News

Arts Access and the LEAD® Conference

From Carol White, Associate Director for Operations —

An estimated 1 in 5 Americans has some sort of disability. That’s a big part of the audience base for the arts.  Expanding access to the arts for people living with disabilities is the focus of the annual national Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference. The 2015 conference was held last week in Washington, D.C at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. I was privileged to attend for Tennessee, and would like to share three arts access tips and a joy in reflection of the conference:

Tip 1. People First Language. “O, Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say” is more than a good first line for a song.  Check out a quick guide to welcoming language here.

Tip 2. Is your organization in compliance for accessibility? The single best way for arts groups to check themselves is the NEA’s “Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook.” If your agency receives NEA funds, you should have a copy of this on file and updated every 3 years or when your 504 coordinator changes.

Tip 3. Website accessibility. It’s not as scary as it sounds. Learn more  here.

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NEA Accessibility Director Beth Bienvenu congratulates former Commission Access Director William Coleman on his 2015 Award for Emerging Leaders at the LEAD® Conference

Pride and Joy!    The LEAD® Award for Emerging Leaders was created in 2008 to acknowledge arts administrators who are motivated by the LEAD® conference to become an advocate for accessibility within their own organizations and communities. These individuals have successfully applied what they learn at the conference to open doors to and shape opportunities that are inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults in the cultural arts.  How proud we are of Tennessee’s own William Coleman, whose work in Tennessee led to this award and to his new role as VSA Florida Arts Education Director. Tennessee’s Guide for Expanding Access to the Arts for Persons with Disabilities and other resources are available here. 

Next Year’s Conference.   The LEAD® conference continues to be the best national option where leaders and newcomers in the field of access to the cultural arts for individuals with disabilities and older adults can meet and mingle with peers, learn about the latest technological advances, get the straight talk on legal issues, and contribute to the collective knowledge base of how to reach and engage audiences, patrons, and visitors of all ages and abilities. Stay tuned for info on next year’s conference in Pittsburgh, PA.