Professional Development
MACA offers both meetings and professional development workshops addressing different topics within the field of accessibility. MACA’s meetings and workshops are designed for professionals of cultural institutions.
If you have an idea for a professional development workshop or would like to receive information or resources from any of the past opportunities listed below, please contact us at miculturalaccess@gmail.com.
PAST MEETINGS/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
MACA Spring Membership Meeting: Outreach to the Disability Community
Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 3:00-4:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
This month’s meeting focused on outreach to the disability community and how to increase the attendance/advertisement of accessibility programming.
MACA Program - Programming for People with Dementia/Memory Loss
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 2:00-3:30PM
Virtual via Zoom
Our April MACA program focused on dementia/memory loss and how best to serve and support this community. This event featured the following guest speakers:
Kayla Jakel, Program Manager, Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter
John and Kathy Firchau, Individual with dementia and his wife/care partner
Clare Valenti, Director of Community Engagement, and Kiersten Alcorn, Manager of Community Engagement, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Jennifer Giddings-Essenmacher, Docent and Access Coordinator, Flint Institute of Arts
Julia Triezenberg, Education Supervisor, Columbia River Maritime Museum
Caroline Braden, Accessibility Manager, The Henry Ford
MACA Winter Membership Meeting: Goal Setting and Mainstreaming
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 2:00-3:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
At this meeting, we discussed organizational goals for the year ahead, the concept of Mainstreaming, and had a brief conversation on grant funding, led by Jeff Garrett from Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC).
MACA Fall Membership Meeting: LEAD Conference Takeaways
Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 11:00AM-12:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During this month’s meeting, we heard MACA updates and takeaways from this year's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference. This meeting was a great opportunity to hear about the current state of the field of cultural accessibility from some of this year’s LEAD attendees!
MACA Program - Advisory Groups
Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 2:00-3:30PM
Virtual via Zoom
During our September MACA program, we heard our speakers’ experiences starting, working with, and incorporating feedback from advisory groups.
Speakers included:
Ashley Grady, Senior Program Specialist, Access Smithsonian
Kelly Stuible-Clark, Senior Education Program Manager, Wharton Center Institute for Arts & Creativity
Esther Triggs, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Interlochen Center for the Arts
Dionne O'Dell, Academic Specialist/Faculty, Department of Theatre & Arts and Cultural Management-Museum Studies, Michigan State University
Jen Taggart, Department Head, Youth Services, Bloomfield Township Public Library
Annie Klark, Co-Founder, OpenSpot Theatre
MACA Spring Membership Meeting: Sensory Friendly Programs and Offerings for Teens and Adults
Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 1:00-2:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During this month’s meeting, we had a discussion of sensory-friendly programs and offerings for teens and adults with autism and other sensory sensitivities.
Speakers included:
Jess Burke, Director of Audience Experience, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Lisa Boyd, Youth Services Librarian, Canton Public Library
Jamie Panzarella, Youth Education Manager, International Spy Museum (Washington, D.C.)
Nicholas Haag, Manager of School and Community Programs, Denver Art Museum
Caroline Braden, Accessibility Manager, The Henry Ford
MACA Program - Checking in with the Disability Community
Monday, April 24, 2023, 2:00-3:30PM
Virtual via Zoom
During this month’s program, we heard unique perspectives from individuals with disabilities and caregivers. Panelists shared their experiences visiting cultural institutions and thoughts on how these institutions can improve accessibility accommodations and offerings.
Speakers included:
Donna Posont, individual who is blind
Michaela Jitaru, individual who is Deaf
Nicholas Gammicchia, individual with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and his mom, Carolyn
Brian Hagler, Parent Advocate
John Firchau, individual living with dementia, and his wife/care partner, Kathy
MACA Winter Membership Meeting: Where are we heading in 2023?
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 2:00-3:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During our first Membership Meeting of the year, we shared MACA updates, celebrated seven years of MACA, and had a discussion of where we all are at/where we are heading with accessibility at our institutions this year. We also had a brief presentation on grant opportunities from Jeff Garrett, Capital Improvement Program Manager/ADA 504 Accessibility Coordinator for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC).
