Accessibility Matters! ADA Overview for Arts, Cultural and Community organizations.

Accessibility Matters: ADA Overview for Arts, Cultural and Community Organizations.

New updates to the Americans With Disabilities Act affecting arts venues and other public accommodations will go into effect in March 2012, and we're here to help. The Maine Arts Commission will conduct three workshops in Portland, Camden and Bangor to provide an overview of the Americans With Disabilities Act and assist local arts organizations and community organizations in complying with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This workshop will be a great opportunity to get a better understanding of the requirements of the ADA and Section 504 and the changes in the ADA. We will have resources, including checklists for the participants to use in assessing their own venues and programs.

The workshop will be led by Keith Ludden, Accessibility Coordinator for the Maine Arts Commission. Ludden will be joined by architect Jill Johanning, and Independent Living Specialist Jeremy Libby from Alpha One; Elisa Moran, Director, Maine Center for Deafness, Aisha Hixon, Community Connections Coordinator for the Iris Network, The guest presenters will provide information specific to their areas of expertise, and will be available for questions. The workshops will be held in:

Portland, Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library ,March 27 10am -3pm

Camden, Tucker Room, Camden Opera House, March 30, 10am-3pm

Bangor, Lecture Hall, Bangor Public Library, April 27, 10am-3pm

The workshop is free. Community organizations are welcome as well as arts and cultural organizations. We will break at noon for an hour for lunch on your own. The agenda is displayed below:

ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS!

Accessibility for Arts, Cultural and Community Organizations

9:30-10AM Registration

10:00-10:30 Overview presentation-Disability rights movement,

Americans With Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

10:30-10:40 Questions and answers

10:40-11:15 Architectural barriers and solutions

11:15-11:30 Questions and answers

11:30-12:05 Accommodating patrons with low vision or blindness

12:05-1:00 Lunch on your own

1:00 -1:15 Questions and answers

1:15-1:50 Accommodating Deaf and hard of hearing patrons

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15-2:30 Questions and answers

2:30:2:45 Wrap up and evaluation