Engaging People with Disabilities in the Arts: Could, Should or Must

If one of every five Minnesotans lives with a disability – a hefty portion of your potential arts audience – how many are you actually seeing at your arts events? And how can you entice more to participate simply by addressing their hearing, vision, mobility, sensory and other needs?

This presentation will help your arts group think about, plan and prioritize ways to welcome people with disabilities to your activities and venues. VSA Minnesota staff and one or two arts consumers with disabilities will share experiences, barriers (real or perceived) and solutions – including:
* accepting the accessibility challenge at the board and staff level,
* surveying your access needs,
* making improvements with accessible publicity (flyers, news releases, website, email, social media), physical access, event communication accommodations, admission prices, and…
* more ways of meeting the spirit and letter of the law in engaging people with disabilities.

You’ll get tools and resources to develop your access planning process and determine what could, should and must be addressed to more effectively involve one-fifth of the population in your arts activities.