At NAS, we have always strived to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to fully participate. Over the years, we have increasingly worked to center access in our gatherings, and we’ve learned countless lessons—many of them thanks to the generosity of those who have guided us along the way, including through community feedback, paid consulting, and strategic partnerships. We honor those lessons and the people who have shaped our approach, and we also recognize that there’s much more to learn.
NAS is shaped by an incredible mix of long-standing team members and those who’ve joined us for a time—each bringing different perspectives, lived experiences, and understandings of what true access means. While we strive to create spaces for all, we know we haven’t always gotten it right. There have been moments of confusion, reflection, and deep learning along the way. These moments continue to push us to listen more deeply, to act more intentionally, and to grow both individually and collectively.
For me personally, this journey both at NAS and in previous organizations has been both eye-opening and humbling. I’ve had to confront my own assumptions about what “access” really means, not just in theory, but in the day to day decisions that shape how I’ve designed and hosted events, workshops or classes on my own as well as with organizations I’ve worked with. I’ve realized how often speed, tradition, convenience or my own anxieties can unintentionally get in the way of true inclusion. At times, it’s meant slowing down, asking more questions, and being open to feedback I didn’t know I needed (just thinking back on certain scenarios makes me break out in a sweat!) It’s also been deeply rewarding to witness moments when small shifts made a big difference, or when someone felt seen because we took the time to consider their needs. We’re all undoubtedly still learning, and I for one know I’ll continue to make mistakes, but we’re all committed to doing better and to growing alongside the communities we serve and each other at NAS.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As we think about what deeper learning looks like not just for us as a team, but also as individuals, we are thrilled to partner with Think Outside the Vox (Vox) for NAS Homecoming 2025. Vox is an arts accessibility nonprofit that trains and facilitates Deaf, Blind and disabled professionals to develop and diversify the voices in accessibility in the arts sector. Vox has partnered with theaters, museums, cultural institutions, and now NAS, to model and develop community-centered accessibility and inclusion.
With time, we have come to understand that accessibility isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about making sure that every participant can engage, connect, and contribute in a meaningful way. But what does that truly look like in practice? How do we move beyond good intentions to create sustainable impact?
Through this collaboration, we’re not just planning a more inclusive event—we’re building a stronger foundation for accessibility in everything we do. We’re sharing our process so you can better understand how your needs will be met at our events, and so that you can learn with us in planning your own.
This is an opportunity for all of us to grow, to listen, and to take action. We invite you to be part of it.
Examining Accessibility Planning Through Homecoming 2025
Vox’s approach is rooted in Universal Design principles. Universal Design principles are all about making spaces, programs, and experiences accessible to everyone, no matter their ability, background, or circumstance. Think of it as designing from the start with inclusivity in mind—so no one has to ask for special accommodations later—it’s about hospitality, not compliance.
For a US-based Design Principles resource click here
For a UK-based Design Principles resource click here
A few months prior to the event itself, we began working with Vox to ensure that the space is physically accessible, building on the practices we had already been cultivating, and taking them to the next level with Vox’s expertise and partnership. We’ve also been doing the same with communication materials in order to meet a variety of needs. Maybe you’ve already noticed a difference! From evaluating the language we use in our forms to stating things more plainly, to teaching us about the need for screen reader compatibility and when to have alternatives (ie: our upcoming Alumni Map will need an accompanying PDF), we are grasping a more comprehensive view of the interconnected factors that shape an experience. They’re also consulting on our messaging and methods as needed, and coaching us on when to dig in or scale back. They will customize our resources and toolkit, such as “Know Before You Go” accessibility guides and communication protocols, so attendees can prepare for and navigate the space comfortably.
By integrating accessibility at every stage, Vox is helping us create events where everyone can be and feel included, valued, and heard. As Vox has told us, true accessibility and justice isn’t just removing barriers–it’s about designing spaces and experiences where everyone belongs.
A Wider Lens: Meaningful On-Site Support
One of the most valuable aspects of this partnership is the boots-on-the-ground support Vox will provide during Homecoming. At first, we weren’t entirely sure what that would look like, but in our conversations, they helped clarify its impact in a powerful way.
During Homecoming, the Vox team will actively foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. Their trained facilitators will help incorporate different processing and communication styles by troubleshooting technology and collaborating with interpreters and discussion facilitators.
We’ve experienced Vox’s skillfulness in this work firsthand. Before partnering with them on Homecoming, as a participant in The Project, Vox helped us see the need for real time adjustments in that program that we didn’t anticipate. That labor wasn’t theirs to hold as program participants, and yet they generously offered perspectives that helped widen our lens, bringing up areas where we could do better with thoughtfulness and care. By calling us in rather than out, they helped us see how we could do better. In doing so, they didn’t leave room for shame; instead, they sparked our curiosity and deepened our intention to do better.
