Betty Siegel, JD
Director, Office of Accessibility and VSA
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Betty Siegel, JD is currenlty the Director of the Office of Accessbility and VSA at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
She believes making cultural experiences and spaces inclusive of people with disabilities of all ages is an essential civil, cultural and human right. An innovative expert in disability, arts, and cultural practices, she has been at the Kennedy Center for over 20 years where she has the privilege of working at the national and international level to improve and support equal rights to engage and participate in the arts for people with disabilities of all ages As a noted-national expert across the field of arts and disability, she is especially proud of a number of accomplishments. These include: producing and publishing “Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrators Handbook”; creating and leading a community of practices which just passed its 23rd year convening LEAD® with 960 accessibility and cultural arts professionals from more than 500 organizations around the world; having LEAD® recognized by the UN as a Cultural Rights Defender (UN Special Rapporteur report, March 2020); and finally in 2022 having the Kennedy Center recognized by the Paralyzed Veterans of America with one of their highest and most prestigious honor, the Barrier-Free America Award.
She is a respected speaker, delivering keynotes, lectures and training around the world. Her JD is from the Columbus School of Law and in 2021 she founded the Access Advisory Group a company providing bespoke accessibility consulting and training.
She believes making cultural experiences and spaces inclusive of people with disabilities of all ages is an essential civil, cultural and human right. An innovative expert in disability, arts, and cultural practices, she has been at the Kennedy Center for over 20 years where she has the privilege of working at the national and international level to improve and support equal rights to engage and participate in the arts for people with disabilities of all ages As a noted-national expert across the field of arts and disability, she is especially proud of a number of accomplishments. These include: producing and publishing “Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrators Handbook”; creating and leading a community of practices which just passed its 23rd year convening LEAD® with 960 accessibility and cultural arts professionals from more than 500 organizations around the world; having LEAD® recognized by the UN as a Cultural Rights Defender (UN Special Rapporteur report, March 2020); and finally in 2022 having the Kennedy Center recognized by the Paralyzed Veterans of America with one of their highest and most prestigious honor, the Barrier-Free America Award.
She is a respected speaker, delivering keynotes, lectures and training around the world. Her JD is from the Columbus School of Law and in 2021 she founded the Access Advisory Group a company providing bespoke accessibility consulting and training.