MY SERVICES
Professional Development Workshops
I provide workshops, typically 90 minutes, that cover the basics of what disability means, contextualizes the history of disability in the United States, discusses what accessibility means, and offers thorough, department-by-department suggestions on how to make theatre companies more inclusive and accessible for patrons, designers, actors, and technicians.
If you would like a workshop that emphasizes a specific area, please contact me. Past examples include the history and use of AAC technology; how Medicare and Medicaid funding work; and implementing Universal Design for Learning in theatre education classes.
Accessibility Consultant for a Production
Are you producing a show with disabled characters and/or disabled actors? Hire me to join your production team as an advocate and liaison. In this role, I provide professional development workshops, script feedback, and serve as the liaison between disabled production members and the rest of the staff. This role is comparable to an artist advocate: someone outside the hierarchy of a production team whose sole job is to ensure the safety and comfort of disabled team members.
Educational Consulting
Do you work in a school or other educational setting? Are you interested in learning about Universal Design for Learning and how to make your classroom or activities more accessible? Hire me for a professional development workshop! I have experience both as a classroom teacher and as a student of pedagogy and instruction and can provide general information on accessibility and inclusion or specific suggestions tailored to your program, age groups, and instructional content.
Sensitivity Reading
Have you written a play with a disabled character? Do you want another pair of eyes to read through it with authentic and accurate portrayal in mind? Contact me!
I offer sensitivity reading either rooted in my own experiences as a chronically ill person with a mobility disability, or as a more general disability educator versed in history, language, and common tropes and pitfalls in disability representation.
Marketing Materials
When marketing a show with disabled actors or characters, using correct and respectful language is vital. I work with marketing teams to provide feedback on advertising; create interview guides for press encounters; and ensure that disabled team members are being discussed in terms that align with their self-identity.
Dramaturgical Materials
Drawing on my academic background, I can assemble production packets to educate actors about show-related aspects of disability history and existing while disabled; write program notes to give audiences insight into disability on stage; and create lobby displays that are both informative and accessible.
Civic Theatre
Civic and community theatre programs are the backbone of the industry. Without local productions, the pipeline of young people with dreams of stardom dries up! I am happy to offer the above services to companies or organizations of any size and type and tailor feedback to the specifics of your locality, audience demographics, and resources.