Attitude Adjustment Training: Access and Inclusion for Disabilities in the Arts

This workshop is intended to help artists and arts organizations cultivate an attitude towards access and inclusion which affirms both the strengths and needs of those with disabilities. This presentation will -

• Introduce principles of an inclusive organization and best practices in accessibility.
• Discuss barriers to inclusivity and access (i.e. hidden disabilities, implicit biases and ableism/anti-ableism).
• Share about resources and potential collaborators who are elevating disabilities in the arts (i.e. Access Gallery) and what can be learned from their approaches.

Learn more about Phamaly Theater Company here.

This event takes place concurrently with the exhibition "Interchange" which is on display at The Collective Community Arts Center; "Interchange" is a traveling exhibition from the John F. Kennedy Center, and Colorado is one of just four locations selected to host it nationwide. The theme "Interchange" encourages artists to explore the intersection of their disability and artistic identities, fostering dialogue about their experiences through their work. 

Grant support for this event is thanks to the City of Lafayette Dept. of Arts and Cultural Resources.

Ben Raanan is a disabled theatre maker and advocate originally hailing from Chicago, Illinois. His artistic focus is centralized around creating artistically rigorous theatre with, for, and about the disabled community. Currently, Ben is the Artistic Director at Phamaly Theatre Company, the longest running disability theatre company in the United States. Ben received his BFA from Drake University with a concentration in directing/musical theatre, and his MFA in directing from DePaul. Some of his favorite directing credits include: A Chorus Line, Spring Awakening, My Name is Asher Lev, Spitfire Grill (Phamaly Theatre Company), Cost of Living (Renaissance Theatre Works), Cost of Living (Curious Theatre Company), Macbeth (Spectrum Shakespeare), Antigone: Born Against, Eleemosynary, Bob: A Life In Five Acts, Crumble: Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati) Mockingbird (Falcon Theatre). Next up, Ben will be directing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Phamaly Theatre Company.