A Disability Rights Primer with Betty Siegel

Wow wow wow we’re back! And with one of our best episodes yet! 

Nicole is joined by superstar Betty Siegel who lays out the essential information when it comes to disability rights in the Unites States arts sector. Betty also explains why she believes that cultural experiences are a critical civil and human right. 

What are the turning points in American disability rights history? And how do these laws impact the places where we gather for artistic and cultural experiences? How is the ADA enforced? Are “grandfather laws” a myth? Will the Wicked musical movie ever be released?! Ok, so maybe Betty doesn’t have the answer to that last one, but it was worth a shot. 

Betty Siegel is the Director of Accessibility and VSA for the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. She has worked in the areas of disability rights and access for over 20 years, and gives presentations across the US and internationally on the topics of disability, civil and cultural rights, and federal disability laws and regulations. 

Get in contact with Betty and her team at the Kennedy Center: 
access@kennedy-center.org 

Produced by Scott MacDonald 
Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz 
https://breakalegpod.buzzsprout.com/ 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introductions
• 1:26 ACCESSible HOLLYWOOD
• 3:53 Betty's Career
• 11:10 VSA Playwrights Surprise!
• 20:30 Human Rights vs. Civil Rights
• 27:07 Comparing Disability Models
• 37:40 Historical Touchpoints
• 42:43 How is the ADA Enforced?
• 44:29 Grandfather Laws?
• 49:00 Designing for People vs. The Law
• 52:09 Accommodating Arts Patrons
• 58:16 Plugs