Access

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts supports universal access to the arts.

The Council abides by state and federal laws that prohibit public support to organizations (people or entities) that discriminate against people with disabilities. Therefore, each grantee is required to assure that they are in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

More information on Making Your Programs and Services Accessible can be found in the Grants section

National Resources

Publications

  • Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook (2003) Designed to help organizations not only comply with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, but to assist in making access an integral part of planning, mission, programs, outreach, meetings, budget and staffing.
  • Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators – A companion to Design for Accessibility (2003), providing guidance to cultural administrators on how to achieve accessible and inclusive programming for everyone including individuals with disabilities and older adults. It is designed to help your organization not only comply with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act but also to assist in making access an integral part of your organization, including its staffing, mission, budget, education, meetings, programs and beyond.
  • Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook -This workbook is designed to assist grant recipients in evaluating the current state of accessibility of their programs and activities to disabled visitors and employees. It is intended to assist organizations in their efforts to: (a) comply with the Endowment’s regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, including the preparation of a self-evaluation of all programs, activities, policies and practices to determine areas of noncompliance, and (b) better understand the relationship between 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is designed to be used in conjunction with Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook.
  • Tip Sheet on the 2010 Revised Regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act – Revisions to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations in the Federal Register that update and amend some of the provisions in the original 1991 ADA regulations. These changes include revised accessibility standards, called the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards), which establish minimum criteria for accessibility in design and construction. They have a specific effect on cultural venues, such as theaters or museums. It is not intended to be comprehensive.

Museums and Facilities

  • Art Beyond Sight: Handbook for Educators and Museums - A handbook takes about the process of creating accessible programming for people with visual impairments. These ideas can be applied to programs for people with a broad range of abilities to create as inclusive an environment as possible. Made possible by the MetLife Foundation and Institute of Museum and Library Services, NEC Foundation of America, The Renate, Hans & Maria Hofmann Trust and the New York State Council on the Arts.
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Museums – Regardless of size or income, most museums have legal obligations to provide and maintain accessibility for visitors with disabilities: Privately operated museums are covered as public accommodations under title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); museums operated by state or local governments are covered by the ADA’s title II; and museums that receive Federal funding – whether they are covered by title II or title III — are also covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A fact sheet from the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section.
  • Smithsonian Accessibility Program Resources – The Smithsonian Institution offers a number of resources for museums to help them ensure that their collections and exhibitions are accessible and welcoming to all audiences.