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South Carolina Arts Commission webinar outlines steps to make youth arts and summer programs accessible
Summary
Presenters from the South Carolina Arts Commission and ABLE South Carolina reviewed federal laws that apply to summer arts programs and offered practical, low‑cost steps—walkthroughs, safety plans, communication practices, peer leadership and quiet spaces—to help arts organizations include youth with disabilities.
Amanda Noyes, Arts and Education Accessibility Director for the South Carolina Arts Commission, opened a webinar on accessibility for youth in arts programs by urging organizations to treat accessibility as a program design priority: “We know that we can't have equitable access to the arts if arts programs and facilities are not accessible.”
The session, led by Troy Hall, director of youth transition programs at ABLE South Carolina, and Michael Hanna, senior youth programs coordinator at ABLE South Carolina, combined a brief legal primer with practical guidance for organizations running summer programs, camps and year‑round youth workshops. “It covers most summer programs,” Hall said of the Americans with Disabilities Act, stressing that privately run camps open to the public are often covered and must provide equal access and reasonable modifications.
Why it matters: Many arts organizations lack experience serving youth with disabilities and may not realize which laws apply or how to adapt programs. Presenters said modest changes in planning and staffing can broaden participation and reduce last‑minute barriers without large capital investments.
Key legal context and when it…
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