Our History

A National Movement, Rooted in Local Action

Project Access for All was created in 2009 at the suggestion of Kareem Dale, then Special Advisor to President Barack Obama on Disability Policy. The initiative grew from a national working group that convened cultural and government leaders — including staff from museums, arts institutions, funding agencies, and foundations — to develop bold, collaborative strategies for advancing accessibility.

That early coalition partnered with Art Beyond Sight (ABS), a New York–based nonprofit with decades of leadership in arts inclusion and disability access.

The founding partners of this national platform included:

  • National Endowment for the Arts

  • American Association for State and Local History

  • American Association of Museums

  • Association of Science – Technology Centers

  • Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Project Access for All is continued to be coordinated by Art Beyond Sight, and is not owned by any single institution or individual. The platform reflects the leadership and vision of its users, advancing opportunity, equality, and inclusion through shared tools and direct civic engagement.

Most content on this site is also shared on DisabilityUnite.org.
Disability Unite is one of several initiatives of Project Access for All. While the platform is called “Disability Unite,” we recognize that the disability community spans many identities — by race, gender, age, class, national origin, and more. Each individual and group has the unconditional right to advocate in whatever way they choose.

The Founding of Project Access NYC

Project Access NYC was created in 2010 at the suggestion of Matthew Sapolin, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD). Commissioner Sapolin invited Art Beyond Sight to bring the national Project Access model to New York City’s diverse and dynamic cultural ecosystem.

The NYC platform officially launched at Gracie Mansion on July 27, 2010 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Matt Sapolin. PANYC provided the tools and community infrastructure to unify the city’s cultural institutions, service providers, and advocates around a shared commitment to accessibility and a vehicle to partner with MOPD.

Since that time, Project Access NYC has led and co-organized many groundbreaking events and professional development initiatives, including:

Best Practices for Inclusion in the Arts (2013)

A full-day symposium hosted at the Museum of Modern Art with the Department of Cultural Affairs, MOPD, ABS, and partners from across the city’s cultural sector.

Opening the Digital Doorway (2014)

A professional development series held at the Morgan Library, exploring digital accessibility in museum and arts environments.

ADA25NYC (2015)

In partnership with MOPD, DCA, ABS, and dozens of advocacy groups and service providers, Project Access NYC helped organize New York City’s official celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Honoring Edith Prentiss: A Legacy of Local Leadership

We proudly honor the memory of Edith Prentiss (1952–2021), a powerful advocate and longtime supporter of both Project Access for All and Project Access NYC.

Edith brought fierce determination, unmatched knowledge, and community accountability to every space she entered. Through her advocacy in city government and grassroots organizing alike, she fought for inclusive transportation, accessible public programs, and the full participation of people with disabilities in civic life.

In honor of her legacy:

  • A commemorative plaque was installed at the 175th Street A subway station in Washington Heights, her home station.

  • The elevator at 177th Street and Fort Washington Avenue has been named in her honor by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

Edith’s voice, leadership, and example live on in every barrier we break.

Honoring Judith “Judy” Heumann

A Legacy of Advocacy, Media Representation, and Cross-Movement Leadership

Judy Heumann (1947–2023), widely regarded as the “mother of the disability rights movement,” was a visionary leader whose advocacy shaped the course of disability policy in the United States and around the world. From co-leading the historic 504 Sit-In to advising multiple presidential administrations, her life’s work transformed education, civil rights, and independent living for people with disabilities.

In her later years, Judy was a bold voice in advancing authentic disability representation in media and culture. Several Project Access for All partners — who collaborated with Judy at the time by contributing their work to her documentation and ideas, and who continue that work today — supported her in advancing initiatives that promote visibility, inclusion, and leadership of disabled people across film, television, publishing, and public storytelling.

This shared work helped establish new models of partnership across media, advocacy, and cultural organizations — and continues to influence Project Access’s commitment to narrative justice, inclusive leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. Judy’s legacy lives on in every cultural institution that centers disabled stories, every screen that includes authentic disabled talent, and every movement that builds on her call for dignity, voice, and full participation.

In Her Own Words

“Change never happens at the pace we think it should. It happens because people like you and me choose to make it happen.”

— Judith Heumann