The Access Playbook is a foundational, disability-led program for arts presenters and organizations who want to increase the representation of Deaf and Disabled artists on their stages.
This introductory cohort supports you to build stronger, more sustainable collaborations with Deaf and Disabled artists — so access is built into how work is programmed, supported, and presented.
Developed with support from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF), Government of Canada
Spring 2026 Introductory Cohort (Deadline to register: March 27)
📆 Cohort runs April 7–June 26 2026 (12 weeks)
👥 14 spots available!
💲 Starting at $399 (sliding scale)
Is this program a good fit for you?
The Access Playbook is intentionally designed as an introductory, foundational program.
This program is for:
- People working in presenting or producing roles who help inform decisions about what work gets programmed or put on stage.
- Organizations that are early in their access journey, rebuilding after change, or seeking a clearer starting point
- Organizations that want to strengthen how they collaborate with Deaf and Disabled artists
What you need:
- A willingness to reflect on how your organization works with artists
- Openness to learning and adjusting practices over time
- Some capacity to engage over the spring
This program may not be the right fit if you’re looking for:
- Advanced technical accessibility training
- A checklist-style compliance based training course.
This is a learning space, not an audit or compliance process.
What you’ll walk away with
How it works
The program runs over 12 weeks (with three weeks of independent work) and blends short, self-paced learning with live, facilitated cohort sessions. You’ll connect with peers, reflect together, and apply what you’re learning to your own context.
Self-paced learning
You’ll move through a series of short online modules at your own pace. Each module includes short videos, plain-language tools, and experiments designed to help you apply learning directly to your work.
Live cohort sessions
You’ll join a small peer cohort for three live sessions focused on discussion, shared problem-solving, and learning from one another. These sessions are facilitated by disability-led practitioners and are designed to be supportive, and non-judgemental.
Optional partner work sessions
Throughout the program, we offer optional work sessions for anyone who wants dedicated time to work through materials, ask questions, or think things through with a partner.
Real-world application
Rather than assignments or assessments, the program centres on experimenting in real situations — trying things out, reflecting on what works, and adjusting as you go.
What you’ll learn
Over 12 weeks, the program is structured around six foundational modules
- Start with Purpose– Connect disability arts history and culture to your organization’s mission
- Diagnose Your Access – Identify what’s working — and where artists face barriers
- Build Strong Working Relationships – Strengthen collaboration and trust with Deaf and Disabled artists
- Design Accessible Outreach – Reach audiences without adding extra burden
- Plan and Budget for Access – Make realistic choices within real constraints
- Learn, Reflect and Adjust – Grow your approach through community feedback
Time & flexibility
- Time commitment: approximately 1–2 hours per module
- Live sessions: encouraged, not required
- Miss a session? No problem. Materials are shared, and you can engage in ways that fit your schedule and capacity.
Pricing
We know every organization’s resources look different. Our sliding scale helps keep the Playbook accessible for everyone while supporting fair pay for the artists and facilitators who deliver it.
- Under $200K annual operating budget → $399
- $200K–$500K → $999
- Over $500K → $1,599
What’s included
- Live cohort sessions + optional work sessions
- Access to advisors, coaches, and the support team
- All templates, tools, and planning guides
- Participation certificate
Next Cohort: April 7–June 26, 2026 · 20 spots available!
“The Access Playbook sheds light on the grey area and illuminates all that is beautiful inside it… We realized something we thought we were good at is actually an opportunity to strengthen our organization and community.”
-Jeff Bray, Cultivate Festival
Why we created The Access Playbook
The Access Playbook was created with a clear goal: to increase the representation of Deaf and Disabled artists in the performing arts.
Rather than starting with audience accommodations, this program centres artist access — the conditions that allow Deaf and Disabled artists to collaborate equitably with presenters, navigate contracting, rehearsal, and touring, and be programmed, supported, and retained over time.
We created the Access Playbook in response to what we hear again and again from presenters and artists alike:
“It takes so much coordination and time to make access work.”
“The language keeps changing, and it’s hard to know what’s right.”
“There’s never enough capacity or support to do it sustainably.”
This program exists to make access work clearer, more relational, and more sustainable within the real constraints of the performing arts.
The Access Playbook helps you embed what you learn into your workflows, policies, budgets, and timelines — using plain-language tools, real-world examples, and a supportive peer network — so working with Deaf and Disabled artists becomes part of how your organization operates, not an exception.
How this program shapes your work
See what inclusion looks like in action.
Try out tools and ideas without putting relationships with artists on the line.
Hold on to best practices, even as staff and leadership change.
Build relationships with other arts workers who share your questions, challenges, and commitments.
Next Cohort: April 7–June 26, 2026 · 20 spots available!
“It allows you to weave accessibility into your curatorial process and provides practical tools to help you plan, budget, and welcome more diverse artists to your stage.”
-Eric Goudie, Fergus Grand Theatre
Who we are
Creative Connector is a national arts service organization dedicated to supporting Deaf and Disabled artists. Developed with support from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) Government of Canada, we built this program so arts leaders and presenters can create more opportunities for Deaf and Disabled artists to be part of shaping Canada's performing arts sector.
FAQ's
Who is this for?
Programmers, producers, and presenters at festivals, venues, and artist‑run spaces who want practical tools to embed access.
How long is the cohort?
Typically 12 weeks with short lessons, templates, and monthly peer meetups.
What is the time commitment?
About 1-2 hours per module — you’ll spend more time doing the real work in your own context.
Will there be recordings and transcripts?
Yes. Recordings, transcripts, and plain‑language summaries are included.
Can I cancel after enrolling?
If your circumstances change before the program begins, you can withdraw and receive a full refund. Once the program is underway, we’re unable to offer refunds — but we’ll always talk with you about what continued participation could look like if capacity shifts.
How accessible is the program?
We aim to be transparent about what we can and can’t offer.
We prioritize accessible, low‑friction tools; we also share materials in multiple formats whenever possible.
At this time, we’re not able to provide ASL interpretation as a standard support. If you have access needs you’d like to discuss, please reach out — we’re always open to conversation and problem-solving where possible.
Accessibility and Contact
Need this page or materials in another format? Email: alexia@creativeconnctor.art and we’ll make it work. If you have access needs for the cohort or info session, tell us in the waitlist form.
