Empowering Youth in Their Workplaces Search Ideas

Can anyone share their experience in finding and using a job center and/or agency specializing in helping people with disabilities create portfolio of work samples — audio, visual performance tape, art portfolio, etc. — free of charge or for a nominal fee?

Unlike other underrepresented groups, not every artist enters the population of people with disabilities at a young age. So artists who become disabled later in life often must reboot their careers and find new ways to work, in effect re-emerging. Any anecdotal experience, resource materials, and/or assistive tools you can share on effective ways to transition and adapt to a new reality as a person in the arts with a... more »

I was just thinking to myself, although my NC of Sylmar is relatively young and always in need of more participation and support, I never heard of (or saw) a leadership sector for "the arts". I will have to inquire if such a designate group can be developed. In turn, perhaps other Neighborhood Councils do not have such leadership role either? On a sidenote, usually, I always see "Seniors and the Disabled" grouped... more »

I continue to ask what is being done for dance training to be equitable for wheelchair dancers on the college or university level? I don't just mean an integrated class here and their. I am talking about the ability for wheelchair dancers to take all classes together with their non disabled peers and to receive a degree in dance. We know that it can be done because we do it at Dancing Wheels Company, but to date there... more »

The Apothetae and Lark Playwriting Fellowship provides a two-year cycle of support to a Disabled writer, for the generation and development of a new play to essay and challenge perceptions of the "Disabled Experience." The fellowship includes outreach and scouting toward the commissioning and development of the new play, and an intensive two-year process of new play development activities for the Fellow through The Lark’s... more »

Individualized Education Programs sometimes require rather inflexible "outcomes" of learning. Those designing IEPs can struggle to explain arts outcomes in the terms and measures thought to be required. In some cases, educators remove arts education from IEPs altogether for these reasons. We need a way to share standards for arts outcomes in IEPs and stress that disability arts is an expansive and transformative field... more »

In too many art spaces, people are unaware that artistry that uses the political, cultural, and historical dimensions of disability is a profound and growing field. Disability artistry itself is a tool for change, since the work being produced questions long-held notions of things like embodiment, temporality, and interdependence (which are in some cases the very concepts we wish we could introduce to those at the helm... more »

Many cities are home to Arts and Cultural Alliances which are an ideal opportunity for students with disabilities to get exposure to careers in arts administration. If these Cultural Alliances whose membership is often the leaders of cultural attractions in cities were to partner with College and University Disability Support Services, it would offer amazing opportunities for both Internships and Mentorships for higher... more »

We're seeing the encouraging emergence of online platforms dedicated to fostering and growing inclusivity and intersectionality across creative fields. A few examples of such platforms that serve as internet databases where artists can highlight their creative pieces in order to find work are Women Who Draw, Women Photograph, Queer Cartoonists, Cartoonists of Color, and People of Craft.
These intersectional platforms... more »

Technology has provided a new way for accessibility to be a priority for employees and employers. Are there specific apps or programs that are important for employers to be familiar with in order to ensure disabled employees feel welcomed, comfortable, and successful? For example, what programs exist to facilitate virtual workspaces which make work environments more accessible?

Are there suggestions of resources and existing online programs that realize this suggestion?
dephinia suggested in the 2016 Dialogue https://careersinthearts.epolicyworks.org/a/ideas/top/campaign-filter/expired
online support for artists with disabilities. "I'd specifically love to see a forum or forums for artists, caregivers, and program staff to share resources and regional events, so... more »

oppenheimz , sandahlcarrie , lazucker , bienvenub
In the 2016 Dialogue, the LA Arts Commission's literature review on cultural equity and inclusion (www.artsequityLA.com)was mentioned as a resource. sandahlcarrie also mentioned the need to count artists with disabilities. And bienvenub... more »

ArtLifting is a social enterprise working with visual artists (creating two dimensional art such as paintings, drawings, photography, digital art) from diverse communities and backgrounds who often face systemic challenges to financial stability. A question facing our company is: “How do we connect artists with financially empowering opportunities that contribute to financial sustainability without inhibiting the social... more »

VAPA: Visual and Performing Arts Framework
Accommodations for Student with Disabilities
Compiled by Jonn Paris-Salb 2016

Students with disabilities are not typically invited to participate in arts programs for general education students. The arts are as important to the school experience as is academics for some students. The important issue is that accommodations must be in place in order for some of the students to... more »

What are existing resources helpful to theatre directors who do not have the experience and would like full inclusion for people with disabilities in their "open calls" and productions?