If I’m honest, this has been one of the most tender parts of the journey for me. I know, in my head, that perfection isn’t the goal—but my upbringing and the world have taught me to strive for it anyway. So when I make a misstep that affects someone else, the shame can feel immediate and heavy. But it’s in those moments when I’m met with grace instead of judgment that I’m reminded this work isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about staying open, staying in it, and choosing to grow, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Post-Homecoming Reflection & Continuous Learnings for NAS Events, Programs & Beyond
NAS believes that access is about increasing awareness as an ongoing commitment and about building meaningful and reciprocal relationships. After the event, Vox will offer their insights and recommendations for future events to help us ensure that accessibility remains a priority in both physical and virtual NAS gatherings. As we move forward, we carry the lessons from this partnership not as a checklist, but as a mindset—one rooted in humility, curiosity, and care. Accessibility isn’t a destination; it’s a continuous practice of listening, adjusting, and growing in relationship with others. We’re grateful to be learning alongside Vox, and committed to integrating best accessible practices along with previous learnings into the ever growing fabric of NAS—at Homecoming and in every space we create.
On a personal note, this experience has reminded me that leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it means being willing to stay open, especially when it’s uncomfortable. I’m thankful for the grace, patience, and perspective that have helped me grow and I’m hopeful for what I’ll build alongside NAS together from here.
——-
More On Think Outside the Vox, Our Partner & Community Member!
Think Outside the Vox closes the gap between Deaf/Disabled patrons, BIPOC/AAPI/marginalized/disabled artists, access providers, and arts organizations, which are often inaccessible. They provide arts access consulting, coordination training and mentorship to institutions and individuals that centers on anti-ableist, anti-racist disability culture.
Vox is committed to fostering and diversifying Disability Justice & Joy through Arts Accessibility. You can learn more about Vox on their website, gain insights from their resources page and explore their partnerships and projects on their Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
We are grateful to learn from Think Outside the Vox’s expertise, to work alongside them, and to celebrate and uplift the work of one of our own program participants (shoutout to The Project!). Vox are professionals who are actively expanding accessibility in the arts and beyond. Their thoughtful consulting, real-time support, and post-event reflection will allow us to continue embedding best practices in access every step of the way now and moving forward.
Learn more about Vox and subscribe to their newsletter.
Contact info@ThinkOutsideTheVox.org if you have further questions
At NAS, we have always strived to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to fully participate. Over the years, we have increasingly worked to center access in our gatherings, and we’ve learned countless lessons—many of them thanks to the generosity of those who have guided us along the way, including through community feedback, paid consulting, and strategic partnerships. We honor those lessons and the people who have shaped our approach, and we also recognize that there’s much more to learn.
NAS is shaped by an incredible mix of long-standing team members and those who’ve joined us for a time—each bringing different perspectives, lived experiences, and understandings of what true access means. While we strive to create spaces for all, we know we haven’t always gotten it right. There have been moments of confusion, reflection, and deep learning along the way. These moments continue to push us to listen more deeply, to act more intentionally, and to grow both individually and collectively.
For me personally, this journey both at NAS and in previous organizations has been both eye-opening and humbling. I’ve had to confront my own assumptions about what “access” really means, not just in theory, but in the day to day decisions that shape how I’ve designed and hosted events, workshops or classes on my own as well as with organizations I’ve worked with. I’ve realized how often speed, tradition, convenience or my own anxieties can unintentionally get in the way of true inclusion. At times, it’s meant slowing down, asking more questions, and being open to feedback I didn’t know I needed (just thinking back on certain scenarios makes me break out in a sweat!) It’s also been deeply rewarding to witness moments when small shifts made a big difference, or when someone felt seen because we took the time to consider their needs. We’re all undoubtedly still learning, and I for one know I’ll continue to make mistakes, but we’re all committed to doing better and to growing alongside the communities we serve and each other at NAS.
Where Do We Go From Here?
As we think about what deeper learning looks like not just for us as a team, but also as individuals, we are thrilled to partner with Think Outside the Vox (Vox) for NAS Homecoming 2025. Vox is an arts accessibility nonprofit that trains and facilitates Deaf, Blind and disabled professionals to develop and diversify the voices in accessibility in the arts sector. Vox has partnered with theaters, museums, cultural institutions, and now NAS, to model and develop community-centered accessibility and inclusion.
With time, we have come to understand that accessibility isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about making sure that every participant can engage, connect, and contribute in a meaningful way. But what does that truly look like in practice? How do we move beyond good intentions to create sustainable impact?
Through this collaboration, we’re not just planning a more inclusive event—we’re building a stronger foundation for accessibility in everything we do. We’re sharing our process so you can better understand how your needs will be met at our events, and so that you can learn with us in planning your own.
