Calling Up Justice attended the virtual elements of the 2024 LEAD Conference. We watched from inside our discord so we could have community . We LOVED that the programming took our note from last year for a desire for “hallway conversation” and the community building that we do there. it was our pleasure not only to learn with our disability community but also share more observations for future accessibility in the programming.

As an integral part of the Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA International Network, the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) program advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities in arts and culture. With a focus on expanding the breadth and scope of accessible programming, LEAD provides an opportunity for professionals in the field to develop best practices and resources; engage in conversations with colleagues and experts from around the world; and learn practical methods for designing inclusive arts experiences and environments.

LEAD Conference Video Playlist

The LEAD® conference not only introduces those new to the field to cultural accessibility solutions, but provides ongoing learning, support, camaraderie, and inspiration—necessary fuel for anyone working to change the status quo.  LEAD offers:

• One-of-a-kind professional development. No other conference focuses on accessibility in cultural venues like LEAD®. The conference provides an intimate, rich atmosphere to engage arts professionals of all experience levels. 
• Access to ideas. Attendees can tap into the collective “brain trust” of arts managers from museums, theaters, parks, zoos, libraries, and other cultural venues from around the world. 
• Access to experts. The Kennedy Center engages leading thinkers in the field to present at the conference. And after the event, attendees are invited to join an exclusive listserv to continue the conversation and ask questions. 
• Networking opportunities. LEAD® has a number of networking opportunities both during the conference and at evening social events where attendees can meet and mingle with colleagues from around the world in an open and safe forum. 
• Practical information. Participants leave with ideas and practices that can be implemented at their organizations right away. 
• Something for everyone. LEAD® has sessions and workshops for beginners and the more experienced.  
• Experiential opportunities. LEAD® provides the opportunity to experience accessibility services and programs. Through pre-conference Capacity Building Workshops and optional performances with accessibility services, attendees can see access in action. 

The LEAD Conference provides professional development for leadership, mid-career, and new professionals working in:

• Accessibility and ADA/504 Administration
• Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion
• Community Outreach, Education, and Engagement
• Box Office, Admissions, Sales and Marketing
• Visitor Services, Front of House and Customer Service Management
• Venue Operations, Facilities, Designers and Production
• Human Resources and Volunteer Management
• General Management and Administration

Program Notes: https://web.cvent.com/event/1b970df7-6aea-402e-8f8e-57c5ec3525de/websitePage:cd7c9ef1-8949-4eb8-a621-8ded00ca6828

Wednesday, July 31

Welcome, Opening and Keynote with MaDonna Feather Cruz

8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Pacific

Funding Access In the Arts

11:00 AM to 12:15 PM Pacific

Funding for arts and cultural organizations is critical to the successful administration of their missions. Organizations and programming that focus specifically on disability access are often the least represented in grant pools and awards. This panel is an opportunity to hear from three major funders representing institutions that provide direct funding to the arts sector and center disability lead organizations in part of their work. The panel will be moderated by Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the With Foundation, and panelists will include Brian Carter, executive director of 4Culture, Sandy Ho, Executive Director of the Disability Philanthropy Forum, and Michael Greer, President and CEO of ArtsFund.

Presenters:

• Brian Carter, Executive Director, 4Culture
• Ryan Easterly, Executive Director, With Foundation
• Michael Greer, CEO, ArtsFund
• Sandy Ho, Executive DIrector, Disability Philanthrophy Forum

Hallway Conversation

2:10 PM to 3:25 PM Pacific

Join us in this informal space just for virtual participants to meet and network!

Facilitator:

• Cindy Brown, Access/VSA International Network

The Expansive World of Memory Programming

3:50 PM to 5:05 PM Pacific

For cultural institutions of any size, there is a memory program that fits and highlights existing accessibility assets. Learn from an experienced panel of professionals from libraries, museums, and zoos about their diverse program for people living with Dementia, leveraging institutional buy-in, opportunities for internal and external collaboration, programming for different stages of dementia, care partner/participant dynamics, and much more. Panelists with share their triumphs and mistakes, what they wish they knew before starting the program, and answer your questions.

Presenters:

• Stephanie Bohr, Director of Learning Programs & Partnerships, Woodland Park Zoo
• Amy DelPo, Manager of Older Adult Services, Denver Public Library
• Bill Green, Hart Prins Fund Accessibility & Inclusion Manager, Lincoln Park Zoo
• Jennifer Olson, Director of Guest and Community Engagement, Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
• Dawn Koceja, Community Engagement & Advocacy Officer, Milwaukee Public Museum

Thursday, August 1

Moving the Needle: Making Broadway’s HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO Accessible

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM Pacific

Members of the Access Team behind the groundbreaking Broadway musical How to Dance in Ohio (featuring seven autistic actors) will share their experiences and provide tips and tools to create an accessible production for a neurodiverse team AND for disabled/non-disabled audiences. Based on the award-winning HBO documentary, How to Dance in Ohio is a heart-filled new musical about seven autistic young adults at a group counseling center in Columbus, Ohio. It follows their journeys as they come-of-age, forge connections, and prepare for a spring formal dance.

