On July 12, the Disability Friendly Community and the Lehigh Valley Arts Council will present Champions of Inclusion, a trade fair for greater cultural access and a performance by comedian Josh Blue from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.

Champions honors 12 organizations that have advanced greater inclusion in the arts and welcomes both arts and social service administrators, plus individuals with disabilities and their families for an afternoon of learning and laughter.

“The Lehigh Valley has a rich and diverse arts culture, but too often those experiences are closed to people with disabilities,” Randall Forte, arts council executive director said.

“We need to raise awareness about removing barriers and the challenges faced by this underserved community.”

Program agenda

This multifaceted trade fair will kick off the celebration at 1 p.m. with presentations on best practices and sharing strategies for success. Special guest Street Thomas, the former accessibility program manager at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will tell his story about developing an accessibility program at one of largest art museums in the country.

At 3:30 p.m., Josh Blue will perform. Blue is an acclaimed comedian who uses his own affliction with cerebral palsy as part of his routine. He is known for his ability to improvise and encourage his audience to overcome preconceived notions about people who are labeled as “disabled.” Blue was the grand prize winner at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, has appeared on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and is a favorite on the college comedy circuit.

A dessert reception will follow Blue’s performance. As an added treat, visitors will enjoy musical performances and artwork on exhibit by local artists and the opportunity to mingle with friends and colleagues.

Twelve Champions of Inclusion

The trade fair will feature six cultural organizations and six human service agencies that will provide the public with information on the various programs they support, including sensory-friendly performances for children with autism; audio-described, open-captioned and ASL-interpreted theatrical performances for people with vision and hearing loss; lectures, poetry readings, visual art classes, and gallery and museum exhibitions.

Vendors include: Act One, DeSales University; ARCH of Lehigh Valley; The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties; The Art Establishment; Café The Lodge; Center for Vision Loss; Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network; Lehigh University Art Galleries; LVCIL; Mikayla’s Voice; Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre; and PA Shakespeare Festival.

Service providers who do ASL, audio description and open captioning will also be available to answer questions.

More information

Admission to the trade fair is free; however, Blue’s performance is a separate ticketed event. Tickets are general admission but must be secured in advance.

Arts Council and Disability Friendly Community members attend for free and can reserve their tickets by calling the office or emailing info@lvartscouncil.org.

A limited number of tickets are available for nonmembers and can be purchased on LVArtsBoxOffice.org.