Accessibility Resources For Artists & Culture Bearers

This page includes accessibility resources that SEMAC has compiled to support individual artists and culture bearers in our region.
Please let us know if there is a link that is no longer working or if you have additional suggestions.

Contact Sharon Mansur, Outreach & Accessibility Manager, at sharon@semac.org or 507.322.1088, 711 TTY with questions or accessibility requests.

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American Sign Language (ASL) Services

• ASL Interpreting Services (ASLIS)
  ASLIS provides on-site sign language interpreters for Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing and hearing individuals throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin. We also provide Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) nationally for both ASL and spoken language.
  
  
• Keystone Interpreting Solutions
  Keystone Interpreting Solutions is a Minnesota based Deaf-owned, woman-owned partnership of two nationally known Deaf and hearing interpreters.
  
  
• Minnesota Department of Human Services – Find an Interpreter
   Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing State Services Division – Find an Interpreter
  
  
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
  The national certifying body of ASL Interpreters fostering the professional growth of interpreting.

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Audio Description

• Art Beyond Sight
  ABS’s roots are grounded in providing access to the arts for people who are blind and have low vision. Although our work has evolved to include all disabilities, our verbal description work has remained the foundation for what we do.
  
  
• Audio Description Project
  The ADP advocates for high-quality audio description in television, movies, performing arts, museums, educational materials, and other visual media.
  
  
• Minnesota IT Services: A Guide to Audio Description for Inclusive Presentations and Webinars
  Learn how to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in presentations and webinars with audio description.

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Consulting Services

• Disability Visibility Project
  Disability Visibility Project offers a range of research and consultation services centered on disabled people.
  
  
• Gravity Access Services
  Gravity Access Services offer a range of services to make live performance more accessible to audience members with diverse sensory modalities and physicalities.
  
  
• Scott Artley Consulting
  Scott Artley Consulting helps individuals, arts organizations, foundations, and cultural institutions advance accessibility in ways that are meaningful and sustainable.

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Creative Support For Artists With Disabilities

• ArtAbilities
  ArtAbilities is a unique studio offering a nurturing environment for artists with disabilities, managed by PossAbilities, a disability and support service organization based in Rochester, MN.
  
  
• ArtConnect Magazine: How to Plan An Accessible Exhibition
  This resource will give you hands-on tips on how to plan an accessible exhibition.
  
  
• ArtMakers
  Based in Northfield, MN, ArtMakers brings together artists with disabilities and
  local, professional and student artists to create art together and build community.
  
  
• Attitude is Everything
  Whether you have access requirements or not, as a professional musician, producer, DJ or solo artist, you can play your part in making your shows more accessible. Download our DIY Access Guide to get top tips and guidance on making events accessible.
  
  
• CowTipping Press
  Based in Minneapolis, MN, CowTipping Press teaches and publishes writing by people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
  
  
• Oleb Books
  Based out of Minneapolis, MN, disability publisher Oleb Books seeks to expand representation of disability in literature, or DLit, by publishing disability stories by writers with disabilities.
  
  
• Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities
  RAMPD is a professional consultancy group and networking platform amplifying Disability Culture and inclusion within the music industry.
  

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Disability Justice

• Amplify MN
  A disability justice collective by and for disabled people in the Upper Midwest.
  
  
• Disability Justice Art
  The Art of Disability Justice Now in the Twin Cities is a disability community-centered exhibition that is curated, organized, and supported by artists, activists, and community organizers.
  
  
• What is Disability Justice?
  Disability justice is about recognizing the rights, dignity, and potential of all people, regardless of their abilities.
  
  
• World Institute on Disability
  The World Institute on Disability (WID) advances the inclusion, rights and justice of people with disabilities with the design and delivery of whole community solutions.

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Funding

• A Blade of Grass: Field Funds – Accessibility and Translation
  This cycle of Field Funds is intended to support creative practitioners in increasing the accessibility of their projects and practices.
  
  
• ArtsMidwest: Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities
  The Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities supports accessibility in the arts and celebrates the work of disabled Midwestern visual artists.
  
  
• CulturePush: Disability Arts Dreaming Fellowship
   A one year Fellowship without a specific theme. We are interested in supporting mixed abilities and civically engaged Disability Culture and dreams.
  
  
• Ford Foundation: Disability Futures Fellowship
  Created by, for, and with disabled practitioners, Disability Futures spotlights the work of disabled creatives across disciplines and geography and amplify their voices individually and collectively.
  