Presenters:

• Becky Leifman, Director of Community Engagement, How to Dance in Ohio
• Ava X. Rigelhaupt, Autistic Creative Consultant, How to Dance in Ohio

Three Lightning Talks

10:40 AM to 11:55 AM Pacific

1. Crafting a Comprehensive Accessibility Audit of your Spaces

Do you know where all the tactiles that your organization has to offer? If a visitor asked for a quiet and dark room, would you be able to give them multiple options? What about if a visitor wants not just to sit, but watch a video? If not, a comprehensive accessibility audit is what you would need. See how the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History crafted their accessibility audit and what can be included in it.

Presenter:

• Drew Robarge, Museum Specialist, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History

2. Removing Barriers: improving Accessibility at Facilities

Existing facilities have an on-going obligation to remove barriers to access. Unfortunately, this obligation is not clearly understood and can sound like a daunting process when not broken down to determine a reasonable action plan. This session will dispel some of the common misconceptions about how the ADA applies to existing facility, go over some basic requirements that everyone should know, and offer some practical steps to remediating barriers. Particularly helpful for in-house facilities staff and maintenance personnel, as well as others interested in increasing accessibility in existing spaces, this talk focuses on what organizations can start doing today.

 Presenter:

• Andrea Kovich, Senior Accessibility Specialist, Studio Pacifica

3. The Built Environment of Belonging: Investing in Community Connection

Tess Dickman will share her findings from a two-year fellowship that investigated: What are the opportunities of the built environment to foster feelings of belonging? Through case studies, site visits, observation, and interviews, she studied (4) architectural space types that largely fall under the public realm: a library, a museum, a memorial site, and a housing community. The session will explore the commonalities across the different space types.

Presenter:

• Tess Dickman, Accessibility Specialist, Studio Pacifica

Outreach, Community Engagement and Building Trust with Native Communities

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM Pacific

Across the cultural sector, organizations are stating that they want to center communities, build partnerships, become more accessible and equitable. What does it mean to provide a warm, and real, welcome? How does an organization build relationships with communities that have mostly been marginalized, or worse, in the arts? Will you consider new approaches and pathways? Native/Indigenous communities are typically left out of this conversation, but building relationships will bring extraordinary value, knowledge, and deeper understanding to your organization. Join three individuals with distinct but overlapping experience in this area, who look forward to sharing information and being in conversation with each other and attendees. 

Presenters:

• Cheryl Wilcox, Enrolled member and Elder of Cowlitz Indian Tribe/Tribal Cultural Affairs Manager, ArtsWA/Washington State Arts Commission
• MaDonna Feather Cruz, Enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, The Big Picture Learning Native American Initiative Educator; MaDonna Cruz Consulting
• Michael Holloman, Member, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation/Associate Professor, Washington State University-Pullman

Hallway Conversation

4:40 PM to 5:30 PM Pacific

Join us in this informal space just for virtual participants to meet and network!

Facilitator:

• Cindy Brown, Access/VSA International Network

Friday, August 2

Strategies for Collaborative and Solution-driven Approaches to Accessibility

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM Pacific

In our work we are always negotiating, always listening, and always problem solving. Join our panelists for an interactive session where we share collaboration strategies and solution-driven approaches with a proven track record to advance accessibility in ways that are inclusive, sustainable, and further the goals of cultural institutions of all sizes. Participation is encouraged. Attendees will leave the session with talking points and other resources to add to their toolkits and put into practice. 

Presenters: 

• Lainey Feingold, Lawyer and Author, Law Office of Lainey Feingold
• Stephanie Lampkin, Curator, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• Marcelina Ramirez, Grants, Awards and Program Coordinator, Western States Arts Federation

Unmet Need: Shedding Light on The Unique Adversities Facing Individuals with Disabilities on Native Lands

10:40 AM to 11:10 AM Pacific

Presenter: 

• Hoskie Benally, Community and Government Liaison, Native American Disability Law Center

Blind-Centered Audio Description

2:20 PM to 3:35 PM Pacific

Do you want to improve your craft or the accessibility you offer? Do you want your audio and image description to be of the highest quality? This session focuses on involving blind people in every aspect of AD creation and evaluation to attract more of your target audience. Through discussion and hands-on, collaborative work, we draw on the Blind-Centered Audio Description Chat series, co-founded and co-hosted by the presenters. This series highlights the value and importance of AD and its life-enhancing role in blind and low vision people’s lives and participation in society, culture, and employment. We expand the definition of blindness beyond acuity and examine the intersectional identities of the blind and low vision community.

Presenters:

• Cheryl Green, Access Artist, Social Audio Description Collective
• Nefertiti Matos Olivares, Bilingual Audio Description Narrator, Community Organizer, Cultural Access Consultant, and Speaker, Social Audio Description Collective
• Thomas Reid, Audio producer | Voice Over Talent | Audio Description Narrator Consultant & Advocate, Social Audio Description Collective

Virtual Wrap-Up

4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Pacific

The LEAD conference will close out with a series of “Wrap-up” sessions, including one just for our virtual participants.  Whether you have lingering questions to ask or are looking to think and connect with others, this is a space for you!

Facilitator:

• Cindy Brown, Access/VSA International Network