the National Endowment for the Arts to make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people living in institutions.
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act: Resource for ADA Regulations and Technical Assistance Manuals.
Regional Resources
Southeast American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office & Resources: Located in Atlanta, GA, this regional office serves as an extended leadership network of local and state affiliates from eight (8) states in the U.S. Southeast region. This Center serves as a leader in providing information, training, and guidance on ADA and disability access tailored to the needs of business, government, and individuals at local, state, and regional levels.
Statewide Resources
The Tennessee Council for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing: This Council has the responsibility for ensuring that state and local public programs and services are accessible to deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and Deaf-Blind citizens. TCDDBHH coordinates communication, information, public awareness, and advocacy services through six regional community service centers. The centers are located in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City and Jackson.
Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging: Formerly the Commission on Aging, the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability is the designated state agency on aging and is mandated to provide leadership relative to aging issues on behalf of older persons in the state. Their mission is to bring together and leverage programs, resources, and organizations to protect and ensure the quality of life and independence of older Tennesseans and adults with disabilities.
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities: The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is an independent office in state government funded through the federal Developmental Disabilities Act that works to ensure that Tennesseans with developmental disabilities are independent, productive, and included in their communities.
Tennessee Disability Coalition: This Coalition is an alliance of organizations and individuals who have joined to promote the full and equal participation of men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. They work together to advocate for public policy that ensures self-determination, independence, empowerment, and inclusion for people with disabilities in areas such as accessibility, education, healthcare, housing, and voting rights.
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: The mission of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development is to facilitate discoveries and best practices that make positive differences in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with disabilities by embracing core values that include: 1) the pursuit of scientific knowledge with creativity and purpose, 2) the dissemination of information to scientists, practitioners, families, and community leaders, and 3) the facilitation of discovery by Vanderbilt Kennedy Center scientists the translation of knowledge into practice. One of its key resources, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, is a free statewide, multilingual clearinghouse of disability resources which can be accessed at Home – Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, or by calling 1-800-640-4636.
Borderless Arts Tennessee: Established in 2001, VSA Tennessee is the state organization on arts and disability. In keeping with the mission of the international nonprofit that is their namesake, they provide people with disabilities opportunities to participate in, learn through and enjoy the arts.
