Barrier-Free Blog

March Bulletin

3/16/2021

Contents:
Purple Bucket Campaign
LIVE Show Premiere
Spring Programming
Actor Spotlight
Grant Announcement

Support Barrier-Free

Those present in the early days of Barrier-Free may remember purchasing tickets and having their change made out of a plastic purple bucket. Click here to read our full story.

Although we are a long way from plastic bucket days, each year in March we host our Purple Bucket Direct Donation Campaign.

This year, a generous donor has agreed to match the first $2000 in donations!

Consider making a donation to Barrier-Free this month to help us reach our $4000 goal, for a total of $6000 after matching.

Willing to be a second matching donor? Contact us directly.

Click Here to Donate

Shows Premiering March 26th

Join us Friday, March 26 at 8pm for the premiere of "Abracadabra, Your Honor" and "I Do, I Think!"

Act I, "Abracadabra, Your Honor," is about a group of mischievous magicians who are hired to boost revenue at a struggling theater. After a few too many schemes, these magicians find themselves in court being sued by the theater staff! Will justice be served or do these magicians have another trick up their sleeve?

Act II, "I Do, I Think" is about love birds Luigi and Sloane preparing for their "best day ever!" Everything is smooth and perfect until Steve, an uninvited guest, comes crashing into the party. Will the wedding proceed? Has the big day been ruined? Can anyone stop Steve from eating all the lamb shanks? Tune in to find out!

These short-films will premiere LIVE on Youtube & Facebook Friday, March 26 at 8pm.

Spring Programming Announcement

This Spring brings THREE new programs to Barrier-Free!

Our Art of Performing/Inclusive Theater Companies will break for the spring/summer and resume in September.

All classes are mixed abilities and open to individuals 18+ with intellectual/developmental disabilities and autism.

These classes are perfect for new or returning Barrier-Free participants.

Click the image for more details and to register for each class.

Register for one, two, or all three programs!!

Use the "Spring Trifecta" link to use ONE registration form to register for all three programs.

Click Here to View our Enrollment Page

Fresh off the Press

Jorge Tirigall is a talented actor from Columbia, MD, and a member of our Art of Performing Company B. Catch him in his debut performance as Luigi Rodriguez in "I Do, I Think" premiering LIVE on our Youtube channel, Friday, March 26 at 8pm.

Thank you Jorge for representing actors with autism and sharing about your experiences with Barrier-Free!

Click Here for the Actor Spotlight

Grant Announcement

Barrier-Free is thrilled to announce we are the recipients of an Arts Opportunity Mini-Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council totaling $1000!

This Mini-Grant will allow us to purchase new high-quality editing software for our upcoming productions, fund our costume & prop budget, and enhance our marketing efforts for our shows.

Thank you Carroll County Arts Council for your support!!

Don't Forget to Donate!

Photo: Besties & Buds participants wrapping up an excellent class.
Don't miss out on your chance to join Besties & Buds Round Two starting Thursday, April 8th on Zoom!

Click Here to Donate

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Actor Spotlight - Jorge Tirigall

2/28/2021

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Jorge Tirigall is a talented actor from Columbia, MD, and a member of our Art of Performing Company B. Catch him in his debut performance as Luigi Rodriguez in "I Do, I Think" premiering LIVE on our Youtube channel and Facebook on Friday, March 26 at 8pm.

Thank you Jorge for representing actors with autism and sharing about your experiences with Barrier-Free!

View the video interview or read the full transcript below.

Question 1: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Jorge Tirigall. I am 23 years old. I was born on October the 24th 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland to my mom Roxanna Caruso and my dad Luis Tirigall.

Both my mom and dad were born in Argentina and immigrated to the United States. I describe myself as an American autistic who is descended from both Spanish ancestors and Italian ancestors.

Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?

I became involved in Barrier-Free since January of 2021.

Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?

To be quite honest, my favorite part is that I get to propose my own story ideas and to listen to the ideas of others. What I think around here is that, well, collaborating with others is I think a time of prosperity for the organization.

Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?

My favorite character that I played was Luigi Rodriguez. Luigi Rodriguez is the groom in the play "I Do, I Think" created by Britt Burr. I really think that the part that I played, Luigi Rodriguez, is I think wonderful because I play a leading role and I'm very humbled myself to do it.

Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?

Barrier-Free has allowed me to collaborate with Lauren Burr and come up with negotiable story ideas. In other words, everything I come up with is really accepted, but I think that all kinds of story ideas need to be very negotiable.

Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?

I like making movies, writing, drawing pictures, and saving money. I am saving my money for any purpose like vacation, renting an apartment, and I think that saving money is really important for anybody whether they be self-employed or working in another job,

Question 7: What would you tell someone that is interested in becoming involved in Barrier-Free programs?

I would tell my friends to join the Barrier-Free organization if they want to do activities and expand their creative, artistic, and acting skills.

