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With the World Cup, America’s 250th birthday and the Major League Baseball All Star Game, more and more visitors are out exploring Philadelphia and experiencing all the city has to offer.
But for many people with disabilities, that isn’t always easy. Finding places that are truly accessible can be difficult, and accessibility is often overlooked when people talk about where to go and what to do around the city.
While many of the city’s museums, theaters and attractions have made improvements, knowing what accommodations are available ahead of time can make all the difference for visitors and residents with disabilities.
John Orr, executive director of Art-Reach, said the organization has been working to improve accessibility in Philadelphia’s arts and cultural sector.
Art-Reach creates, advocates for, and expands accessible opportunities in the arts so the full spectrum of society is served and everyone is able to enjoy what Philadelphia has to offer.
“We’ve just been working with arts organizations to better understand accessibility and be more responsive to human need rather than responsive to the law that was written,” Orr said.
He said it’s vital for basic information to be published online about a location’s accessibility so people visiting know what to expect before they arrive.
Art-Reach is also working to address cost and transportation issues that sometimes limit people with disabilities from visiting arts-related spaces in Center City and elsewhere. Their ACCESS program allows people with EBT cards to visit major museums and theaters for $2 per person. They also offer an annual $75 access card for art-specific benefits.
Spots that participate in ACCESS include the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center.
“For a long time, our number one thing we always heard was cost, that it was just so expensive for people to go to arts organizations, both in a city that for a really long time had the highest rate of poverty and the highest rate of disability,” Orr said.
Organizations like Transit Forward actively conduct accessibility audits of specific transit routes which has been helpful in clearing the way for Philadelphians of all abilities to get around town and find things that will fit their needs.
Art-Reach has worked with various museums to make sure that entrances are accessible to everyone who wants to visit. The majority of major museums, according to Orr, have equal access entryways, which means everyone coming in – with or without disabilities – are integrated into the same admissions experience.
“We’ve done a lot of accessibility work with organizations, just from a consulting perspective, I think the stuff that we’ve uncovered is still just like they need to help infrastructure-wise with things like funding,” he said. “The Barnes Foundation is super accessible, and was one of the first organizations we worked with.”
Organizations such as the Opera Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ballet, and Philadelphia Theater Company are all places that have implemented accessibility for all.
Orr recommends that visitors double check whether or not some places are accommodating and look at the venue’s website for information on wheelchair entrances, elevators, accessible bathrooms and American Sign Language-interpreted performances.
“It’s just connecting with the community and finding out what they need and what works for them, and letting them drive that conversation without really questioning it.” Orr said.
In Philly, within five miles of any arts organization in the city, there’s 152,000 disabled residents, according to Orr. He said it’s important that peope are able to trust the place they are attending and make sure they feel welcomed.
“So, while you’re meeting with your community, also find out where they’ve been that has done it really well, and then work with those organizations, or just find out what it took to implement, so that we can kind of build that sort of culture of access ecosystem in the city,” Orr said.
Currently, Art-Reach has built a coalition of leaders in the disability community who have all worked together to put forth a vision for a more accessible city, calling it the “ Philadelphia Agreement.” The goal is to make Philadelphia more accessible for independent art and cultural engagement.
“As a city with one of the highest rates of disability, it’s really exciting for me to think that we’re kind of on the forefront right now of starting this movement towards a more accessible cultural sector,” Orr said. He added the National Conference on Art and Disability is coming to Philadelphia in August, which is a great time for cultural leaders to get connected to the mission.
