The Equal Access Project

In 2016, Ex Fabula kicked off a new project, Equal Access, which aimed to make our programming more accessible and welcoming for people with disabilities (PWD). We wanted to celebrate individuals with disabilities as assets to the Milwaukee community – and in process, allow audience members to learn by hearing perspectives that are sometimes overlooked.

Project activities included:

  • Accessibility audits of our venues, website, and event procedures
  • Training our staff and volunteers to better support individuals with disabilities
  • A series of free workshops offered at organizations that serve individuals with disabilities

Since then, Ex Fabula has increased the variety of accomodations that we offer, further updated our procedures and policies with accessibility in mind, created new programming like the Deaf StorySlam, and amplifed the stories of individuals through media pieces including videos and our radio show and podcast, Real Stories MKE. We continue learning, so please contact us with additional suggestions!

As a result, we’ve significantly increased the representation of people with disabilities throughout the organization – as workshop participants, storytellers, and audience members, but also as storytelling coaches, volunteers, and staff members.

The project also helps to educate the broader community. For example, here’s a comment from Ex Fabula volunteer Zach Lifton, after he supported an Equal Access Project participant at the 2018 New Year Spectacular:

“While I know the goal of the Equal Access Project is to make storytelling more accessible to those with disabilities, (…) an additional [positive] consequence is that it exposes “able-bodied” volunteers like myself to a whole different community and life experience–and thus a whole different understanding of folks beyond the bubble of my everyday world.”

Media coverage

A man in his 20s holds a microphone while telling his story. He is blind, has light brown skin and short hair, and is wearing a navy and white checked button down shirt.
An older white man sits in chair with his walker in front of him. He holds a microphone and tells a story. He is smiling. He has tinted glasses and wears a maroon sweatshirt and black pants.
A young Black woman sits in a power wheelchair and tells a story. She's wearing a light blue shirt that says Youth Leadership Summit. Her shoulder-length hair is partly pulled into a puff on top of her head. To her left stands a short white woman with auburn hair and glasses. She is wearing an Ex Fabula black t-shirt ad holding a microphone for the young woman.

Thank you to the Funders & Partners who make the Equal Access Project – including the Deaf Stories Project – possible!

     Ex Fabula members             Wispact Foundation              Bader Philanthropies Inc.
 State of Wisconsin Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing               George F. Moss Foundation
Christine Symchych and Jim McNulty
Select funders and partners for previous years:

              Milwaukee Public Library Foundation                IndependenceFirst                          CAMPAC                   ACAP             Milwaukee Arts Board

the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin               Pink Umbrella Theater                   Vision Forward

Bert L And Patricia S Steigleder Charitable Trust              Maihaugen Foundation           Broadscope Disability Services

Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center               Milwaukee  LGBT Community Center         Audio & Braille Literary Enhancement (ABLE)