Illinois Arts Council Presents Arts & Accessibility Workshop July 20, ADA Celebration Day

Chicago, IL - July 11, 2006 - The Illinois Arts Council announces "Community Arts for All," an arts and accessibility workshop to be held during ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Celebration Day at the James R. Thompson Center, July 20. The "Community Arts for All" workshop is free, open to the public, and will be held from 1:00-3:00pm in Room 503 on the 16th floor of the James R. Thompson Center.

"The Illinois Arts Council's annual arts and accessibility workshop has become an important part of our ADA Celebration Day," said Illinois Department of Human Services Chief of Accessibility and Safety Systems, Martha Younger-White. "Not only do individuals who have disabilities learn about opportunities to participate in the arts, but professionals from a wide variety of social service agencies and other not-for-profits such as park districts, libraries, or senior centers that want to provide arts programming for individuals with disabilities have found the workshops helpful in their professional development."

This year's "Community Arts for All" workshop will feature artists and arts administrators who have worked professionally with individuals with disabilities to access the arts in a variety of settings. Margo Rush from Little City Foundation, Nancy Cortes from the Chicago Park District, Chelsi Hill of the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, and artist Judith Harding (who has worked with Arts Connect and Have Art Will Travel) will be on a panel to explore the many ways arts can be taught and shared by individuals with disabilities in a variety of non-traditional arts environments. 

"The workshop has become a day of information sharing, idea building, and networking for those people and organizations who share an interest in accessibility to the arts. We hope that our constituents can take the time to attend this valuable workshop," said Illinois Arts Council Executive Director, Terry A. Scrogum.

Those interested in attending the workshop must contact the Illinois Department of Human Services to make a reservation at 312/793-0034 (V) or 312/793-3597 (TTY). Individuals requiring a sign language interpreter or accommodations for accessibility should inform the staff person when making reservations.

For more information on the "Community Arts for All," workshop, please contact Encarnacion Teruel at the Illinois Arts Council: 312/814-6753 or email Encarnacion@arts.state.il.us .