OMA's June Workshop is Coming to a City Near You!

OMA is starting our summer professional development offerings by partnering with VSA Ohio on workshops focusing on museum accessibility for guests and artists. We're proud to partner with VSA Ohio - our state's non-profit arts and disability service organization making the arts and arts education more accessible and inclusive for people with disability, and their support networks.

The best part? We'll be presenting the workshop in five Ohio cities throughout the month of June, so you can choose the location closest to you!

Click here to register!

Workshop locations include:
  • Fremont – June 6, 2018

    Where: Hayes Presidential Library and Museums
    When: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: June 4, 2018
    Guest presenter: Derek Mortland, Artist, and ADA & Community Outreach Coordinator, The Center for Disability Empowerment


  • Canton – June 11, 2018

    Where: Pro Football Hall of Fame
    When: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: June 7, 2018
    Guest presenter: Derek Mortland, Artist, and ADA & Community Outreach Coordinator, The Center for Disability Empowerment

  • Columbus – June 13, 2018

    Where: Columbus Museum of Art
    When: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: June 11, 2018
    Guest presenters: Jane Ehrenfeld, Audio Description Consultant; Derek Mortland, Artist, and ADA & Community Outreach Coordinator, The Center for Disability Empowerment

  • Athens – June 18, 2018

    Where: Southeast Ohio History Center
    When: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: June 14, 2018
    Guest presenters: Christi Hysell, Artist; Nate Thomson, Athens Photographic Project

  • Cincinnati – June 20, 2018

    Where: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
    When: 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    Registration deadline: June 18, 2018
    Guest presenters: Sara Birkoffer, Coordinator of Interpretive Programming, Cincinnati Art Museum; Artist + Staff (TBA), Visionaries + Voices


Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans has a disability? That number grows with the baby boomer population and other market subsets. Museums and cultural institutions around the world are stepping up their game to be more accessible for people with disability. We all want to achieve our missions and welcome more people, but we can’t truly be inclusive until we’re accessible. You will find that as you make considerations for disability, you are more welcoming to the whole community.

In this workshop we’ll discuss disability history and trends, accessibility 101 (including customer service), specific adaptations you can make for your programs, and how to approach the authentic inclusion of artists with disabilities in your spaces. The goal of these workshops is to demystify access into something that is manageable, not necessarily expensive, and ways to make it a priority at your organization (big or small).

The workshop will be led by Erin J. Hoppe, executive director of VSA Ohio and will include guest speakers from the disability community (see above for the list of guest presenters for each location).

Registration is only $15 for OMA members; $25 for non-members. We hope you can join us at one of our five June workshop locations! 

Click here to register for the workshop location near you!

Support OMA with your
tax-deductible donation!

A contribution to the Ohio Museums Association will help us continue to provide important programs and services to Ohio’s Museums.