2012 MAD Winter Expert Update: Making Arts Accessible For All

Making Arts Accessible For All

By Elizabeth Labbe-Webb

One of the fabulous things about living in the community is the opportunity for a full, exciting and diverse social life. For many, this includes regular exploration of arts and cultural offerings. For citizens of Atlanta and the surrounding area, this can mean trips to museums, concert halls, ballet and dance performances, the opera and every kind of live theater event that can be imagined.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was designed to ensure that people with disabilities have regular access to commercial establishments and other places that the public visits. This has been relatively easy for stores and restaurants, but can be a challenge when the venue is a historic mansion, playhouse or concert hall. Luckily, these businesses are committed to welcoming all members of their communities and have worked hard at solving the challenges that come up. Evolving technology helps too.


For the most part, entertainment and cultural venues are physically accessible to those with mobility impairments through the use of ramps, elevators and other physical accommodations. More exciting though, is the variety of services now available to make these programs even more accessible to a wide range of disabilities.


Many museums and galleries now have access to technology and can provide audio tours and descriptions of the artwork they display. Live theater events often offer audio enhancements.


Patrons who have hearing impairments may benefit from assisted listening systems that amplify the spoken word or regular schedules of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted shows. Some venues project text above the stage or offer text file reader programs that patrons can download to cell phones or e-readers prior to attending the event. Nevertheless, there are many venues that still need advance notice of the need for accommodation.


Despite the many advances made to making the arts more accessible, it is important to continue our efforts for improving accessibility and accommodations. At VSA arts of Georgia, a statewide resource for people with disabilities who want to learn about access to the arts within the State, we work with various artists and organizations to make art experiences accessible and possible for everyone including those with disabilities or those living with low income.


Our vision is to help create a community where all art is accessible to all people. We have been working toward this goal for nearly 40 years, and today we work with our constituents to help them access the arts experiences they want, when they want and in their own communities.


Recently, I participated on a panel hosted by C4 Atlanta for its bimonthly TechsmART gathering to discuss how to make local arts more accessible and how technology can facilitate more access and enhance cultural experiences. At VSA arts of Georgia, we see disabilities as a different set of life experiences and we are working toward inviting the community to learn about these differing experiences. It is important to keep the community engaged, and this panel helps explain ways to improve access to arts for all people and how to connect with art organizations throughout the State.


Sidebar:
The TechsmART panel was hosted by Jessyca Holland, executive director of C4 Atlanta, a nonprofit arts service organization focused on empowering artists and arts organizations with the knowledge to realize their visions and uplift cultural dialogues. The panel was facilitated by Douglas Scott, director of Full Radius Dance Company, and featured representatives from various arts and disability advocacy organizations to discuss making arts accessible for all including:

  • Dr. Pat Nobbie, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Valerie Suber, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Nikki Strickland, North Fulton Drama Club
  • Elizabeth Labbe-Webb, VSA arts of Georgia

Listen to the podcast: http://blog.c4atlanta.org/2011/11/10/techsmarts-reaching-patrons-with-disabilities/ (This link is no longer active.)

 

elizabethwebb Elizabeth Labbe-Webb joined VSA arts of Georgia in 2006 as executive director. She has extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations in fundraising and board and   grant development. She is active in the community and has mentored several young women with disabilities interested in pursuing the arts as a career. www.VSAartsGA.org