July ACAC Morning Meetup 2023 | Neurodiversity in the Workplace
In this session, the Arts & Culture Accessibility Cooperative (ACAC) explores neurodiversity in the workplace. Presenter: Emily Kircher-Morris | M.A., M.Ed., LPC & The Neurodiversity Podcast Host
May ACAC Morning Meetup 2023 | Working with Access Providers
The Arts & Accessibility Cooperative (ACAC) covers best practices when collaborating with CART services, American Sign Language interpretation, as well as audio description providers in this free, hour-long webinar. Panelists: Judith Beckerle President | Hear Ink Marena Kaminsky Interpreting Department Manager | DEAF, Inc. Magan Harms Arts and Culture Director | MindsEye
March ACAC Morning Meetup 2023 | Building A Solid Foundation: DEI Basics
The Arts & Accessibility Cooperative takes a comprehensive look at the foundational concepts of DEI in this free, hour-long webinar. Presenter: Natasha Baebler, MAT, MA Missouri School for the Blind Outreach Services
The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative IDEA Awards | January 2023
The 2022 Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative IDEA Awards were held on Wednesday, January 18. The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative’s IDEA awards recognize institutions and individuals who made outstanding contributions to the inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility of the Greater St. Louis cultural landscape in 2022. An award was presented to one nominee for each of the following categories: Individual, Organization, Supporter, Workplace, and Initiative.
November 2022 Morning Meetup | What We Mean When We Say IDEA
This meeting kicked off the nomination period for the 2022 ACAC IDEA Awards. We discussed what IDEA means with individuals and organizations who exemplify Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in our community. Panelists: Adam Flores Community Engagement & Education Manager St. Louis Shakespeare Festival https://stlshakes.org/; Jessireé Jenkins Manager of Grants and Programs Arts and Education Council https://keeparthappening.org/; Julia Hogan Laurenson Artistic Administration Coordinator Metro Theater Company https://www.metroplays.org/; Aaron Williams Co-founder and Board Chairman of 4theVille Sumner Recovery Plan https://4theville.org/. Moderator: Tori Rezek Development Manager St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.
August 2022 Morning Meetup | Universal Design Groups
Learn how your cultural institution or organization can get started and what it really means to strive for Universal Design. Presenters: David Newburger, Commissioner, and Andrew Lackey, Deputy Commissioner of the City of St. Louis Office on the Disabled. ASL Sponsor: Roseman & Associates, P.C.
June 2022 Morning Meetup | Promoting Accessible Services at Your Organization
Moderator: Kim Lackey, Senior Director of Programs at Paraquad Inc. Panelists: Dawn Walter Executive Assistant to the General Director at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Joe Gfaller, Managing Director at Metro Theater Company, Stacy West, Deputy Director at Laumeier Sculpture Park, and Vicki Kahn Development Associate at Laumeier Sculpture Park. ASL Sponsor: Specialty Mailing
April 2022 Morning Meetup | Service Animals in Cultural Spaces
Panelists: Nola Ewers, Assistance Dog Program Director with CHAMP Assistance Dogs, Nicole Lanahan, Executive Director with Got your Six Support Dogs, and Seyoon Choi, Blind Community Enrichment Programs Associate with Lighthouse for the Blind St. Louis and guide dog handler.
February 2022 Morning Meetup | Inclusion in Athletic Spaces
Moderator: Carey Davis. Panelists: Sherri Rocklage Senior Program Director for Integrated Fitness Inclusion and Adaptive Support Department Gateway Region YMCA, Lauren Carro Manager of DEI & Employee Experience St. Louis Blues, and Drew Garza Hockey Player and Co-Host of The Dented Puck Podcast.
The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative IDEA Awards | January 2022
On January 26, 2022, the ACAC presented the IDEA awards to recognize institutions and individuals who made outstanding contributions to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility to the Greater St. Louis cultural landscape in 2021. The honorees were Meredith Lehman, Metro Theater Company, The Sumner Recovery Plan, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, and Lifetime Advocate – Ginny Sanders.
November 2021 Morning Meetup | The Importance of Internal Training
Presenter: Paula Berner, Special Projects Consultant and Moderator: Laura Diamond, Visitor Services and Membership Coordinator at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum on November 17, 2021.
September 2021 Morning Meetup | Accessibility in Unique Spaces
Special Guests: Adam Flores with St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Karen Goering with the Missouri Historical Society, Mary Steadman with Warriors’ Path State Park, Jennifer Wolff with the Missouri Botanical Garden on September 22, 2021.
July 2021 Morning Meetup | ADA 101: Americans with Disabilities Act Basics
ADA 101-Americans with Disabilities Act Basics presentation by Beth Bienvenu, Director of the Office of Accessibility National Endowment for the Arts on July 28, 2021.
May 2021 ACAC Morning Meetup | Transition Back into Live Arts
Michael Donovan, Executive Director of Missouri Art Council presents about Missouri ArtSafe Certification on May 26, 2021.
March 2021 ACAC Morning Meetup | Make It Stick: Positive Changes from 2020 and How to Keep Them
Moderator: Lindsey Gravish with The Muny. Presenters: Liz Sonhaus with Metro Theater Company, Laura Foughty with MindsEye, and Sarah Schwegel with Paraquad on March 24, 2021.
The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative IDEA Awards | January 2021
The Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative (ACAC) hosted its first-ever IDEA Awards via Zoom on January 27, 2021. The awards recognize institutions and individuals who made outstanding contributions to the inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility of the Greater St. Louis cultural landscape in 2020.
October 2020 ACAC Morning Meetup | Morning Meetup: Rethinking Inclusivity in the Workplace
On Oct. 21st, 2020, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Arts and Culture Accessibility Cooperative had a virtual meetup to discuss normalizing the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Guests from Starkloff Disability Institute, Challenge Unlimited, Inc., and Paraquad shared with us their experience and insights. Special guests Lloyd Walton, Jackie Darnell, and Charles and his mother Gwendolyn Cooper spoke about their personal experiences in the workforce.
September 2020 Virtual ACAC | The Show Must Go On Represent with Casey Greer and Joy Addler
On September 23, 2020, the ACAC chatted about representation, unique challenges for actors who are blind, as well as accommodations made by theaters, directors, choreographers, and costume designers for actors with disabilities. Special guests Casey Greer from How Casey Sees It, and Joy Addler from Variety Theatre St. Louis.
July 2020 Virtual ACAC | Inspiring and Inciting Social Change through Art and Civic Engagement
On July 15th, the ACAC met virtually to discuss how art and civic engagement has the power to bring meaningful and lasting social change. Panelists Christopher R.J. Worth, Carmen Dence, Alex Johnmeyer, Marvin-Alonzo Greer, and Tiélere Cheatem discuss how the arts can propel us into action to make needed changes to the world around us.
April 2020 Virtual ACAC | Open Access: Connecting with Isolated Communities
On April 22, 2020, the ACAC explored how to use this time of social distancing as a springboard for inclusivity for more isolated communities moving forward, including but not limited to disability communities, low-income families, and people in rural communities. Presenters were from the St. Louis Aquarium, the St. Louis Zoo, and Shakespeare Festival St. Louis.
March 2018 ACAC | Beyond the Entrance
On March 21, 2018, the ACAC welcomed the Saint Louis community at the Missouri History Museum for Beyond the Entrance: Implementing accessibility features into exhibit design and more.
ACAC | First Forum on December 6, 2017
How can we create an inclusive environment for people with disabilities within our community’s arts and cultural spaces?