  
• Springboard for the Arts: Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities
  The Leslye Orr Fund provides non-competitive direct support for artists with disabilities in Minnesota to create work and invest in their careers.

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Guides/Resource Hubs

• Americans with Disabilities Act National Network: Planning Guide for Making Temporary Events Accessible to People with Disabilities
  This guide provides information to assist planners, managers, operators and building owners in making temporary events accessible to people with disabilities.
  
  
• Arts Midwest – Accessibility Center
  Geared towards arts organizations, but also a helpful reference for individuals.
  

• The John F. Kennedy Center
  
  • Access/VSA Arts and Disability Program
    At the Office of Accessibility and VSA, we’re passionate about access to the arts for people with disabilities.
    
  • Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD®)
    LEAD® is a professional network focused on expanding the breadth and scope of accessible cultural arts programming, and includes an annual conference.
    
    
• Minnesota Access Alliance (MNAA) Resources
  MNAA is an alliance of arts and culture organizations dedicated to sharing knowledge and resources about accessibility in the state of Minnesota.
  
  
• Minnesota Council on Disability: Additional Resources
  Links to accessibility resources and organizations listed by topic.
  
  
• National Endowment for the Arts: Accessibility
  
  • Accessibility Publications, Checklists and Resources
    A range of publications, checklists and resources to support accessibility in the arts.
    
  • Accessibility Resources for Virtual Events
    Resources to help artists and arts and culture organizations create an inclusive experience for virtual and digital events.
    

• South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) + Able South Carolina: Disability & Arts Webinar Series
  The SCAC and Able South Carolina present an informative webinar series designed for arts organizations around topics of accessibility for people with disabilities.
  
  
• The Americans with Disabilities Act/ADA
  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Disability rights are civil rights. From voting to parking, the ADA is a law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life.

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Minnesota-Specific Services

• Access Press
  Minnesota’s disability community news source.
  
  
• Disability Minnesota
  Provides a single entry point to over 100 Minnesota state agency programs, products, and services that are devoted to the range of disability issues.
  
  
• Impact, The Conversation: Disability + Inclusion Podcast From University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration
  A deep dive into the latest research, practices, and insights moving the inclusion of people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities forward.  ICI is a designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
  
  
• KFAI-FM 90.3 Twin Cities: Disability and Progress Radio Program
  A deep dive into the latest research, practices, and insights moving the inclusion of people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities forward.  ICI is a designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
  
  
• Minnesota Access Alliance (MNAA) Accessible Activities Calendar
  The MNAA Calendar is dedicated to listing arts events around the state that provide accessible services or accommodations for people with disabilities.
  
  
• Minnesota Council on Disability (MCD)
  MCD works with government agencies, community organizations, and businesses to promote the rights of people with disabilities, compliance with accessibility laws and regulations, and the removal of accessibility barriers.
  
  
• Minnesota Neurodivergent Education Advocacy and Therapy Services (MnNEAT)
  The Mission of MnNEAT is to support meaningful inclusion of neurodiverse (ND) people across the lifespan into the world of their choosing.
  
  
• Region 10 Quality Council
  The purpose of the Region 10 Regional Quality Council is to connect with and promote all communities of people with disabilities so that services and supports help them to live a life based on their hopes and dreams. Serves Houston, Olmsted and Wabasha Counties.
  
  
• The Arc Minnesota
  The Arc Minnesota promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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Technology Assistance

• Alt Text as Poetry
  A collaboration between Bojana Coklyat and Finnegan Shannon, supported by Eyebeam and the Disability Visibility Project. Alt text is an essential part of web accessibility.
  
  
• Amara
  Amara gives individuals, communities, and larger organizations the power to overcome accessibility and language barriers for online video. The tools are free and open source and make the work of subtitling and translating video simpler, more appealing, and, most of all, more collaborative.
  
  
• Capption
  Capption accessibility technology makes exhibit information instantly available to non-native speaking, low-sighted, learning-disabled, and socially-anxious visitors directly on their smartphone.
  
  
• Minnesota Department of Human Services: Real-time Captioning
  Real-time captions, also known as live captions or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), can provide access in many settings. This page will help you learn more about captions and how to arrange captioning services.
  
  
• Perkins School for the Blind: How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions
  Making your website and social media accessible to people with blindness and low vision.
  
  
• Recite Me
  Create inclusive experiences online with accessibility software.
  
  
• WebAIM
  Expanding the potential of the web for people with disabilities by empowering individuals and organizations to create accessible content.
  
  
• WeCo
  Accessibility digital access specialists with disabilities.

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