AVSS

Betty Siegal
Director of the Office of VSA and Accessibility
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts


Ms. Siegel is a leading expert in disability, arts, and cultural accessibility. For 25+ years, she has served as Director of the Office of Accessibility and VSA at the Kennedy Center, working nationally and internationally to ensure people with disabilities across the lifespan have the right to access arts and cultural experiences and spaces. Under her vision and leadership, venues from theaters to museums to parks and stadiums have convened annually at LEAD® to explore innovative practices, technology and compliance issues. She is currently overseeing a research project examining the user experience with assistive listening devices in theaters and museums, and a large national apprenticeship/internship project to support individuals with disabilities seeking creative careers. Her accomplishments at the Center include producing Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator's Handbook, being named a UN Cultural Rights Defender, receiving the Barrier-Free America Award (2022), appointment to the U.S. Access Board (2024) and earning recognition from the Zero Project and Forbes Accessibility 100 (2025). She is a sought-after speaker and trainer with a JD from the Columbus School of Law.

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