Accessibility Resources
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is committed to promoting and supporting accessibility in the arts. Below is a compiled list of national, regional, state, and digital resources to support artists and arts organizations as they incorporate accessibility into their work.
Contact
For any accessibility questions or additional assistance, contact:
Casey Polczynski, Ph.D.
Deputy Director & Accessibility Coordinator
casey.polczynski@vca.virginia.gov
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA.gov
The ADA statute, passed in 1990, is the basis for accessibility requirements. The following resources from ADA.gov review the legal framework for accessibility requirements and provide information specifically related to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and commercial facilities:
- Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Laws, Regulations & Standards
- Title III Regulations
- ADA Updated: A Primer for Small Businesses
- ADA National Network
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
The NEA is the independent federal agency that funds arts across the country and offers many resources, toolkits, and webinars related to accessibility, including:
- Accessibility Page
- Accessibility Laws and Compliance Standards
- Resources to Help Ensure Accessibility of Your Virtual Events for People with Disabilities
- Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities
- Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook
- Design for Accessibility
- Ensuring the Accessibility of Your NEA funded Projects: Compliance Requirements for NEA Grantees (webinar)
- The Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators
- Creativity and Aging
National Association of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)
NASAA is a nonprofit organization that supports state and jurisdictional arts agencies and works closely with the NEA. Their website shares valuable case studies, data, and research related to accessibility in the arts, including:
- Inclusive Language Guide
- 2024 Learning Series – Investing in Accessibility and Disabled Artists (video)
- Examples of accessibility in the arts in practice
The Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center’s Office of Accessibility not only ensures that the Kennedy Center’s own programs and facilities are accessible, but also provides networking opportunities and shares resources for other organizations, including:
- VSA International Network
- VSA Research & Resources
- Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disabilities (LEAD) Research & Resources
- Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Workshops & Conferences
The National Arts and Disability Center
The National Arts and Disability Center is a project of the UCLA Tarjan Center. The center offers information, referral, and consultation services.
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian has compiled a set of accessibility resources for museum professionals.
Mid Atlantic Arts
Mid Atlantic Arts is Virginia’s Regional Arts Organization (RAO). Their website offers an accessibility training page that includes webinars, print resources, and links to external resources.
Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center “provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of businesses, government entities, organizations, and individuals in the Mid-Atlantic Region.”
DC Arts and Access Network
The DC Arts and Access Network works to connect people with disabilities to arts programming and shares a calendar of accessible events in the greater DC area.
Virginia Disability Services Agencies
The Virginia Disability Services Agencies (DSA) is a group of agencies that supports Virginians with disabilities and older Virginians. DSA offers resources to incorporate accessibility into web design.
Assistive Technology Loan Fund
The Assistive Technology Loan Fund is a Commonwealth of Virginia State Authority that connects Virginians with disabilities to assistive technology.
Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offers a Hearing Interpreter Services Program that provides information about sign language interpretation and maintains a list of Qualified Interpreters. State and local government agencies can also utilize this service to contract with Qualified Interpreters.
StepVA
StepVA is a non-profit organization based out of Fredericksburg. Its programming centers disability and empowers people with disabilities through creative expression.
Virginia Stage Company
The Virginia Stage Company website gives a local example of how to incorporate accessibility into programming.