At Fun4TheDisabled, we’ve been imagining what Navy Pier could look like if designed by the Disability Community—a place where every attraction and performance is fully accessible to people of all abilities. In our last blog post, we explored this vision in depth, reimagining Navy Pier with ideas inspired by the community. DisFest at Chicago Live! is an exciting first step toward making this vision a reality, showing how Navy Pier is already moving toward greater accessibility and inclusion.
DisFest at Chicago Live! is a celebration of accessibility and artistry, designed to uplift performers and guests with disabilities. Known as one of the Midwest’s largest free accessible performing arts festivals, DisFest takes place in mid-September and offers an inclusive experience with state-of-the-art services. This year’s festival provided complimentary resources such as SoundShirts that translate music into physical sensations, an accessible shuttle, a low-sensory respite space, and ASL interpretation across multiple stages.
“At its core, Chicago Live! is all about accessibility, in every sense of the word,” said Erika Taylor, Navy Pier’s Vice President of Arts, Culture & Engagement. “We are committed to ensuring every audience member sees themselves reflected and celebrated in the programming we present.”
“I’m really hoping that people come away going, ‘Oh my God, that was fantastic.’ Disabled people can do whatever they want and create beautiful art. It’s that real-life, human connection, you know?” said Tekki Lomnicki, Founder and Artistic Director of Tellin’ Tales Theater.
This year’s lineup featured inclusive performance groups, including:
- Calculated Discomfort: Led by Chicago-based drummer and composer Tommy Carroll, who is blind, this electro-acoustic band creates a soundtrack for a more inclusive world. Using rhythms inspired by modern dance music as a foundation for improvisation, Carroll draws from rock, jazz, bluegrass, and soul, making every performance an eclectic experience.
- Tellin’ Tales Theatre: This 25-year-old company, founded by Tekki Lomnicki, breaks down barriers between disabled and non-disabled communities through the power of personal storytelling. Lomnicki, an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship recipient and a leader in the disability community, has dedicated Tellin’ Tales to sharing unique perspectives through theater.
- Momenta Dance Company: Based in Oak Park, Momenta brings together dancers with and without disabilities to create contemporary dance repertory that educates, innovates, and celebrates diverse talent. The company performs throughout Chicago and beyond, promoting inclusivity in the arts.
ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES AT DISFEST:
DisFest made sure everyone could fully enjoy the festival with a variety of accessible services:
SoundShirt™ Technology: This wearable device contains embedded micro-actuators that translate musical sounds into vibrations, allowing deaf or hard-of-hearing guests to feel the music. Different parts of the garment vibrate in response to specific instruments, offering a unique sensory experience.- ASL Interpreters: Available at the Peoples Gas Wave Wall Stage, East End Plaza Stage, and Chicago Sound Stage in the Beer Garden, ensuring all guests have access to performances.
- CART Captioning and Live Audio Descriptions on Instagram for East End Plaza Stage performances, making events more accessible to a wider audience.
- Accessibility Shuttles: Transport services from the West to East ends of the Pier, with stops near the DisFest Welcome Station, helped guests with mobility challenges navigate the festival with ease.
- Community Engagement Programs: Inclusive workshops led by organizations such as ReinventAbility, Tango21, Desueño Dance, A.B.L.E., and Kids Spectrum Dance provided hands-on, interactive opportunities for guests of all abilities.
- DisFest Welcome Station: Positioned near Kilwin’s and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Welcome Station offered valuable resources, from information on community accessibility to interactive programs like Draw the Music and Family Storytime. Guests also enjoyed a low-sensory space for breaks during the event.
DisFest brings accessibility and joy to Navy Pier once a year, but there’s always room for growth! What other activities or resources would make Navy Pier accessible year-round? Send us your suggestions, and we’ll share them. Let’s create an inclusive space together!
For more information, visit https://navypier.org/media-and-pr/disfest-at-chicago-live-to-uplift-guests-and-performers-with-disabilities/
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