Question 8: What do you want people to know about individuals with autism?

I want people to know that individuals with autism like me are not some sort of wild animal but rather intelligent creatures that can create new ideas and new innovations to the theater arts. I really think that people with autism like me can have the ability and comprehension to make that kind of contribution.

Fantastic Job Jorge!!

Final thoughts from Jorge Tirigall, "I want to thank you personally for giving me this interview so that everybody could know more about me and so that everybody can share my story."

Don't forget to tune in Friday March 26 at 8pm to catch Jorge in "I Do, I Think" as Luigi Rodriguez on Youtube or Facebook!

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Minimum Wage and People with Disabilities

2/20/2021

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I was inspired to write this blog after seeing a post on Instagram (@the.autisticats) about minimum wage and people with disabilities.

There's has been lots of conversation around raising minimum wage to $15/ hour. It is still 100% legal for people with disabilities to be paid less than $1/hour. An article written by NPR highlights this problem, "Since 1938, U.S. labor law has carved out a rule for some people with disabilities, saying they can be paid less than minimum wage. The New Deal-era law was intended to encourage employment of more people." The article goes on to state, "This call by a top federal civil rights watchdog is a major milestone in the difficult history of so-called sheltered workshops and other "subminimum-wage" employers. They pay tens of thousands of people with disabilities an average wage of $3.34 a hour, the report says, for tasks like bagging newspapers, shredding papers by hand or wrapping silverware in napkins. They calculate wages by regularly timing how long it takes each worker to complete their task and comparing that productivity to an experienced worker without disabilities." People with disabilities working in these "sheltered workshops" or "work centers" are segregated workplaces. They exist to only employ people with disabilities. In America, people with disabilities are required when receiving government services to have a job or be in a day program. It makes no logical reason for subminimum wage to be in effect. I know the Biden administration has plans to eliminate "subminimum wage" and I hope they follow through with this plan.

As for myself, I'm not in a day program or work in a sheltered workshops. I'm able to get a job and maintain it. I'm able to maintain my job because of the supports I have in place. I do make more than minimum wage, but that excludes me from other government services like Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Income. The only program I qualify for is Medicaid. I don't make enough money to live on my own. My journey to be able to make enough money on my own is longer than my neurotypical peers. I'm just a single story; I'm sure there are many others who have similar stories.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/17/912840482/u-s-agency-urges-end-to-below-minimum-wage-for-workers-with-disabilities

This blog is also posted on Photography through Autism.

Written by Emily Wachter

Emily Wachter is the owner and entrepreneur of Photography through Autism. She is a lifelong writer and photographer with a passion for disability rights, social justice, and psychology. She is a college student at Carroll Community College with dreams of being a social worker. In addition to autism, Emily has a plethora of other physical and mental conditions, which include: Attention Deficit Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, 3Q29 Deletion Syndrome, Non-classical Diamond Blackfan Anemia, and Deaf in my right ear. Emily has spoken on a number of disability panels on living with autism and experiences of bullying. She is involved with a number of disability groups in Maryland, including YoungLife Capernaum, Disability Express Group, and Special Olympics. In her free time, she likes spending time with family and friends, coloring, and shopping.

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Grant Announcement

2/17/2021

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Barrier-Free is thrilled to announce we are the recipients of an Arts Opportunity Mini-Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council totaling $1000!

This Mini-Grant will allow us to purchase new high-quality editing software for our upcoming productions, fund our costume & prop budget, and enhance our marketing efforts for our shows.

Thank you Carroll County Arts Council for your support!!

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Actor Spotlight - Marcel Hickman

1/28/2021

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Marcel Hickman is a Barrier-Free actor who made his theatrical debut during our Fall 2020 season.

He recently moved to Baltimore, MD and now participates in our theater companies, expressive arts classes, and social groups.

Marcel was kind enough to take the time to sit down for an Actor Spotlight and share his experiences with Barrier-Free!

View the video interview or read the full transcript below.

Question 1: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I'm Marcel Hickman. I live in East Baltimore with my mom and legal guardian. I am 31 years old. My mother and I just moved to Baltimore last um April... Last May, last April!!

Question 2: When did you become involved in Barrier-Free?

I just started Barrier-Free last semester.

Question 3: What is your favorite part of creating our original shows?

Well, my favorite part is like, anything!

Question 4: Do you have a favorite character you've played?

I just played "The Boss" from "Family is Family" last semester.

Question 5: How has Barrier-Free impacted your life?

I like to be confident and [make] friendships.

Question 6: What interests do you have outside of Barrier-Free?

I just started like, um classes like, last summer at, um Hussman Center. Yoga, arts & crafts last semester. I take music therapy for this semester at Baltimore City Recreation. I've just taken all classes from CCBC [Community College of Baltimore City].