Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium

04/28/2026

As we head into GiveBIG, we are asking ourselves: Who is missing from our spaces?

Meaningful access starts when we invest in paid disabled leaders and skilled teams. Your early gift helps us cultivate the next generation of audio describers and stock our Equipment Loan Program.

Let's move beyond compliance and grow sustainable access together.

Donate early: https://www.wagives.org/organization/Scac

03/30/2026

The journey for a blind or low-vision patron doesn’t start at the venue, it starts the moment they try to navigate your website, book a ticket, or arrange transportation.

Join SCAC on April 29 for a virtual Lunch and Learn exploring what it really takes for patrons with vision loss to feel genuinely welcome in our cultural spaces.

Hear directly from a panel of blind and low-vision arts patrons as they share first-hand experiences and practical insights on how organizations can better meet the needs of their community.

CART Captioning and ASL interpreters will be provided.

Learn more and register: https://www.seattlecac.org/

[id: White background with a large teal triangle in the bottom right corner. Text reads: Advancing Blind and Low-Vision Access in the Arts, Virtual Lunch & Learn April 29, 2026 12:00 – 1:15 pm, presented by: the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium logo, which features four vertical bars of increasing height next to the organization's name.]

02/25/2026

Don't forget to fill out our survey for the new Equipment Loan Program we are implementing this year! If you want to borrow (or lend) accessibility equipment, this program is for you! Let us know what equipment you want us to purchase (via a grant from 4Culture.

The Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium (SCAC) is creating an Equipment Loan Program to help King County arts and cultural organizations expand the range of accommodations they offer to patrons with disabilities. The purpose is two-fold: Ensure arts and cultural organizations have access to th...

02/19/2026

We’re still talking about Teal Sherer’s incredible keynote from last year’s Deep Dive Day! Now, we’re thrilled to see her bring that same wit and wisdom to the stage in her solo show, “The World Looks Different Sitting Down.”

Opening this week at Seattle Public Theater, Teal shares an honest, hilarious, and unapologetic look at navigating the world as a wheelchair user. Don't miss this powerful storytelling from a true advocate for our community!

Accessibility Accommodations:
Open Captions: Provided at every single performance.
Seating: Expanded wheelchair-accessible seating options.
Cost: Sliding scale "Art is for Everyone" tickets available.

Feb 20 – March 1 at the Seattle Public Theater at the Green Lake Bathhouse

Tickets: https://www.seattlepublictheater.org/sittingdown

[ID: Orange background with a blonde white woman [Teal Sherer] sitting in a wheelchair. Her legs are crossed, and she is glancing to her right side and smiling while resting her chin on her right fist. Above the woman, in light orange letters, are the words 'The World Looks Different Sitting Down.' In smaller words on either side of her are 'Written and Performed by Teal Sherer' and 'Feb 20 - March 1 Directed and choreographed by Jessica Wallenfels.']

01/05/2026

A big win for accessibility in Washington state: as of January 1, 2026, movie theaters must provide open caption screenings under the John Waldo Act.

This means captions appear directly on screen, no devices or batteries required. Large theater chains must offer at least 2 open caption screenings in the first two weeks of a film's release, including prime-time slots.

This groundbreaking legislation honors disability rights attorney John Waldo, whose advocacy made this possible. Washington joins Hawaii, Maryland, NYC, and D.C. in mandating accessible cinema.

Gratitude to Senator Tina Orwall, Governor Bob Ferguson, and all the advocates and community members who made this happen.

Open captions benefit everyone. Cinema should be for everyone. This is equity in action.

Deaf or hard of hearing moviegoers will have more options at the multiplexes — and won't have to rely on closed caption devices.

12/30/2025

As we look back on 2025, the arts sector has faced significant shifts. But at SCAC, we’ve seen that when the community gathers around accessibility, extraordinary things happen.

From launching our inaugural Audio Description Training Program to hosting our largest Deep Dive Day yet, 2025 was a year of building resilience.

Check out our 2025 Year in Review to see what we've accomplished: https://www.seattlecac.org/blog/looking-back-moving-forward-scacs-2025-year-in-review

There is still time to make a difference! Support our mission to make the arts inclusive for everyone by making a year-end donation. Your gift will help us launch our Equipment Loan Program and continue our vital training work.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/SCACShunpike

[ID:
Photo 1: A group of 15 people smiling at camera
Photo 2: A group of 7 people smiling at camera and holding certificates
Photo 3: A group of 11 people smiling at camera in front of a building with a sign that reads Jack Straw Cultural Center
Photo 4: About 10 people sitting a desks with notebooks facing a panel of three people seated at front
Photo 5: A person and an ASL interpreter onstage in front of a seated crowd. A presentation screen at right reads Keynote: Teal Sherer
Photo 6: A group of 7 panelists seated on stage in front of a a crowd. To their left is a moderator at a podium, to their right is an ASL interpreter]

12/02/2025

This , meet Miles Schlagel, SCAC committee member and champion of accessible culture.

"As an arts administrator, I know how vital consistent and reliable support is. Monthly giving allows me to budget sustainably while helping SCAC assist organizations to plan for accessible, high-quality cultural experiences for everyone."

Miles joined our Monthly Giving Circle. Will you?

Monthly gifts of any amount provide the steady support we need to sustain accessibility programs, support disabled cultural leaders, and build long-term infrastructure.

