Services

Our Services

  • We offer concierge anti-ableist consulting to performing arts institutions, custom-fit to their unique needs, culture, and capacity.
  • Our culturally expert consultants guide arts groups in designing, executing, and integrating access services that are culturally competent and sustainable. These services are developed by and for Deaf, Disabled, and BIPOC/AAPI communities.
  • We prioritize obtaining and granting subsidies for these services whenever feasible because access is an essential service.
  • Vox provides culturally competent access training to Deaf, disabled and marginalized (BIPOC/AAPI/LGBTQ+) access providers to expand the field of culturally expert access providers locally and globally. (See Education Page)
  • Our goal is to enhance and grow the domain of culturally expert access providers both locally and globally.
  • Vox aids in the referral, hiring, and onboarding of culturally competent access providers.
  • We partner with institutions that are eager and equipped to amplify their access in a thoughtful, anti-ableist manner.
  • We offer webinars on a variety of topics and can customize an anti-ableist training for your arts organization.
  • Vox expert consultants are available for public speaking engagements and to serve as panelists on topics of best practices in arts access.
  • Vox non-negotiables are that we will not serve as token experts, to check a legal compliance box or as part of a punitive process.

Where to start

Ask yourself these questions:

  • In what way is my organization barrier ridden? How do you prioritize accessibility within your current DEI initiatives?
  • How do you find out what you don’t know? Who can you ask?
  • Who are your stakeholders? How do you identify, find and retain them?
Apply for Services
(Subsidies Available)
Would you visit arts and cultural organizations more often if they were more accessible or better met your access needs?
Feedback from patrons, artists and cultural workers with disabilities, and caregivers of people with disabilities.
Data is from a survey conducted by Open Door Arts, “Massachusetts Arts & Culture Access Survey”.
Answer Choices Number of Responses Response Percentage
Yes 183 72.05%
No 2 0.79%
Maybe 47 18.50%
Access needs do not impact how frequently I/we visit arts and cultural organizations 22 8.66%
Total 254 100%
Bar graph that visually portrays the results from the Open Door Arts survey question.

Contact VOX

(774) 257-5254

info@thinkoutsidethevox.org

Testimonials

Sam and Chris of Think Outside the Vox are leaders in the field of accessibility within performing arts settings.  Their dedication and passion for making theater welcoming to everyone, both front of house and back of house, on-stage and off-stage, is unwavering. They work tirelessly with theaters of all sizes, encouraging them to incorporate anti-ableist and anti-racist practices within their organizations for company members and patrons. I have had the good fortune of working with them as colleagues, as theatrical consultants, and with Chris as an ASL Interpreter, and have always appreciated their insights on ways to ensure equitable experiences for all.


– JULIE SIMON, PH.D., RID CI/CT
Box Office and Accessibility Manager, Oregon Cabaret Theatre

I’ve been leading my organization in an accessibility journey for a few years now and the benefit of being able to ask questions and learn from my colleagues in the field is honestly immeasurable. Be it everyday matters of language or contacts, or larger conceptual challenges of identifying funding sources or building an audience, I have relied heavily on Sam and the wisdom she’s been willing to share. Vox is so generous and eager to help, and I’ve found that to be enormously beneficial in my own personal growth, as well as that of the organization for whom I work.


– ALEX LONATI
Community & Artistic Programs Manager, SpeakEasy Stage Co.

I am writing in support of Sam Gould and Chris Robinson’s new nonprofit, Think Outside the Vox. Last year, I was invited to participate in free training and follow-up of an Audio Description course Sam and Chris held, intended to bring diversity to the Audio Description pool of describers. Thanks to this training and support, I have worked at numerous local theaters as an audio describer on a variety of shows. I am very grateful for Sam and Chris’s support and encouragement. With Sam’s Open Door Theater, and Chris’s ASL work, in addition to the training I attended, I see that they honestly “Walk the Walk” in regards to anti-ableism and anti-racism.


– GAMALIA PHARMS
Actor and Audio Describer