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Information for Arts Organizations
Why be Accessible?
10-20% of the population has a disability. This means that 10-20% of
the patrons who visit your museum, theatre, performing arts or cultural arts event has a
disability. To build and keep this portion of your audience in attendance you need to make
sure that your establishment and programs are accessible. Here are some ways that Access
Austin Arts can help.
Expand your services to patrons who are deaf or hearing impaired.
We can give you tips on how to set up a sign interpreted
performance, what to look for when buying Assistive Listening Devices,
and information on the newest technology in captioning.
Expand your services to patrons who are blind or visually impaired.
We can provide braille and large print programs, give you tips on
braille signage, and provide Audio Description for your next movie,
live performance, event, or musuem exhibit.
Train Your Staff and Volunteers
If you, your staff, or volunteers are unsure about what to do you
when you meet a person with a disability call us. We can attend your next staff
meeting, volunteer usher meeting or docent meeting and train them on providing quality
customer service to your patrons with disabilities.
Develop New Audiences
Now that you have invested in making your programs, facility and
services accessible you will want to build attendance. Creating a friendly, warm and
welcoming environment can be accomplished by remembering to use People
First Language and appropriate accessibility symbols.
Access Austin Arts staff is happy to consult with your marketing and promotional
departments to plan ways in which you can encourage people with disabilities to become a
part of your audience. We can help you make your Web Page accessible.
Plan for New Construction and/or Renovations
Keep in mind that your facilities should meet the Americans with
Disabilities Architectural Access Guidelines. We would be glad to meet with your
architects to make sure that your building design is accessible to people with mobility
impairments.
Provide resources to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act
Just have a question about accessibility or the Americans with Disabilities Act? We can link you up with the resources you need to answer those questions for you and get you on your way to becoming totally accessible.
Access Austin Arts, 3710 Cedar Street #7, Austin TX 78705
Phone 512-454-9912, Fax 512-451-3110, E-Mail: aaa@kdi.com