The North Carolina Arts Council and Arts Access Inc. are offering workshops to arts organizations across North Carolina to strengthen understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to learn strategies for compliance.

North Carolina arts employees including executive directors, program managers, box office staff and facility managers are invited to attend one or both days of the Arts Accessibility and Inclusion workshops. Join us in Hickory March 9 and 10, 2010, at the United Arts Council of Catawba County or in Raleigh March 16 and 17, 2010, at the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.

The first day will provide clarity about ADA regulations and help establish strategies for becoming an accessible organization. Learn easy and low-cost solutions for achieving compliance, such as offering large print materials, marketing your accessibility and removing non-structural barriers.

On the second day, learn to enhance your customer services in all aspects of your organization, from customer interactions to programming. Participants will learn best practices for interacting with people with disabilities and discover how these skills will broaden community involvement with your organization.

Workshop presenters are: Rene Cummins, executive director of Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living; Barbara Olson, vice president of Arts Access; and Gary Williams, managing director of Raleigh Ensemble Players.

To register, download the registration form. If more than one person from your organization is attending, each person must complete a separate registration form.

The fee is $25 per person for one day of the workshop and $40 per person for both days of the workshop (valid until March 1st, after that the two day fee is $50). Lunch is included. Free on-site sessions are available upon request to talk with workshop staff or a trainer about your organization's accessibility questions and plans. Checks should be made out to Arts Access Inc. and mailed with the registration form to Arts Access, P.O. Box 10574, Raleigh, N.C. 27605-0574.

For questions about the workshop, registration or accommodations, contact N.C. Arts Council program assistant Catherine Lavenburg at catherine.lavenburg@ncdcr.gov or (919) 807-6501. All requests for accommodations must be received by Monday, Feb. 22, 2010.

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