New Jersey: Cultural Access Network Project

One of the ways the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) fosters accessibility is through its sponsorship and advisory leadership of the Cultural Access Network Project (CANP). With the support of NJSCA and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, its cosponsor, CANP offers trainings, roundtable discussions and other technical assistance services—as well as a resource library and a deep base of knowledge—to help venues and cultural organizations ensure program and facility accessibility to seniors and people with disabilities. The impact of CANP’s efforts was recognized in 2004 with a National Accessibility Leadership Award from NASAA, the NEA and Coca-Cola. Since then, CANP has expanded its efforts to facilitate NJSCA’s process of reviewing plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), required from all NJSCA grantees. In particular, grantees develop their ADA plan using CANP’s ADA self-assessment survey and planning tool. CANP also has introduced the Annual Excellence in Cultural Access Awards, which not only honor best practices and the people who implement them but also serve as a platform for networking, education and advocacy. Find out more about from NJSCA Director of Arts Inclusion and Access Coordinator Don Ehman, who collaborates with CANP on its annual service offerings, participates in its workshops and sits on the CANP steering committee.