Art Ability Access

GPAC thanks our generous funders and partners:

ART ABILITY ACCESS a workshop series

Are the accessibility questions on the Allegheny Regional Asset District application keeping you up at night?

GPAC is committed to making its programs accessible to everyone.

Do you live in fear of a call requesting sign language interpretation?

This marks the fourth year that the Increasing Accessibility in Pittsburgh Arts and Culture Initiative has been transforming Pittsburgh into a national model for regional collaboration, demonstrating how a coordinated effort by cultural organizations representing all disciplines and budgets can welcome people with disabilities into the arts community. This work is possible only with the continued support of funders like FISA Foundation and the National Endowments for the Arts.

Beginning to doubt your building was “grandfathered” under the ADA? Come get the answers you need at Art Ability Access, a unique workshop series featuring national experts.

These workshops, taking place from February – May 2014, will be fun and teach the skills you need to welcome patrons, employees and artists with disabilities.

Each workshop also features a short performance or presentation by an artist with a disability. Staff and volunteers from organizations of all sizes, disciplines and budgets are welcome. These sessions will help you become more inclusive, diverse and equitable.

Register today at www.pittsburghartscouncil.org.

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ARTS ABILITY ACCESS workshop series

If an accommodation such as ASL, open captioning, large-print materials, or alternative digital formats would help you fully participate in our programs, please contact Andie Markijohn at amarkijohn@pittsburghartscouncil.org or 412.391.2060 x 223, two weeks before the event. We realize that both events and your schedule often come together at the last minute. If an accommodation would be helpful and the lead time is less than two weeks, please let Andie know so we can make every effort to help you fully participate.

To learn more, check out our Access to GPAC web page or contact Anne Mulgrave, Manager of Grants and Accessibility at amulgrave@pittsburghartscouncil.org or by calling 412.391.2060 x238.

pittsburghartscouncil.org/accessibility

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LUNCH & LEARN WORKSHOPS PRICING: For GPAC Members, each workshop (including lunch) is just $10 for the first member of your group/organization. The second and third can attend at half price – $5. The fourth and additional members can attend for free!

For non-GPAC members, the cost per workshop (including lunch) is $15.

Accessibility Peers attend for free (including lunch).

April 10, 11am – 1pm Senator John Heinz History Center, Mueller Center 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Presenter: Marian Vessels, Executive Director, Mid Atlantic ADA Center

The Front Lines of Customer Service for People with Disabilities

Have you been named as the ADA coordinator on your organization’s RAD application? Are you simply interested in getting your organization started on a path toward accessibility? Welcome to the Overwhelmed ADA Coordinators Support Network! If you would like to carry out this work with aplomb and confidence, this workshop will help you learn the ropes. Designed to teach economical accessibility, you will learn practical strategies, identify resources, and inexpensive ways to enhance your accessibility on a shoestring!

Have you or your staff ever faced a challenging customer service situation and left wondering if you handled it the best you could? This highly interactive session is your opportunity to discuss these tricky issues in a safe space. Workshop participants will test a tool designed to resolve those customer services challenges. You will leave confident knowing you have strategies for handling any situation with diplomacy and grace.

Outreach 101: Marketing to People with Disabilities in Southwestern PA

Accessible Workshops, Meetings, and Conferences

This is the session you have been waiting for - we will reveal the secret email list that will magically open your doors to patrons with disabilities.

Ah, no ... that list does not exist. But we can share what has worked for local arts organizations in their efforts to reach people with disabilities, provide model language to include in your materials, and some ideas of where to start. This session will feature peers and representatives of the disability community who have worked together to build relationships and trust with different segments of our local disability community. The 2015 RAD application asks you about your outreach to people with disabilities we can help you with that.

February 19, 12:30 – 2:30pm Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, Mueller Center 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Presenter: Sally Garrison, Patron and Client Services Coordinator, Tempe Center for the Arts

April 9, 11am – 1pm The GPAC Big Room 810 Penn Avenue, 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Presenter: Marian Vessels, Executive Director, Mid Atlantic ADA Center Have you ever puzzled over the best way to set up tables for a workshop?

Considered providing captioning or ASL for a meeting? Or tried to find an accessible hotel? Nationally recognized accessibility expert Marian Vessels will outline the essential elements of accessible meetings and teach strategies that will help you plan and execute truly inclusive events. This session will touch on accessible communication, settings, advertising, and room set up, as well as share fact sheets and other resources.

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So…You’re the ADA Coordinator?

Now, what? AKA...

Accessibility 101on the Cheap

ARTS ABILITY ACCESS workshop series

May 7, 11:30am – 1:30pm Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, Mueller Center 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

pittsburghartscouncil.org/accessibility

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HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS PRICING: For GPAC Members, each workshop (including breakfast) is $15 for the first member of your group/organization. The second and third can attend for $10.

The fourth and additional members can attend for free!

For non-GPAC members, the cost per workshop (including breakfast) is $20.

Accessibility Peers attend for free (including breakfast).

Move ‘em Out: Emergency Evacuation Planning that Includes People with Disabilities February 19, 9am – noon Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, Mueller Center 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Presenter: Sally Garrison, Patron & Client Services Coordinator, Tempe Center for the Arts (AZ)

If evacuating your facility feels like a cattle stampede, scenes from disaster movies or even organized chaos, this session will help you turn it into an easy process. From crowd management basics to staff training to developing inclusive evacuation plans, this half day training will help you update your egress plan to include people with disabilities through interactive activities including practicing room evacuation, a way-finding quiz, and creating a pre-event checklist. Active participation, interaction, personal examples, and questions are strongly encouraged.

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ARTS ABILITY ACCESS workshop series

Working with Artists and Performers with Disabilities

March 26, 9am – noon, followed by optional matinee of the play Tribes at 1pm City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Presenter: Mimi Kenney Smith, Executive Director, VSA of Pennsylvania, Founder of the Amaryllis Theatre Company Do you hesitate to work with an artist with a disability? You are not alone, and this session is for you. Each hour in this session will feature organizations and artists who have overcome fears and challenges through effective strategies that welcome artists with disabilities. Come and learn from the experts and then enjoy a matinee of the play Tribes by Nina Raine, co-produced by Philadelphia Theatre Company.

pittsburghartscouncil.org/accessibility

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