As a state agency, the Wisconsin Arts Board is committed to ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we are advocates for full access to the arts. Organizations that receive funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board must be fully accessible and inclusive to all people, including people with disabilities and older adults. If you are unsure if your organization and/or facility is in compliance, please contact our ADA Coordinator, Amelia Schaetzke, via email (amelia.schaetzke@wisconsin.gov) or phone (608-264-8191).
The Wisconsin Arts Board is equally committed to making sure our services are accessible to people with disabilities, including artists with disabilities. To request accommodation at meetings, or related to WAB grants or services, please email us at artsboard@wisconsin.gov or call 608-264-8191.
Did you know?
What is the Wisconsin Arts Board’s Accessibility Committee?
The Accessibility Committee is a standing committee of the board of WAB. It is comprised of WAB board members and members from the public who are appointed by WAB's Chairperson for a two-year term. Committee members are appointed based on recommendations from staff, other committee/board members, and on the interest that they articulate by submitting an Accessibility Committee Member Interest Form.
The Committee advises the WAB board and staff on accessibility-related issues. Issues addressed in the recent past have included website accessibility as well as grant program form questions related to accessibility. The Committee meets quarterly via Zoom, and all Committee meetings are open to the public.
Accessibility Evaluation Tools
Organizations that receive funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board must be accessible and inclusive of all. Grant recipients are expected to have an accessibility evaluation of their organization in their files for their records. Below are two recommended formats of evaluation:
Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook – This Program Evaluation Workbook is designed to assist staff of Endowment grant recipients in evaluating the current state of accessibility of their programs and activities to disabled visitors and employees
Arts & Culture Accessibility Self-Assessment from Open Door Arts – this free, comprehensive, fully electronic tool was created specifically to help arts and cultural organizations understand and improve their accessibility
On October 15th, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST, the Wisconsin Arts Board and Open Door Arts held an Accessibility Self-Assessment Webinar for Arts and Culture Organizations. You can watch the webinar recording here.
Accessibility Resources – General and Government Guidance
Accessibility in the Arts: A Promise and a Practice – a guide aimed at small-scale arts nonprofits, focusing on improving accessibility for disabled individuals and promoting disability justice within cultural spaces
Americans with Disabilities Act – the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination.
Arts and Culture Accessibility Hub – the Arts & Culture Accessibility Hub is a comprehensive digital platform designed to help arts and culture organizations improve their accessibility
Arts Midwest Accessibility Resources – Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others
Great Lakes ADA Center – the Great Lakes ADA Center's mission is to increase awareness and knowledge with the ultimate goal of achieving voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
Great Lakes Loan Closets – this website is designed to help you find organizations that lend medical equipment for minimal or no cost
Kennedy Center Research and Resources – information on a variety of topics for ADA/504 Coordinators, accessibility managers, or other cultural arts professionals interested in making their facilities and programming more accessible to people with disabilities
NEA Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators – a free ebook that provides guidance to cultural administrators on how to achieve accessible and inclusive programming for everyone including individuals with disabilities and older adults
NEA Careers in the Arts Toolkit for People with Disabilities – an online resource promoting equity, access, and inclusion for people with disabilities seeking careers in the arts with tailored sections to support artists with disabilities in their career path and those who play a significant role in offering opportunities for training and employment
NEA Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook – a free PDF file designed to help organizations not only comply with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, but to assist in making access an integral part of planning, mission, programs, outreach, meetings, budget and staffing
NEA Office for Accessibility – this page includes resources to assist individuals and organizations in making their programs and facilities accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and to assist them with resources for access to the arts
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance
This Tip Sheet – an easy-to-read explanation of the 2010 revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act Titles II and III that impact arts and cultural organizations, including requirements for ticketing, mobility devices, service animals, and new construction
Accessibility Resources – Digital Guidance
Accessibility Checklist and Resources Page from the A111y Project – two pages from the A11Y project, which focuses on promoting digital accessibility, ensuring websites, apps, and digital content are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities Accessible Color Palette Picker – this is a tool to help designers build color palettes with combinations that conform with accessibility standards
Accessibility Symbols – on this page you'll find twelve symbols that you can use to promote and publicize accessibility for people with disabilities
Alt Text as Poetry – a collaborative art project providing an interesting point of view on alternative text, encouraging creativity and care when thinking about alt text
Harvard University's "Write Helpful Links" – a resource from Harvard University that explains how to structure links on a website page or application
Web AIM Alternative Text – a resource from WEB AIM on alternative text, a textual substitute for non-text content in web pages
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative – the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops standards and support materials to help you understand and implement accessibility