Start Access Now: A Community Discussion on Accessibility

Posted on November 4, 2013

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council, in cooperation with the Lehigh Valley Health Network, is pleased to host Ms. Betty Siegel, Esq.,  Director of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, for START ACCESS NOW, a community discussion on accessibility.  The event will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2013, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley Health Network, 2100 Mack Boulevard in Allentown.

Ms. Siegel’s talk will address the civil rights of people with disabilities, good customer service practices, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Accessibility has always been about customer service,” she says.  “It is about making the audience comfort­able and welcome.”

 “The Lehigh Valley arts community has grown into a significant economic engine but it also has the capacity to be a catalyst for societal change. It’s time to lead in this arena” says Lehigh Valley Arts Council executive director Randall Forte.

Since 2011, the Arts Council has been working with to establish a Pennsylvania Arts Access Program. The program seeks to make the Lehigh Valley more disability-friendly and increase attendance to cultural events by providing training and shared use of audio-description and open-captioning equipment.

Preregistration is free and open to the public until November 18, 2013.  Registration at the door is $5. To preregister, contact Lehigh Valley Arts Council at operations@lvartscouncil.org or call 610-437-5915. Visit www.LVArtsCouncil.org for more information!