Building More Than a Ramp:

Building More Than a Ramp: The Art of Accessibility Kristen M. Link Director of Education & Accessibility City Theatre Company, Pittsburgh PA

TRUE or FALSE? Everyone is likely to experience a disability at some point in their lives.

TRUE or FALSE? The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1968 protected underrepresented groups from discrimination, and individuals with disabilities were protected under these laws.

MULTIPLE CHOICE The ADA defines a “disability” as: A.) A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities B.) Having a record of an impairment C.) Being regarded as having an impairment D.) All of the above

MULTIPLE CHOICE How many people in the United States currently experience a disability? A.) 20 Million B.) 30 Million C.) 40 Million D.) 50 Million

TRUE or FALSE? Only dogs are recognized as service animals under the ADA.

ANSWERS True False D-All of the above D-50 Million False

“ [Disability] is an experience that shapes my life and view of the world, and a topic that I find endlessly fascinating because there is that universal element… It is the one minority class in which anyone can become a member of at any time.” -John Belluso, playwright The San Francisco Observer

Disability by the Numbers… • In 2010, 56.7 million people, or 19% of the civilian, non-institutionalized population age 16-64 had a disability. • In Pennsylvania, roughly 13.9% of the population between 16-64 have a disability. • Which state has the highest and lowest average? -Information compiled from US Census Bureau Data

Audience Access Programs at City Theatre City Theatre is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all patrons.

Audio Description & Open Captioning Select performances of City Theatre shows feature Audio Description for blind or low-vision patrons. A trained describer communicates all important action and physical appearances (set/character) through a headset worn by the patron. Select performances of City Theatre shows feature open captioning for deaf or hard-of-hearing patrons. During these performances, all dialogue and sound effects will be presented in real-time on a three-foot-long LED screen that is adjacent to the stage.

Pre-Show Sensory Seminars An hour prior to performances featuring audio description, audience members are invited to a workshop in which they will hear detailed descriptions of the set, costumes, and lights. They also have the opportunity to listen to a voice identification from the actors, as well as do a spatial exploration of the set and select props.

Additional Accessible Programs CART(Computer Assisted Realtime Transcription), used for unscripted events, in particular. Sensory Friendly Performances for youth and adults on the autism spectrum or who have cognitive disabilities or sensory sensitivities. (Can include social stories, altered tech elements, supportive environment).

ONSTAGE at City Theatre PYRETOWN by John Belluso Produced at City Theatre in 2006. Starring, Tobias Forrest, an actor who uses a wheelchair playing the role of a character who also uses a wheelchair.

ONSTAGE at City Theatre TRIBES by Nina Raine Produced at City Theatre in 2013. Starring Tad Cooley, a deaf actor playing the lead role of the deaf character, Billy.

How is Disability being represented at your organization? 360° Perspective: Who is representing populations with disabilities at your organization? • EDI • Engaging with staff members, volunteers, board members, constituents • Eliminating potential barriers from job descriptions • Only 20% of PWD are employed

The Valuable 500

The Valuable 500 Created by Caroline Casey, The Valuable 500 is asking for 500 multinational, private sector corporations to put disability inclusion on their board agenda and take action on some aspect of it in 2019. The time is now, she explains. “The 1 billion people globally who are disabled and can’t find work, need top leaders to take action—now."

DIVERSish • https://youtu.be/We0sqgHAZKI Adjective: diversish Selectively inclusive of some types of people within a company, group or business, depending on which type suits the company best.

How to Communicate about Access within Your Organization • Is your staff trained and knowledgeable regarding access-related issues? • Are accessible services and language visible in all marketing collateral and on the web? • Does your organization have EDIA as an official part of your strategic plan?

LANGUAGE MATTERS, BUT ALSO…. ASK, ASK, ASK!!!!

NOW WHAT? A little advice… • Ask questions. And then ask some more questions. • Seek the experts—talk to the community. • Don’t be afraid to start small! • Get “buy in” from your colleagues—good accessible practices is a TEAM SPORT.

"Disability is not a brave struggle or ‘courage in the face of adversity.’ Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live." - Neil Marcus, performer, dancer, playwright

QUESTIONS? WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SOMETHING? LET’S DISCUSS!

Kristen M. Link she/her/hers Director of Education & Accessibility City Theatre Company Phone: 412-431-4400 x 225 Email: klink@citytheatrecompany.org www.citytheatrecompany.org

Building More Than a Ramp: