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Disability and Accessibility

How can we make every aspect of theatre practice and participation accessible to people of all abilities? Disability aesthetics, accessibility measures for artists and audience members, and work created by artists with disabilities are all covered here. A great place to start is the 2019 series The Future of Theatre is Accessible, curated by Talleri McRae and Mickey Rowe, or you can dive into Unsettling Dramaturgy’s panel Praxis Sessions for Virtual Collaboration: Cripping Practice or videos from the Neurodiversity Matters Conference. To learn more about HowlRound’s goals and standards for accessibility, you can go here.

The Latest

We Can’t Build an Equitable Theatre While Ignoring COVID
Essay
We Can’t Build an Equitable Theatre While Ignoring COVID
by Taylor Leigh Lamb
21 March 2024
Aerial Performance in a Wheelchair 
Podcast
Aerial Performance in a Wheelchair 
by Tjaša Ferme, Laurel Lawson
7 March 2024
Autistic Artists Should Be Telling Autistic Stories
Essay
Autistic Artists Should Be Telling Autistic Stories
by Megan Lummus
12 February 2024
Universal Design in Emergency Planning presentation 
Video

Universal Design in Emergency Planning presentation  

Thursday 23 March 2017
Pittsburgh, PA, United States

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council presented Universal Design in Emergency Planning, a presentation on the importance of creating emergency plans that both satisfy your legal obligations and truly serve people with disabilities and other functional needs, livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 23 March at 10 a.m. EST (Pittsburgh), 9 a.m. CST (Chicago), 7 a.m. PST (Los Angeles).

 

A Performing Arts and Disability panel from the AXIS Dance Company Residency at Boston University—Monday 13 March 2017
Video

A Performing Arts and Disability panel from the AXIS Dance Company Residency at Boston University—Monday 13 March 2017

Monday 13 March 2017
Boston, MA, United States

The AXIS Dance Company Residency at Boston University presented a Performing Arts and Disability: Leadership, Inclusion, and Training Symposium panel discussion featuring regional arts leaders and artists livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 13 March at 1:00 p.m. EDT (New York) / 12:00 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10:00 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 17:00 GMT-UTC (London) / 18:00 CET (Berlin) / 19:00 EET (Bucharest).

to go again
Essay

to go again

A Dance Theatre Story of Veteran Resilience

7 March 2017

Director Judith Smith discusses her company’s collaboration with Choreographer Joe Goode for to go again, a dance theatre piece that explores the lives of veterans with disabilities.

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Intern Edition

26 February 2017

Kate Langsdorf writes about why she never took an unpaid internship.

The PuSh Festival Keynote Address: Jess Thom
Video

The PuSh Festival Keynote Address: Jess Thom

Wednesday 1 February 2017
Vancouver, Canada

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival & caravan: new english performance, with live captioning courtesy HowlRound TV, presented the 2017 PuSh Festival Keynote Address: Jess Thom livestreamed by Playwrights Theatre Centre on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 1 February at 1:30 p.m. PST (Vancouver) / 3:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 4:30 p.m. EST (New York).

Challenging Perspectives on Auditions for the Differently Abled
Essay

Challenging Perspectives on Auditions for the Differently Abled

20 November 2016

Aaron Sawyer and Sidney T. Smith write about Unified Access Auditions at Red Theater in Chicago, IL.

Party Planning
Essay

Party Planning

The Jubilee Answers Questions, Gives Advice, and Asks for Help

14 November 2016

One year into organizing, the Committee of the Jubilee reports out on progress, answers common questions, and re-extends an invitation to the American Theatre to join the year-long nationwide festival of 2020.

Invisible Disability
Essay

Invisible Disability

Are You Okay? The Best Accommodation Out There

7 November 2016

Ricky Young-Howze writes about one of the simplest ways staff members can make the theatre an accessible and welcoming environment to people of all abilities.

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Writer Edition

19 October 2016

Kate Langsdorf on why she believes being a writer is the best theatre job for a person with a physical disability.

Relaxed Performances
Essay

Relaxed Performances

The Nuts and Bolts of Offering Sensory-Friendly Experiences to Your Audience

29 September 2016

In this #IdentityWeek blog, Erica Nagel of the McCarter Theatre discusses how, and why, they’ve made Relaxed Performances part of their equity, diversity, and inclusion work. 

Interview with Jayne Batzofin
Essay

Interview with Jayne Batzofin

30 August 2016

In this installment, Paul Adolphsen interviews South African director Jayne Batzofin about her journey to directing and her work with the Chaeli Campaign

The Kennedy Center’s 2016 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference
Video

The Kennedy Center’s 2016 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference

Wednesday 3 August and Saturday 6 August 2016
Washington, D.C., United States

The Office of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presented the 2016 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference livestreamed select sessions on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 3 August and Saturday 6 August from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In its 16th year, LEAD is an international network of arts professionals focused on making the cultural arts accessible to people with disabilities of all ages. Follow @AccessLEAD@HowlRoundTV, and share your thoughts using #KCLEAD and #howlround.

Six Lessons I Learned from Ali Stroker
Essay

Six Lessons I Learned from Ali Stroker

23 July 2016

Ricky Young-Howze talks with actor Ali Stroker about changing people’s perceptions about performers with disabilities.

The 2016 TCG National Conference: Theatre Nation
Video

The 2016 TCG National Conference: Theatre Nation

Thursday 23 June to Saturday 25 June 2016
Washington, D.C., United States

Theatre Communications Group presented the 2016 TCG National Conference: Theatre Nation (ASL-interpreted) livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Thursday 23 June to Saturday 25 June. Share your thoughts and media with hashtags #TCG16 and #howlround in all social media platforms. Follow @TCG and @HowlRoundTV in Twitter for updates.

Wheels UP! Keynote Conversation on Artistry and Athleticism
Video

Wheels UP! Keynote Conversation on Artistry and Athleticism

Judith Smith, Co-founder and Artistic Director AXIS Dance Company and Dr. Cheri Blauwet, Physician and Paralympian

Wednesday 15 June 2016
Boston, MA, United States

Boston Dance Alliance presented the Wheels UP! Keynote Conversation on Artistry and Athleticism between Judith Smith, Co-founder and Artistic Director AXIS Dance Company and Dr. Cheri Blauwet, Physician and Paralympian—livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Wednesday 15 June at 1 p.m. EDT - 1:45 p.m. EDT (New York) / 12 p.m. CDT - 12:45 p.m. CDT (Chicago) / 10 a.m. PDT - 10:45 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 6 p.m. BST - 6:45 p.m. BST (London). Share your thoughts and media using #BostonDanceAll#FPIDance#AXISDanceCo#wipeoutstigma and #howlround

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Contracted Artist Edition

10 May 2016

Kate Langsdorf writes about the joys and hardships of working on a project as a dramaturg.

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Teaching Artist Edition

25 April 2016

Kate Langsdorf’s series continues with this description of her time as a teaching artist.

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Actor Edition

13 April 2016

Kate Langsdorf describes her experiences as an actor with a physical disability.

When It Comes To Accessibility At Theatres, There Is A Law
Essay

When It Comes To Accessibility At Theatres, There Is A Law

4 April 2016

Howard Sherman writes about the responsibility theatres have to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Theatre-ing While Disabled
Essay

Theatre-ing While Disabled

Series Introduction

12 March 2016

Kate Langsdorf kicks off a new series in which she will write about her experiences with different jobs in theatre. 

My Disability Challenges a Major Theatre Aesthetic
Essay

My Disability Challenges a Major Theatre Aesthetic

12 February 2016

Ricky Young-Howze challenges theatre companies to rethink the conventional aesthetic of silent audiences and find creative ways to accommodate audience members with invisible disabilities.

Pop Up Performance in a Dictatorship? No Problem!
Essay

Pop Up Performance in a Dictatorship? No Problem!

13 January 2016

verity healey offers an overview of pop up performances by Belarus Free Theatre’s studio Fortinbras, highlighting the treatment of disabled citizens in Belarus.

Wheelchair Ramp to Your Heart
Essay

Wheelchair Ramp to Your Heart

Living with an Invisible Disability in the Arts

4 January 2016

Playwright Ricky Young-Howze shares his experience working in theatre with invisible disabilities.

Every Body on the Dance Floor
Essay

Every Body on the Dance Floor

On Jérôme Bel’s Ballet

17 December 2015

Patrick Gaughan reviews Jérôme Bel’s Ballet at the Marian Goodman Gallery in New York City. 

Living the Dream Podcast # 12
Podcast

Living the Dream Podcast # 12

Ali Stroker

11 December 2015

Ali Stroker is currently starring in Deaf West’s acclaimed Broadway production of Spring Awakening. She is the first leading actor in a wheelchair on Broadway. She’s part-trailblazer, part-advocate, part-instigator and all artist.