As the guiding partner for the 25 for 25 Cultural Access Project, CCAC, was instrumental in the increased accessibility of 31 cultural organizations. CCAC is an invaluable continuing resource for the cultural community and we encourage everyone to sign up, attend programs, and follow CCAC on Facebook and Twitter. Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium (CCAC) CCAC empowers Chicago’s cultural spaces to become more accessible to visitors with disabilities through monthly professional development workshops and the creation of a strong network. Stay involved with your local cultural access community by: Attending monthly workshops. See the schedule below, or on CCAC’s website. Taking advantage of CCAC’s past workshop video archives and resources. Joining CCAC’s list-serv. Ask questions of your Chicago cultural administrator peers, and see what’s going in the community. Following us on Facebook and Twitter for latest news about accessibility. Attending the Kennedy Center’s LEAD Conference. Don’t Miss These Upcoming CCAC Professional Development Opportunities Technology for Access: Innovation, Inspiration and Implementation Thursday, January 28, 2016 3:00-5:00 pm Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago FREE Registration: Explore innovative technology being used or considered by cultural organizations to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities. From web accessibility to use of apps and emerging assistive technologies, this session will feature a range of potential options. We will discuss the process of incorporating accessibility within technology, demonstrate assistive technologies in use, and share new uses of technology to advance accessibility in your cultural space. Creating an Emergency Response Plan February 2016 FREE Registration: More information coming soon – visit our website for more. Dare to Imagine: Creative Engagement in an Aging Society Talk by creative aging expert Anne Basting March 9, 2016 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago FREE Registration: The world is aging. If we are lucky, we're all aging, too. How do we shift from Tsunami/destruction metaphors to seeing strength and capacity? Creative engagement programs invite elders to share their imagination - to help connect to and shape the world around them. Anne Basting will demonstrate how, rather than lamenting our aging audience and citizenry, we might build on strengths to create a more connected community as we age. About the Speaker: Anne Basting (Ph.D.) is an educator, scholar, and artist whose work focuses on the potential for the arts and humanities to improve our quality of life as communities and individuals. For 20 years, Basting has developed and researched methods for embedding the arts into long-term care, with a particular focus on people with cognitive disabilities like dementia. She founded and directs the award-winning TimeSlips Creative Storytelling, which replaces the pressure to remember with the freedom of imagination for people with memory loss. Sensory-Friendly Cultural Programming Summit Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 1:00-5:30 pm Co-presented with SPD Parent Zone Chicago Cultural Center FREE Registration: Visiting cultural organizations may be unsettling for visitors with sensory issues, including those on the Autism Spectrum and those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The bombardment of sensory information, a change in routine, and concern over others' reactions to their unique needs and helpful tools can translate into a stressful--or even impossible--visit for people in the sensory community. As cultural administrators, you are invited to Chicago's First SensoryFriendly Summit to learn how to better welcome this community to your organization: • Join Lisa Carling and Philip Dallman from New York City's Theatre Development Fund (TDF) Autism Theatre Initiative to discover how to make sensory-friendly programming a reality. • Hear from Rachel S. Schneider, M.A., MHC, a trained mental health counselor. educator, and writer diagnosed with SPD as an adult, as well as from a local specialist, sensory parents, and self-advocate (s) on the autism spectrum to explore what is needed for a sensory-friendly visit. • Learn from Chicago-area cultural administrators who have developed programming and services in support of this audience. • Connect with peers from similar organizations to network, share resources, and plan first steps. Marketing and Outreach Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 4 – 6 pm Chicago Shakespeare Theater Watch our website for more information. AUGUST 2016: Save the Date for LEAD August 1-5, 2016 We HIGHLY encourage you to attend the annual LEAD (Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability) Conference.