Accessibility Info

Accessibility Information

One of COCA’s many goals is to help create an all-inclusive arts community where anyone regardless of their race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, or sex can participate in the arts in whichever capacity that they choose whether it be as a performer or as an audience member.

COCA has compiled a directory of arts friendly ASL interpreters who are available to provide services during cultural events from music and theatre productions to visual art workshops in the Big Bend area. This resource was created with local arts organizations and particpants in mind.

If you would like to add yourself to our directory please email info@tallahasseearts.org

Accessibility Support Materials

Want to learn how your organization or programs can be more accessible to everyone in the community? The support materials listed on this page are a great way to get started!

The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990): The official source of information and technical assistance about the Americans with Disabilities Act.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook source is designed to help you not only comply with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, but to assist you in making access an integral part of your organization’s planning, mission, programs, outreach, meetings, budget and staffing.
 

The Guide provides guidance to cultural administrators on how to achieve accessible and inclusive programming for everyone including individuals with disabilities and older adults.

This Program Evaluation Workbook (Workbook) is designed to assist the staff of Endowment grant recipients in evaluating the current state of accessibility of their programs and activities to disabled visitors and employees. 

The information included is a user‐friendly tool for your confidential use to assist you in making your organization and project inclusive and available to everyone. The checklist includes links to a wide variety of resources. 

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Accessibility Program Resources

The Kennedy Center offers numerous resources related to the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD®) program, including tipsheets, books, videos, and webinars.

Accessible Exhibition Design

Exhibitions are complex presentations that convey concepts, showcase objects, and excite the senses. However, as museums recognize the diversity within their audiences, they realize that exhibitions must do more: exhibitions must teach to different learning styles, respond to issues of cultural and gender equity, and offer multiple levels of information. The resulting changes in exhibitions have made these presentations more understandable, enjoyable, and connected to visitors’ lives. The Smithsonian challenges its exhibition teams to invent such solutions and to share those findings with colleagues through this document.

Arts4All Florida

A private not-for-profit organization, Arts4All Florida conducts art education programs in schools, Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, and community centers; promotes the accomplishments of artists with disabilities through our artist registry, exhibitions, and performances; and increases access to the arts through professional development workshops.  Arts4All Florida is headquartered in the College of Education at the University of South Florida.

Download Disability Access Symbols

These symbols advertise your accessibility to employees, customers, audiences, and anyone else who needs access to your building or offices. Examples of places you will want to promote your accessibility include: advertisements, newsletters, conference and program brochures, membership forms, building signage, floor plans and maps.

COCA is committed to helping its members become and remain accessible to all audiences. For assistance with ADA or other accessibility issues, or for help creating an access plan, contact COCA at 850-224-2500 or email 

amanda@tallahasseearts.org.

National Accessibility Organizations

These are only a few of the many organizations that offer information and services on a national basis. If you know of one that should be added to the Accessibility Resource page please contact amanda@tallahasseearts.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts’ Office for Accessibility is the advocacy-technical assistance arm of the Arts Endowment to make the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people living in institutions.

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.

NADC’s mission is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community. 

The National Center on Accessibility promotes access and inclusion for people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism.

Regional & Local Accessibility Organizations

The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs works to ensure that meaningful arts experiences are available to all of its state’s citizens, including people with disabilities, patients and caregivers in healthcare settings, and older adults. The Division assures that all of our offerings are accessible. Our grantees sign a contract certifying that they will comply with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

A private not-for-profit organization, Arts4All Florida conducts art education programs in schools, Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, and community centers; promotes the accomplishments of artists with disabilities through our artist registry, exhibitions, and performances; and increases access to the arts through professional development workshops.  Arts4All Florida is headquartered in the College of Education at the University of South Florida.

The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc. serves Floridians with disabilities by providing free access to information, referral services, educational programs, and publications in accessible formats on topics such as disability rights, laws, and policies. 

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council was established in 1971 to help plan individual and family-centered supports for persons with disabilities in Florida.

FBHA is the state’s largest trade association representing community treatment providers with a united voice. FBHA serves as a trusted source of information, it advances policy initiatives, and it advocates for better behavioral health for all Floridians.

Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977 as the statewide designated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida.

Ability1st, the Center for Independent Living of North Florida, is a community-based non profit organization that provides services to persons with varying disabilities.

Lighthouse of the Big Bend offers services to individuals with vision loss in Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla counties. Services include Orientation and Mobility, Vocation Rehabilitation, Assistive Technology, Services for Children and Teens, iPhone training, and support groups. 

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at FSU (CARD-FSU) in the Autism Institute was established in 1994 and is one of 7 centers funded by the Florida Legislature and coordinated as a grant program through the Florida Department of Education. The FSU CARD serves 18 counties in the panhandle of Florida with offices in Tallahassee, Panama City, and Pensacola. CARD has extensive experience serving individuals with ASD and provides direct services for communication, social, and behavior problems, as well as provides information, consultation, and technical assistance to families and professionals associated with CARD clients.

The Center for Disability Access and Resources provide services and academic accommodations for students of all backgrounds on campus with documented physical, psychological and learning disabilities. Not only do we advocate for our participants, but we encourage them to become their own advocates as well.

The Area Agency on Aging for North Florida (Advantage Aging Solutions) is one of the eleven Area Agencies on Aging in Florida. As mandated by the Older Americans Act, Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have responsibility for development of planning for all aging issues in their respective Planning and Service Area.

These are only a few of the many organizations that offer information and services on a local and regional basis. If you know of one that should be added to the Accessibility Resource page please contact 

amanda@tallahasseearts.org.