MACA Fall Membership Meeting: Promoting Inclusion
Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 2:00-3:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During this month’s MACA Membership Meeting, we learned about best accessibility practices for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter from our presenter, Nicole Smith, Accessibility Consultant.
MACA Program - Spotlight on Sensory-Friendly
Thursday, September 29, 2022, 1:00-2:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During this program, three of our Board Members gave presentations on the topics below, with breakout rooms following:
1. Cathy Blatnik, Treasurer of the Mid-Michigan Autism Association and MACA’s Programming Chair, showed how to put together Sensory Spaces and Sensory Toolkits on a budget.
2. Shelby Eppich, Artist Relations and Administrations Coordinator at Interlochen Center for the Arts and MACA’s Secretary, talked about how to create Social Stories.
3. Caroline Braden, Accessibility Manager at The Henry Ford and MACA’s President, shared tips and strategies for implementing sensory-friendly events, including how to incorporate Sensory Spaces, Social Stories, and more into such events.
MACA Summer Membership Meeting: LEAD Conference Takeaways
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 2:00-3:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
Our summer Membership Meeting was an opportunity to hear from those who attended this year's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference about their takeaways on the current state of the field of cultural accessibility.
MACA Spring Membership Meeting: The ADA and Cultural Accessibility Audits
Thursday, May 12, 2022, 1:00-2:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
For our spring membership meeting, we were joined by Robin Jones, Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center, for a better understanding of how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to cultural organizations.
MACA Program - Maintaining Relationships with the Disability Community
Friday, April 22, 2022, 12:00-1:30PM
Virtual via Zoom
For this program, we gathered a diverse array of speakers to discuss how they have maintained relationships with those within the disability community, especially relationships that formed virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our panelists included:
• Julia Triezenberg, Museum Educator, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, OR, who discussed new accessibility programming that has been developed and implemented at her institution during the pandemic.
• Angela Meyers, Coordinator of Youth and Inclusive Services, Bridges Library System, Waukesha, WI, who discussed the Library Memory Project, a partnership between public libraries in Wisconsin to provide programs to those affected by memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia.
• Caroline Braden, Accessibility Manager at The Henry Ford and President of MACA, who talked about The Henry Ford’s virtual verbal description programs for people who are blind or have low vision. She was joined by two participants to these programs - Karen Kacen and Joan Barenholtz, both of whom are legally blind and live in New York City.
• Cathy Blatnik, President of the Mid-Michigan Autism Association (MMAA) and Programming Chair of MACA, who updated us on how the MMAA has continued to reach those in the disability community in the Greater Lansing area since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
MACA Winter Membership Meeting: MACC Grant Opportunities
Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 12:00-1:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
We shared MACA updates, celebrated six years of MACA, and had a presentation on grant opportunities by Jeff Garrett, Capital Improvement Program Manager/ADA 504 Accessibility Coordinator for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC).
MACA Fall Membership Meeting: An Accessibility Check-In
Monday, November 15, 2021, 2:00-3:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
During our fall membership meeting, we discussed how our cultural organizations have been engaging disability audiences in 2021 and looked ahead to 2022. Questions asked included:
How did this past year go?
Success stories? Challenges?
What is 2022 looking like for accessibility at your organization?
MACA Program - Exploring Intersectionality
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 9:30-11:30AM
Virtual via Zoom
This workshop explored how race and disability intersect and what cultural institutions can do to improve inclusivity of all patrons. Our moderator, Tedi R. Parsons, President & CEO, Michigan Diversity Education Center (MiDEC), talked about intersectionality, led us in small breakout discussions, and introduced our diverse panel of disability self-advocates to hear about their lived experiences, with Q & A time following.
Our panelists included:
Dessa Cosma, Executive Director, Detroit Disability Power
Pat Love-Sypho, Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO)
Adriana L. White, Author and School Librarian, South San Antonio ISD
MACA Summer Membership Meeting: Sensory-Friendly Programming
Tuesday, August 10, 2021, 10:00-11:00AM
Virtual via Zoom
During our summer membership meeting, we focused on sensory-friendly programming. We heard about examples of sensory-friendly programs at different types of institutions, including Potter Park Zoo, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Bloomfield Township Public Library, and The Henry Ford, and had some time for questions and discussion.
