ACCESSforALL
ACCESSforALL is an accessibility consultation and training service, providing cultural communities and businesses the opportunity to expand and enrich how they engage with the public. We provide a range of disability services, from accessibility audits, to program consultations, strategic planning, and staff training.
Our team has a combined total of over 50 years of experience in designing accessible programs, engaging the community, and designing audience communications. With backgrounds in arts administration, education, and nonprofits, our team is skilled at working within limited budgets and with small teams.
With deep ties to the East End and team members on the Southampton Town Disability Advisory Task Force (DATF) and Southampton Arts & Culture Committee (SHACC), we have a demonstrated commitment to improving accessibility in our community.
History
Ava Locks first embarked on what would become ACCESSforALL’s model over twenty years ago when she was hired to design exhibitions and programs for the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE).
At the time children’s museums were at the forefront of providing accommodations to children with Autism to explore their exhibitions in a modified environment with reduced sensory stimuli, designated quiet spaces, and additional assistive technologies. These initiatives inspired Locks to obtain her degree in special education and continue her work in community engagement.
After years of in-house and freelance accessibility work, Locks launched ACCESSforALL with Elka Rifkin and Brian O’Mahoney in 2024 to bring renewed focus and attention to the needs of the disabled community on Long Island’s East End, and beyond.