Want to make your arts organization more accessible?
Not sure where to start? That's what I'm here for!
Accessibility doesn't have to be something you figure out after a disabled artist comes through the door.
I'm Shane, a USIDHR and CPACC certified Disability Rights & Accessibility Consultant specializing in theatre, higher education, performance arts education, film, on-camera media, and other performing arts.
I work with theatres, schools, universities, production companies, and other arts organizations to make accessibility a practical part of the way they work.
I also work directly with disabled artists and students who need support navigating access, accommodations, self-advocacy, communication, and the realities of working in the arts while disabled.
You don't have to know exactly what you need before you reach out.
How I Can Help.
Maybe...
- You're preparing to hire a disabled performer and aren't sure what you should be thinking about.
- Your building has accessibility barriers and you're not sure what solutions are possible.
- You want to improve your organization's accommodation policies.
- A disabled artist has raised an access need and your team wants to respond well, but doesn't have the experience to know what to do next.
Or maybe you're a disabled artist who needs someone to help you think through a situation ‐ Maybe you want to write your first Access Rider, learn best practices for communication about your access needs during a casting process, or learn how to request accomodations while working non-union. Maybe you just want to chat with another disabled artist about your experiences and goals!
Bring me the question and we'll work through it together.
For Organizations
Accessability Assessments ‐ Identify barriers in your physical spaces, productions, programs, and workplace practices.
Accessibility Planning ‐ Build access into productions, programs, and organizational processes from the beginning.
Policy Development ‐ Develop or improve accessibility, accommodation, and disability inclusion policies.
Disability Inclusion Practices ‐ Create more equitable ways of hiring, communicating, collaborating, and working with disabled people.
Accessibility Solutions ‐ Explore practical responses to physical, procedural, and organizational barriers.
For Disabled Artists & Students
You shouldn't have to become an expert in accessibility just to get through your job.
I offer 1:1 support around:
- Access rider writing
- Requesting accommodiations
- Communicating access needs
- Setting personal boundaries
- Preparing for accessibility advocacy in your work/school
- Workplace rights and contract questions
- Mentorship and conversations for disabled arts professionals and disabled performing arts students
- Developing adapted (or translated) choreography
PAY WHAT YOU CAN FOR ALL DISABLED ARTISTS: Sliding-scale and free support is available on a case-by-case basis (depending on time and scope required).
Adaptive (or Translated) Choreography.
You shouldn't have to become a choreographer to be a dancer.
When a disabled dancer joins a production or educational program, adapting choreography can easily become an additional unpaid responsibility placed on the performer. Some dancers may prefer to take charge of their own adaptations, and that's awesome! But often, dancers are expected to do so without communication, or the additional time and compensation that allows them to do their best work. Most able-bodied choreographers don't have the knowledge to create high-level, innovative movement for a body and/or mobility aid they haven't previously worked with. That knowledge gap doesn't have to be placed on the dancer!
To increase equitable access to performance and training opportunities, I work with disabled dancers, choreographers, directors, educators, and production teams to develop movement that works with the dancer's body, access needs, and artistic goals. So you can let the performer perform
My Experience
I bring together professional arts experience, accessibility expertise, and lived experience.
- 10+ years professional theatre and dance experience
- 3 years accessibility consulting, universal design & disability policy advocacy
- 2 years working as a wheelchair user actor/singer/dancer
- USIDHR-certified Disability Rights & Accessibility Consultant
- CPACC and CPABE certifications
- Experience with Equity and non-Equity theatre contracts, SAG and non-union on-camera work, with particular experience supporting physically disabled people and mobility-aid users.
Why This Work?
Out of the 18 theatre contracts I've worked since becoming a wheelchair user in Portland, only three were accessible to me in the most basic sense: I could access the building and stage without transferring out of my wheelchair, an accessible restroom was consistently available, and there was an accessible appropriate space to change clothes.
The three contacts that have been accessible to me, weren't necessarily the ones in new, expensive buildings. They were the ones in which at least one other disabled person was involved in the production team.
So often, we are the only disabled person in the room. As soon as there is more than one person thinking about accessibility, or when advocacy becomes its own role (instead of an unpaid forced side gig), your organization will become more accessible for disabled artists.
I'm passionate about being the service I wish I had. You shouldn't have to become a legal expert to be an artist. You shouldn't have to become a choreographer to be a dancer.
And you definitely shouldn't have to do it by yourself.
Pacific Northwest + Remote
My consulting practice is Pacific Northwest focused.
Remote consultations and services may be available on a case-by-case basis depending on the project.
Have a Question?
You don't need to have it all figured out before you contact me! Sometimes finding the right question or goal is part of the work too!