MACA Spring Membership Meeting: Lessons Learned from the Past Year
Friday, May 14, 2021, 10:00-11:00 AM
Virtual via Zoom
During our virtual spring membership meeting, we heard what members have been doing and what they have learned over the past year. Questions discussed included: what has worked since things went virtual, what hasn't worked, and what should we continue doing past COVID?
MACA Program - Inclusive Interaction: An Accessibility Training Workshop
Friday, April 16, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM
Virtual via Zoom
This workshop was an introduction to accessibility and inclusive communication.
Presenters included:
Jim Mangi, Caregiver for his wife with dementia, and Community Education Volunteer, Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter (interacting with people who have Alzheimer's/dementia)
Dylan Secord, MSW, LLMSW, Clinical Social Worker, DEAF C.A.N.! (interacting with people who are deaf or hard of hearing)
Pat Love-Sypho, Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO) (interacting with people who are blind/have low vision)
Cathy Blatnik, President, Mid-Michigan Autism Association (interacting with people who are on the autism spectrum)
MACA Winter Membership Meeting: Celebrating Five Years of MACA
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 2:00-3:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
During this membership meeting, we heard some accessibility services updates and celebrated 5 years of MACA. Former MACA board members also shared some of their latest projects around the country, including:
Jenny Angell, Project Manager, Accessibility Excellence, PA Museums: Accessibility Excellence program as part of a 2-year initiative for diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) in programming
Larissa Kunynskyj, Manager of Accessibility Services, Theatre Development Fund (TDF): in-person programming transition to virtual during COVID
Programming Accessibility in the Time of COVID
Thursday, November 19, 2020, 1:00-2:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
During this virtual meeting, our guest speakers shared their accessibility strategies and programming ideas (virtual and onsite) to welcome the disability community.
Speakers included:
Kiersten Alcorn, Community Engagement Coordinator, Detroit Symphony Orchestra (virtual dementia programming)
Mariah Martinez, FALCONERS Coordinator, Potter Park Zoo (FALCONERS program, new Braille maps)
Caroline Braden, Accessibility Specialist, The Henry Ford (virtual verbal description programs, onsite/virtual sensory-friendly events)
Lisa Boyd, Youth Librarian, Canton Public Library (sensory social hour programming for 18+, community partnerships)
Debbie Kuhl, Guest Experience & Volunteer Innovator, Impression 5 Science Center ("sensory-friendly science" videos)
Accessibility Check-In
Friday, October 30, 2020, 10:00-11:00 am
Virtual via Zoom
During this virtual meeting, we discussed how our organizations are providing accessibility in person and/or virtually.
Questions discussed included:
What do on-site adaptive programs look like right now?
How have you incorporated accessibility in your virtual programs?
What are some of your organization's challenges during this time?
Has program feedback been positive?
What resources might be helpful to your organization now?
Reopening with Accessibility in Mind During COVID-19
Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 1:00-2:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
During this virtual meeting, we discussed reopening experiences and welcomed special guests to share how they have incorporated accessibility into their organization's reopening plans.
Special guests included:
Liz Clapp, Guest Services Manager, International Spy Museum
Betsy Lynn, Operations Project Manager and Accessibility Coordinator, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Samantha Smingler, Inclusion Coordinator, Great Lakes Aquarium
Jen Taggart, Assistant Dept Head of Youth Services, Bloomfield Twp Public Library
Accessibility Chat: Checking in with our Audiences
Thursday, June 25, 2020, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
During this virtual meeting, we checked in with individuals from four audiences for whom cultural institutions often create accessibility offerings. We chatted on a variety of topics, including experiences during quarantine, virtual offerings, and comfort level with cultural institutions reopening.
Speakers included:
Donna Posont, member of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
John Firchau, individual living with dementia, and his wife/care partner, Kathy
Dylan Secord, Clinical Social Worker at Deaf C.A.N.! and member of the Deaf Community
Cathy Blatnik, Secretary and Board Member, Mid-Michigan Autism Association and parent of a teenager with autism
Virtual Programming Accessibility: A Conversation
Friday, May 29, 2020, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
During this virtual meeting, we explored online services, virtual accessibility tips, and programming ideas.
