Consulting with AXIS

This introductory workshop provides information on best practices for disability equitable language, cultural awareness, access accommodations and spatial / visual design for both corporate and non-profit workplaces settings. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of the underlying principles behind the concept of accessibility, and the immense value that individuals with diverse disabilities can bring to any professional setting. This workshop is geared specifically for internal workplace teams of up to 20 people, and is a prerequisite for our ‘Level II’ offerings. 

Similar to ‘Accessibility 101 – In the Workplace’, this workshop is geared specifically towards organizations working within the performing and visual arts. Participants will be given various tools to guide and improve their accessibility offerings in not only the office but the dance studio, theater, gallery, and rehearsal space. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of the ways in which access can benefit us all – whether or not we identify as disabled –  and the work we all can do to create a sense of belonging for disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent individuals in our communities. This workshop is geared specifically for internal workplace teams of up to 20 artists and administrators, and is a prerequisite for our ‘Level II’ offerings. 

Oftentimes, accessibility becomes an afterthought in the creation of a new dance, play, performance or installation. An ASL interpreter, audio describer or access consultant might be brought in at the end of a process; solely as an add-on that is meant to enhance the audience experience. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, this workshop invites artists and producers to consider some of the many different ways to embed accessibility in the fabric of a creative workflow. The tools provided in this workshop can expand the sensory and access pathways towards experiencing a work for both artists and audience members – which can deepen the quality and merit of the artistry in the process. This workshop is perfect for groups of artists, producers, curators, and arts administrators who are ready to take their access offerings to the next level. This ‘Level I’ workshop is a prerequisite for ‘Accessibility in the Creative Process: Level II.’

Oftentimes, there is a whole audience base who might be interested in your organization’s work, but are unable to learn more about your programming or attend your events due to a lack of accessibility. This workshop provides tips and tools to help disabled individuals feel witnessed, and included in your digital & print marketing –– covering event ticketing and access info, ALT text, budgeting, disability community outreach and other tools that can help to expand audiences. This workshop can be geared towards both corporate and non-profit marketers in the performing and visual arts, for teams of up to 20 people.

This in-depth training draws on the principles introduced in our Accessibility 101 workshops, and offers ways to apply these understandings to public-facing programming with audiences, artists, and clients. Staff, volunteers and board members will develop cultural awareness and competency for working with individuals from across the disability landscape, while having fun in the process! This training can be tailored to a specific program within your organization or institution – or can be a more general overview to consider for future needs. The training is open to teams of up to 35 people. 

Our Access Guide for the Performing Arts is a working document geared towards presenters, venues, touring staff, and organizations to design their journeys towards long-term commitments to accessibility. This training delves deep into the 10 principles behind our Guide, and provides examples of how to apply these to real world scenarios within your organization. This training can either be done virtually or in-person, with a stroll-through of your space to look at ways that accessibility can be improved upon or enhanced with what is already there. Our Access Guide training can be geared towards internal teams of up to 40 people, or can be opened up to attendance from the public. 

As a follow-up to Accessibility in the Creative Process: Level I, this offering examines ways to apply foundational arts-access principles to a specific creative production for your team or organization. By the end of our initial consultation, participants will leave with a detailed accessibility timeline for an upcoming project –– including various content deadlines, technical elements, aesthetic considerations and budgeting plans needed to create an artistic work with access at its center. This offering includes approximately 10-12 hours of collaboration with the AXIS team, and also includes a mid-creative process check-in to track progress and re-evaluate artistic access elements as needed.

For this in-depth appraisal, the AXIS team will do a full evaluation of all technology, content, language and design that is included in your organization’s website, social media, and digital presence. This will begin with an initial appraisal done in collaboration with web accessibility expert Alison Wilder of Wicked Good Web. We’ll help you assess what’s working well –– and also provide a series of suggestions for improvements. We’ll include a proposed timeline, with incremental suggestions for how to make these changes. Finally, the appraisal will also include a follow-up evaluation six months after the initial workshop date, where we are able to examine the effectiveness of our initial action plan, and how to redirect and improve this as needed. Please contact us for estimated hours, timeline and costs for this consultation. 

This appraisal will begin with a full evaluation of your organization’s offices, studios, and any additional physical sites where you hold regular programming. More than just making sure these spaces fulfill the qualifications of an ADA checklist, we will work with you to dream up the possibilities for a space where staff, customers, and the general public will be able to feel witnessed, welcomed, and celebrated. This comprehensive assessment can include recommendations for accessible work spaces, rehearsal and performance environments, emergency preparedness, security, and more.  Similar to our digital access appraisal, this offering includes a follow-up evaluation six months after the initial workshop date, where we are able to examine the effectiveness of our initial action plan, and how to redirect and improve this as needed. Please contact us for estimated hours, timeline and costs for this consultation.