JMZ Recognized by the The Kennedy Center with the Community Asset Award
Questions for JMZ Exhibits Director, Tina Keegan
What is the Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) program? Can you share more about the conference?
The Kennedy Center’s LEAD program encourages and advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in arts and culture spaces. LEAD events and conferences allow professionals to exchange ideas about best practices for accessibility work. In total, around 900 people were at the conference this year, allowing us to network and build rapport with other organizations who are committed to access and inclusion.
This year, I attended the conference with former Accessibility Coordinator, Lisa Eriksen, and one of our advisors, Susan Glass, who have both played crucial roles in making the JMZ more accessible. The Friends of the JMZ funds professional development for JMZ staff, including this conference, and are committed to creating a more accessible and inclusive JMZ.
Along with a representative from an art museum and another from a theater, I presented on how we train our staff on creating a welcoming and inclusive experience. Staff training is ongoing, and so, we have implemented strategies to periodically remind our staff about all the wonderful accessibility supports at the JMZ.
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