The mission of the National Arts & Disability Center (NADC) is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community.

What does the NADC do for artists with disabilities?

• Features artists with disabilities on our web tour
• Promotes artists’ work through our online gallery at no cost
• Disseminates articles/information about artists’ work through our listserv
• Refers organizations or cultural venues to artists with disabilities
• Provides information on funding and calls for entries
• Advocates and trains organizations and cultural venues to be more accessible to artists with disabilities
• Helps artists to network through the California Arts and Disability Network
• Offers technical assistance through our Help Desk

What are examples of NADC Services?

• Resource directories for artists with disabilities to find assistive technology, art centers, dance and theater companies, film festivals, and much more.
• Publication lists on the topics of careers in the arts, arts education, funding, marketing, etc.
• Specialized consultation to assist artists in their career development
• Advocacy and networking
• Maintains the “California Directory of Artists with Disabilities”
• Administers the California Arts and Accessibility Technical Assistance mini-grant program

Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities Initiative
Under the administration of the NADC and in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and VSA arts, 26 state arts agencies and their partners conducted statewide activities to advance the employment of artists and administrators with disabilities. The Forums seek to provide artists with disabilities the opportunity to network with other artists and potential arts employers. In addition, the Forums and follow-up activities provide professional development training and opportunities for artists with disabilities along with a unique understanding of the impact of work on benefits.

2002: Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico
2003: California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Washington
2004: Arkansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Texas
2005: Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Ohio
2006: Tennessee, Maine
2007: Michigan, North Dakota and Colorado
2008: Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey

About the NADC
The NADC is a leading consultant in the arts and disability community, and the only center of its kind. Recipients of our technical assistance include museums, performing arts organizations, art centers, film and television companies and unions, universities and colleges, national publications, disability specific groups, artists with disabilities, arts educators, students, arts administrators and government policy makers.
The NADC is a program of the Tarjan Center at the University of California, Los Angeles - Semel Institute. Its programs are supported by UCLA and federal, state and private grants and contracts.