Workshops and Trainings

Hear firsthand what internal adjustments administrators and organizations are making (or plan to make) in organizational culture and policies, governance and decision-making as well as budgeting and overall structural investment

Moderated by Sharon Nyree Williams of Seattle’s Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas with panelists:

Aaron Reader, Seattle Theatre Group
Joan Rabinowitz, Jack Straw Cultural Center
Aimee Chou, Sound Theatre Group

Video below and at “Building Inclusive Arts Organizations”

Transcript for “Building Inclusive Arts Organizations”

Building Inclusive Art

Live Streamed April 2022

Hear firsthand about the needs and challenges faced by neurodivergent and disabled artists working in the Pacific Northwest. Learn from their varied experiences and discover ways we can all bring greater accessibility, inclusion and representation to our creative community at large.

Moderated by Claudia Alick with panelists:

Chris Daigre, choreographer and community dance activist
Bean Fairbanks, visual artist
Malika Oyetimein, theater director and writer
King Chasm, hip hop community activist and educator

Video below and at “Building Inclusive Art”

Transcript for “Building Inclusive Art”

Building Relationships with Disability Communities

Live Streamed November 2021

The third and final workshop of 2021 included panelists from arts and disability organizations and individuals with disabilities. Together they shared tips and strategies for building relationships with new audiences to create strong programming. Successfully engaging BIPOC and people with disabilities is critical to growth in the arts sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moderated by Karen Braitmayer FAIA, Founder and Managing Principal of Studio Pacifica with panelists:

John Orr, Executive Director at Art-Reach in Philadelphia
Jae Kim, Information and Resource Coordinator at the Arc of King County
Danielle Miller, director and regional librarian for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL), a program of the Washington State Library and a Regional Library for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled/Library of Congress (NLS)
Ariele Belo, Director of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services at HSDC

Video below and at “Building Relationships with Disability Communities”

Transcript for “Building Relationships with Disability Communities”

Hybrid Programming: Case Studies from Cultural Organizations

Live Streamed June 2021

As planning for in-person events is slowly integrated into programming schedules, most organizations are also maintaining some form of virtual programming. How are these hybrid models going to work and what are groups doing to address accessibility issues? A panel of arts organizations will share their hybrid models and how they are integrating accessibility into this work.

Kathy Hsieh from the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture moderated a panel discussion including:

Michelle Cheng, Director of Education & Community Partnerships, Frye Art Museum

Alexander Jones, Learning Accessibility Specialist, Woodland Park Zoo

Sonia Gallant, Access Programs Assistant, Fine Arts Museums, San Francisco

Sylvie Crowe, Resident Director, City of Bellevue, Bellevue Youth Theatre

Video below and at “Hybrid Programming: Case Studies from Cultural Organizations Webinar” on YouTube

‘Hybrid Programming: Case Studies from Cultural Organizations Webinar’ Transcript

Disability Justice, Racial Justice, and the ADA

Live Streamed August 2020

The Americans with Disabilities Act was a huge step forward for our country and arguably one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in the last century. However, like other groundbreaking legislation throughout American history, the ADA has certain shortcomings that cause harm to BIPOC communities. In this panel discussion amplifying BIPOC voices, we will examine past & current harms and equity vs. equality, as well as exploring the ways Disability Justice builds on the ADA.

Video below and at 'Disability Justice, Racial Justice, and the ADA' YouTube

'Disability Justice, Racial Justice, and the ADA' Transcript

Equity and the ADA

Live Streamed July 2020

How are equity and equality different? What roles do these concepts play in the ADA? How does intersectionality impact a person with a disability's participation in arts and civic life? We will hear from members from the disability community who will weigh in on the impacts and implications of the ADA and reflect on its 30 year history and evolution.

Video below and at 'Equity and the ADA' YouTube

'Equity and the ADA' Transcript

Connecting Everyone: Accessible Virtual Arts Programs

Live Streamed May 13, 2020

How can you make your digital content accessible?

Video below and at 'Connecting Everyone' YouTube

'Connecting Everyone' Transcript

Nuts & Bolts of Creating a Stellar Access Plan

Presented October 10, 2018

The key to successfully creating spaces, programs and events with an accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion lens is to plan for it. This workshop will take you through a step-by-step process of developing an access plan and highlight the tools you can use to implement your plan. Presentation by Guest Speaker Betty Siegel, Director, VSA and Accessibility, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Video below and at 'Nuts & Bolts' YouTube

'Nuts & Bolts' Transcript

Accessing Accessibility

Presented June 12, 2019

Where is your organization in its accessibility efforts? Are you just beginning or are you farther along in this process?

Video below and at 'Accessing Accessibility' YouTube

'Accessing Accessibility' Transcript

It's About Access

Presented March 11, 2019

A panel of people with disabilities share their personal experiences visiting arts and cultural organizations in the Seattle area and offer important insights.

Video below and at 'It's About Access' YouTube

'It's About Access' Transcript