VSAM CULTURAL FACILITY ACCESS SURVEY
VSA arts of Massachusetts (VSAM) has been working in the field of Cultural Access for more than a decade and has surveyed over 200 cultural facilities in Massachusetts alone. The goal of the survey process is to gather information on a cultural facility's programmatic and physical access, inform a facility about its' state of access, publicise its current access and hep create a plan for increased access. The survey is a collaborative effort between VSA arts of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Office of Disaibility and Access East.

See column to the right for a sample of survey questions

CULTURAL ACCESS INSTITUTE
VSA arts of Massachusetts produces the Cultural Access Institute to train teams from other states joining the NCAI and representatives of Massachusetts cultural organizations in the application of access technology and services, the requirements of the ADA and the development of accessible facilities and programs.

DISABILITY AWARENESS 101
Participants will explore their preconceptions about disability, confront their fears and common myths and learn the basics about how to engage people with disabilities effectively and respectfully.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

After viewing the video, participants will become familiar with the principals of Universal Design as they apply to the visual and performing arts. They will learn about access technologies and services available to include people with disabilities and explore the process of inclusion by design that makes programs more human centered and accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly as they loose their hearing and sight. The video helps viewers to establish a foundation to create solutions to the wide array of problems that may transpire at a cultural event or at a venue. Participants will also become familiar with the range of access technologies and services.

COMMUNICATION ACCESS
Discovering the what's, why and, how's to providing communication access your events and/or programs for the disability community.

OUTREACH AND MARKETING
Discover new techniques and strategies, for reaching and promoting your events and/or programs to the disability community.

As a Business Owner or Service Provider, ask yourself these questions:

1) Are your staff prepared to deal effectively with people with various disabilities?
2) Can a person using a wheelchair get into your theatre or place of business?
3) Can a person with a disability get to your theatre or place of business?
4) If you were to hire a person with a disability, would you know what to do?
5) Do you know your rights and responsibilities to accommodate people with disabilities?
6) Do you know the potential losses of not accommodating people with disabilities?
7) What are the advantages of accommodating people with disabilities?

Interested in Training and Technical Assistance opportunities?
Contact Bonnie Kaplan, Director of Cultural Access by email at bsk@vsamass.org or by TTY at (617) 350 - 6535