This is an opportunity for all of us to grow, to listen, and to take action. We invite you to be part of it.
Examining Accessibility Planning Through Homecoming 2025
Vox’s approach is rooted in Universal Design principles. Universal Design principles are all about making spaces, programs, and experiences accessible to everyone, no matter their ability, background, or circumstance. Think of it as designing from the start with inclusivity in mind—so no one has to ask for special accommodations later—it’s about hospitality, not compliance.
For a US-based Design Principles resource click here
For a UK-based Design Principles resource click here
A few months prior to the event itself, we began working with Vox to ensure that the space is physically accessible, building on the practices we had already been cultivating, and taking them to the next level with Vox’s expertise and partnership. We’ve also been doing the same with communication materials in order to meet a variety of needs. Maybe you’ve already noticed a difference! From evaluating the language we use in our forms to stating things more plainly, to teaching us about the need for screen reader compatibility and when to have alternatives (ie: our upcoming Alumni Map will need an accompanying PDF), we are grasping a more comprehensive view of the interconnected factors that shape an experience. They’re also consulting on our messaging and methods as needed, and coaching us on when to dig in or scale back. They will customize our resources and toolkit, such as “Know Before You Go” accessibility guides and communication protocols, so attendees can prepare for and navigate the space comfortably.
By integrating accessibility at every stage, Vox is helping us create events where everyone can be and feel included, valued, and heard. As Vox has told us, true accessibility and justice isn’t just removing barriers–it’s about designing spaces and experiences where everyone belongs.
A Wider Lens: Meaningful On-Site Support
One of the most valuable aspects of this partnership is the boots-on-the-ground support Vox will provide during Homecoming. At first, we weren’t entirely sure what that would look like, but in our conversations, they helped clarify its impact in a powerful way.
During Homecoming, the Vox team will actively foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. Their trained facilitators will help incorporate different processing and communication styles by troubleshooting technology and collaborating with interpreters and discussion facilitators.
We’ve experienced Vox’s skillfulness in this work firsthand. Before partnering with them on Homecoming, as a participant in The Project, Vox helped us see the need for real time adjustments in that program that we didn’t anticipate. That labor wasn’t theirs to hold as program participants, and yet they generously offered perspectives that helped widen our lens, bringing up areas where we could do better with thoughtfulness and care. By calling us in rather than out, they helped us see how we could do better. In doing so, they didn’t leave room for shame; instead, they sparked our curiosity and deepened our intention to do better.
If I’m honest, this has been one of the most tender parts of the journey for me. I know, in my head, that perfection isn’t the goal—but my upbringing and the world have taught me to strive for it anyway. So when I make a misstep that affects someone else, the shame can feel immediate and heavy. But it’s in those moments when I’m met with grace instead of judgment that I’m reminded this work isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about staying open, staying in it, and choosing to grow, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Post-Homecoming Reflection & Continuous Learnings for NAS Events, Programs & Beyond
NAS believes that access is about increasing awareness as an ongoing commitment and about building meaningful and reciprocal relationships. After the event, Vox will offer their insights and recommendations for future events to help us ensure that accessibility remains a priority in both physical and virtual NAS gatherings. As we move forward, we carry the lessons from this partnership not as a checklist, but as a mindset—one rooted in humility, curiosity, and care. Accessibility isn’t a destination; it’s a continuous practice of listening, adjusting, and growing in relationship with others. We’re grateful to be learning alongside Vox, and committed to integrating best accessible practices along with previous learnings into the ever growing fabric of NAS—at Homecoming and in every space we create.
On a personal note, this experience has reminded me that leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it means being willing to stay open, especially when it’s uncomfortable. I’m thankful for the grace, patience, and perspective that have helped me grow and I’m hopeful for what I’ll build alongside NAS together from here.
——-
More On Think Outside the Vox, Our Partner & Community Member!
Think Outside the Vox closes the gap between Deaf/Disabled patrons, BIPOC/AAPI/marginalized/disabled artists, access providers, and arts organizations, which are often inaccessible. They provide arts access consulting, coordination training and mentorship to institutions and individuals that centers on anti-ableist, anti-racist disability culture.
Vox is committed to fostering and diversifying Disability Justice & Joy through Arts Accessibility. You can learn more about Vox on their website, gain insights from their resources page and explore their partnerships and projects on their Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
We are grateful to learn from Think Outside the Vox’s expertise, to work alongside them, and to celebrate and uplift the work of one of our own program participants (shoutout to The Project!). Vox are professionals who are actively expanding accessibility in the arts and beyond. Their thoughtful consulting, real-time support, and post-event reflection will allow us to continue embedding best practices in access every step of the way now and moving forward.
Learn more about Vox and subscribe to their newsletter.
Contact info@ThinkOutsideTheVox.org if you have further questions
