The Art of Access Professional Development Session

Theater should be accessible to everyone, which is why we’re partnering with Upstream Arts for our next professional development session – The Art of Access! In this interactive training, we’ll unpack how school-based theater programs already promote access, then engage our innate creativity to amplify and diversify the ways in which people with disabilities are included in our work. The goal is to emerge with concrete tools and creative tactics we can use to cultivate inclusion and connection among people with and without disabilities in the world of high school theater, all with a non-judgmental, interactive and fun approach!

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JULIE GUIDRY, Upstream Arts Executive Director, has worked in the disability and nonprofit communities since 1999. She co-founded Upstream Arts in 2006 and has led the organization since its inception. For over a decade, Julie has worked closely with Minneapolis Public Schools’ Special Education Directors and Arts Department to develop a model for integrating Upstream Arts’ unique arts-based curriculum into social / emotional skills learning. In addition, she facilitates trainings for social service organizations, schools, districts and arts organizations on arts based instructional strategies, universal design for learning, access and inclusion.  She has been on the Arts on Chicago Leadership team for the last ten years. She is a previous member of the District Parent Advisory Council and a current member of the Special Education Advisory Council for Minneapolis Public Schools. Previously, she worked with Wilderness Inquiry and Youth Frontiers.

UPSTREAM ARTS was founded in 2006 by parents of a child with disabilities who witnessed first-hand the positive impact of the arts on their son’s ability to connect in meaningful ways with those around him. Our mission is to use the power of the creative arts to activate and amplify the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities. Through interactive arts residencies, public arts events, and cross-sector professional development opportunities, we annually serve 3500+ individuals of all ages and abilities. www.upstreamarts.org