At PYD, inclusion is core to the work we do and who we are as an organization. We believe in creating spaces where people of all abilities and disabilities, identities, and backgrounds can be comfortable being their full, complete selves. We believe that diverse and inclusive spaces empower individuals, heal communities, and create a better world for us all.
Our goal is to make sure everyone can meaningfully participate in all of our programs and events to the degree they desire. We provide many standard accommodations at our programs and events, as detailed below, and additional accommodations are always available upon request. If you need any additional accommodations for a program or have any questions, please contact us.
Mobility Access
All PYD programs and events are held in fully accessible locations. We will only host events in locations with easy access to multiple means of transportation (including the MBTA), with accessible entrances, clear and wide pathways, clear and simple navigation aids, and accessible bathrooms.
The PYD office is located on the third floor of a building, but is accessible via elevator access. For more on our office location, see our Contact Us page.
If you have any difficulty with the accessibility of one of the locations selected for a PYD program or event, please bring your concerns to a staff member.
Web Accessibility
When designing our web properties, we have made web accessibility our top priority. Our current site was designed by the Thunder Media Group as part of the 2018 Accessibility Internet Rally (OpenAIR) hosted by Knowbility. As part of the OpenAir competition, the website was evaluated for how well it met the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Real-time Captioning (CART)
Real-time captioning is provided at large PYD events (i.e. Mentor Appreciation Night and Party for PYD), and during presentations at the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF).
CART can also be provided at other PYD events and programs by request. If you will need live captioning, please let our staff know 2-3 weeks in advance – or barring that, as soon as you are able to. We will do our best to fill all requests brought to us, depending on interpreter availability.
Sign Language Interpretation
Sign language interpreters are provided at all our theater arts performances, and they can be provided for other programs or events by request. If you will need an interpreter for a particular program or event, please let our staff know 2-3 weeks in advance – or barring that, as soon as you are able to. We will do our best to fill all requests brought to us, depending on interpreter availability.
Personal Care Assistants
Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) are provided at all large PYD events (Mentor Appreciation Night, PYD Holiday Party, and Party for PYD) and at every rehearsal and performance of our theater arts program.
PCAs can also be provided at other PYD events and programs by request. If you will need a PCA, please let our staff know 2-3 weeks in advance – or barring that, as soon as you are able to. We will do our best to fill all requests brought to us, depending on PCA availability.
Live Audio Description
PYD’s theater performances are all audio described. We can also provide audio description at other PYD events and programs by request. Please let our staff know 2-3 weeks in advance – or barring that, as soon as you are able to. We will do our best to fill all requests brought to us, depending on availability.
Human Guide
If you would like a human/sighted guide at any PYD event or program, please let our staff know. Our staff have all been trained in the basics of human guide, and we’re glad to lend an arm whenever needed.
Accessible Print
All PYD print materials can be provided in large print font or via email by request. If you would like particular materials to be provided in large print font or via email, please let a program staff know.
Webinar Platform
We host out webinars and online trainings on the platform BigBlueButton, which is an open source eLearning platform that has been designed to be WCAG 2.0 Level A compliant. They have had their platform audited for accessibility, are open about their platform’s strengths and weaknesses (and their efforts to improve upon their weak areas), and work with disabled developers.
If you have any access issues while attending a PYD online webinar or training, please contact us so we can provide them with user feedback.