Start a monthly gift today, or make a one-time contribution: https://www.poweredbyshunpike.org/c/PBS/a/SKCAC/donate/

[id: Text reads “Join our Monthly Giving Circle! “As an arts administrator, I know how vital consistent and reliable support is. Monthly giving allows me to budget sustainably while helping SCAC assist organizations to plan for accessible, high-quality cultural experiences for everyone.” - Miles Schlagel, with Miles’ headshot to the right. Below a button reads “Donate Today,” with the SCAC logo at bottom right.]

11/13/2025

We've seen the incredible impact of our community this year, from strengthening accessibility advocacy at our Deep Dive Day to training new professionals in Audio Description.

Now, we're building a stable foundation for the future by launching our very first Monthly Givers' Circle!

Monthly gifts create a reliable, ongoing stream of support that sustains our vital work year-round. Joining the Circle helps us:
- Secure our future and plan for growth.
- Strengthen our infrastructure.
- Promote a culture of belonging in the arts community.

Your steady commitment—whether it's $5, $15, or $50 a month—is what matters most!

Ready to be a foundational part of this new endeavor? Donate at: www.bit.ly/SCACShunpike.

Thank you for helping us keep accessibility strong in the arts!

[id: Circles on a teal background show an audience applauding, a woman speaking into a microphone on stage, two panelists smiling with a microphone, and a group of 11 people standing and smiling at the camera. A circle in the middle says Announcing Our Circle of Monthly Givers! Below is the SCAC logo and text donate: bit.ly/SCACShunpike.]

11/05/2025

The learning doesn't stop! We’re thrilled to share a fantastic recap from our generous sponsor, Mark Root-Wiley at MRW Web Design!

Check out these "Field Notes from Deep Dive Day 2025" for a great summary of what was covered and personal insights into making cultural spaces more inclusive for everyone.

Thank you, MRW Web Design, for helping us make this event possible!

Read the full post:

I spent all day Thursday, October 16 at the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium's Deep Dive Day 2025! I was thrilled to be an Ally Sponsor in supporting this fabulous event. But honestly, I was there more for the talks than the advertising.

10/23/2025

We are excited to share that SCAC's founder and director, Elizabeth Ralston, was recently featured on the Ripple Effect podcast by !

Elizabeth shares her personal journey as a deaf woman and public health professional, challenging the deeply ingrained ableism that makes cultural spaces inaccessible.

"If people with disabilities are not included, that's a huge part of the population that's left out... and arts and culture are places where people congregate around a common theme and they're filled with joy and inspiration and belonging."

It's a call to action for all arts organizations and community spaces!

Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1AIQ9QVWXVGXs6eItMaLFj?si=hUx59DNIQ4WDODU1fQvJpw
Read the Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14qysqN4iMgfOjQrJ3M_3seSxsUnOgVDkmgBTShsQ3BA/edit?usp=sharing

ID: Ripple Effect podcast Episode #7, Amplifying Accessibility in the Arts with Elizabeth Ralston, Founder of the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium

10/20/2025

Deep Dive Day Recap! So much energy and passion in the room as we connected with our incredible arts and cultural community to champion arts accessibility.

The core message was powerful: securing justice is the struggle, but the ultimate goal is prosperity for all, ensuring genuine freedom of choice in how we engage with culture. This change requires us to start talking about it, normalizing it. By working together, we reinforce that we are a community, not individuals working in silos.

Thank you for bringing your vision and commitment!



[ID:
Image 1: A crowd seated facing a stage, an ASL interpreter and presentation screen is visible.
Image 2: A seated crowd from behind, facing a panel of four speakers on stage, an ASL interpreter stands to the right of the stage.
Image 3: A a white woman with long, wavy blonde hair sits in a wheelchair and laughs into a microphone. Next to her two other panelists smile.
Image 4: On stage behind a podium, a woman with silver hair hugs an an Okinawan man with long dark hair tied back.]

10/13/2025

A huge thank you to the incredible organizations and individuals who are generously supporting Deep Dive Day 2025! Your support is an investment in a more accessible, equitable, and joyful future for all patrons in our cultural community.

Please join us in recognizing our amazing partners at the Catalyst, Connector, and Ally levels:
Catalyst Sponsor: Perazzoli Family
Connector Sponsors: Headwater People Consulting , Inspire Washington - Opening doors to Science, Heritage, and the Arts , Teal Sherer, Troy Coalman & John Jay Calabig

Ally Sponsor: Friends of Waterfront Park , Hearing Loss Association of America, Washington State Association, Henry Art Gallery, Joy Shigaki, Mark Root-Wiley, Michelle Banks, Mirror Stage, Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), and Jennifer Sharp

We look forward to connecting with everyone on October 16th at Town Hall Seattle!

[ID: The Deep Dive Day logo with the text "thank you to our sponsors!" Below a wavy line is the list of sponsors: "Catalyst Sponsor: Perazzoli Family. Connector: Headwater People Consulting, Inspire Washington, Teal Sherer, Troy P. Coalman & John Jay Calabig. Ally: Friends of Waterfront Park, Hearing Loss Association of Washington, Henry Art Gallery, Joy Shigaki, Mark Root-Wiley, MRW Web Design, Michelle Banks, Mirror Stage, Museum of History and Industry, SharpWritings."]