BWW Blog: Disability and Special Needs Services in the Arts

Hi, everyone! I hope you all are doing well so far this season. It is officially the end of Theatre Week here in Chicago. This 10 day period provides a big amount of discounts and opportunity for everyone to see several shows in the city. That being said, an issue that has been quite a huge part of my education and experience this current school year that I would love to see discussed more is accessibility services in theatre. Fortunately, there are many arts programs and organizations in the U.S. that provide music therapy, training, and services to people with disabilities and special needs. Something that I have mainly had focus on is accessibility and opportunity in theatre.

During my internship at Victory Gardens Theatre last semester, one of the main focuses of my work was directed towards The Access Project, which is controlled by the Artistic Programs/Producing department. This program provided disability related performances, ASL interpretation, live word-for-word captioning, audio description, and more that is underway. As seen in the included photo, I had the chance to try out open captioning for the Victory Gardens production of "Fun Home." Disability and special needs have always been issues close to me because my younger brother has Autism, so any organization or company that provided care and attention to people with special needs was always a blessing and huge help for my brother. Working with The Access Project gave me insight, education, and experience that is not often easy to come by and I am very honored to have had the chance to work with people with disabilities involved in theatre and other people who are passionate about creating these opportunities. It is so important to get everyone involved in theatre who wants to be, and the theatre industry is one of the best ones to inspire people and give them the chance to experience something magical and life changing.

Two classes I'm enrolled in this semester, Social Change Communications and Business Writing, have both provided projects that have given me the opportunity to focus on these matters. In Social Change Communications, our project is to either create an organization or add a program to an already existing organization that will positively improve or change an issue in today's society. Although I can't spoil what I'm creating, it is all about giving theatres accessibility technology and services that they can highly benefit from. In Business Writing, we are instructed to write proposals to the City of Chicago, the Chicago Public Library, or any local organization that we believe could use a change: I have made this project related to music training and therapy for children with disabilities.

There are many wonderful and beneficial programs, technology, and organizations that have given so much to people who need them, but there is so much room for more. Now is the perfect time to continue adding on to things created and begin making new things that can really make an impact. With today's technology, people, and training, there is almost nothing we can't do to educate people and get everyone involved in the arts. I want to leave you all with asking: what can you do to make an impact and change an issue you care about? Have a wonderful and inspiring week, and be that change that everyone has longed to see!