Highlighted topics of discussion included:
Taking Programming Virtual: Shannon Etcheverry, Director of Silver Club Memory Programs in Ann Arbor, shared Silver Club's experiences making dementia programming virtual.
Virtual Accessibility Tips: Ellysheva Bunge-Zeira, Education Specialist for Access and Food Programs at the Tenement Museum in New York City - who recently returned from a lengthy furlough into the midst of her museum having an increasing online presence - provided tips on incorporating basic accessibility features into online offerings.
Captioning: Jen Taggart, Assistant Dept Head of Youth Services at the Bloomfield Twp Public Library, shared her experiences with DIY captioning editors, captioning services, and some basics on captioning programs.
Virtual Programming Accessibility
Thursday, April 23, 2020, 1:00-2:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
Guest speakers from The Metropolitan Museum of Art joined us to talk about the Met's virtual accessibility programs. Guest speakers for the meeting were:
Marie Clapot, Associate Museum Educator, Accessibility, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Shannon Daniels, Program Associate, Accessibility, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Making Accessibility Virtual
Friday, March 27, 2020, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Virtual via Zoom
“This is a difficult time right now, but it is also a time to cultivate new ways to reach our visitors and patrons virtually to help reduce the feeling of isolation.” (from this meeting’s registration page)
Attendees to the meeting learned about available resources from other MACA organizations and shared what their institutions were working on. A collaborative working google document of online events, programming, and resources was shared during and after the meeting.
Engaging a Spectrum: A Workshop for Cultural Institutions Welcoming People with Autism
Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 9:30-11:30 am
Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Attendees learned best practices for welcoming and engaging the autism community at their institutions. Autism expert, Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle (Eastern Michigan University), provided attendees with a working knowledge of autism spectrum disorder along with accessibility and communication tips. Ashley Grady (Access Smithsonian, Smithsonian Institution) joined us virtually to talk about sensory-friendly programming, such as “Morning at the Museum,” and other autism initiatives at the various Smithsonian museums. “Lightning presentations” on autism initiatives at the Arab American National Museum, Eastern Michigan University, Potter Park Zoo, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Bloomfield Township Public Library, and The Henry Ford were shared in the second half of the workshop.
Institutional Accessibility Visioning
Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 9:30-11:00 am
Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
A panel of cultural institution administrators shared their experiences successfully implementing accessibility initiatives at their institutions. Panelists also helped attendees work on collective talking points to take back to their institutions. Panelists included:
Amy Harris, Director, University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
AmyLouise Liedel, Senior Director of Guest Operations, The Henry Ford
Emily O'Hara, Curator of Exhibit Design, Detroit Zoological Society
Kelly Stuible-Clark, Manager of Musical Theatre Programs, Wharton Center for Performing Arts
Accessibility Chat: A Conversation with Disability Self-Advocates and Caregivers
Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 2:30-4:00 pm
Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
Attendees gained perspective from individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, as panelists shared experiences at cultural institutions and thoughts on how cultural institutions can go beyond ADA to enhance accessibility. Panelists included:
Deb Belavek, deaf self-advocate and director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs at Bloomfield Hills Schools
Cary Supalo, blind chemist, Research Developer at Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ
David and Jane Cowan, dementia self-advocate and his wife/care partner
Gary Koutsoubos, father of 4 year old with Down syndrome and President of the Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan
Gavin Swantick, autism self-advocate and recent Master's graduate from Wayne State University
Michelle Justice, mother of a teenager with autism
Rebecca Anders, mother of 4th grader with autism and Supervisor of Special Education at the Wing Lake Developmental Center
Introduction to Universal Design for Learning
Wednesday, October 10, 2018, 9:30-11:00 am
The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124
Attendees received an introduction to Universal Design for Learning and gained an understanding of how to use it to improve learning. This program was presented by LaTonya Motley, Learning Design and Accessibility Specialist at Michigan State University.
Opportunity to Observe: Community Connect Dementia Program
Tuesday, April 24, 2018, 1:30-3:00 pm
The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124
Attendees observed a program for people living with dementia and their care partners that was organized in collaboration between The Henry Ford, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Michigan Chapter and had an opportunity to learn more about developing programs for individuals living with dementia.