Hiver/Winter 2016 INSPIRATIONS EXPRESS An online edition A Snapshot of Our Special Needs Community Un coup d’oeil sur notre communauté aux besoins particuliers

A celebration www.inspirationsnews.com

of the Arts Featured in this edition

Expo Créatability Page 2

I Can Dream Theatre Group Page 3

Prix Janine-Sutto Page 4

D’un oeil différent Page 4

Spectrum Productions Page 4

Notebook EXPRESS Page 5

Les Pirates de Montréal win big Page 7

Opening Doors for Accessibility Page 10

Adapted Travel by Mike Cohen Page 12

Social with us

www.twitter.com/inspirationsmtl www.inspirationsnewsmtl.blogspot.ca www.facebook.com/inspirationsnews

Artist Billy Kirsch with Julie Longval, Coordinator of The Marlene and Joel King Special Needs Department of the YM-YWHA, at Expo Créatability. Read more on Page 2 of this edition. www.cinemasguzzo.com A proud supporter of Inspirations Newspaper Spring 2016 - INSPIRATIONS EXPRESS 12

pprovided when guests with disabilities are Center, however, an exception is made for in need of event level access. patrons with service animals.

Patrons requiring interpreting services for provides wheelchair and concerts should contact Guest Services companion seating with appropriate sight Department no later than three weeks after lines on all levels. concert ticket sales begin. All Barclays Cen- ter af¿liated lots will have accessible park- Mike Cohen is the editor of Inspirations. ing spaces available. All public restrooms He can be reached at mcohen@inspiration- players are doing their best to make this By Mike Cohen are accessible to patrons with disabilities. snews.com. Follow him on Twitter and Ins- work as well. After the game I stood outside Animals are not allowed in the Barclays tagram @mikecohencsl. the Isles’ dressing room as a slew of players HOCKEY NIGHT IN BROOKLYN: I have came out to take part in promotional meet always wanted to see a professional hockey and greets. game in New York City. That recently be- came a reality when I took the trip from the There was a great atmosphere in the rink Algonquin Hotel near Times Square to the and so many fans wearing Islanders jerseys, Barclays Center in Brooklyn (itt is less than most with number 91 Tavares on the back 30 minutes by subway, taxi or car) to watch (for John Tavares). There are all the hometown Islanders faceoff against the kinds of neat promotions going on – seeking Toronto Maple Leafs. And I did so from the the loudest fan of the game, the best beard, press box. the best dancer, guess the autograph and seat upgrades. At one point during the game a The 0- season marks the ¿rst in Brook- member of the US Army was introduced to lyn for the Islanders. The team spent its en- the crowd and got a long standing ovation. tire 42-year history at the Nassau Veterans The team mascot Sparky actually skates Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, aka around the ice, something the Habs’ Youppi Long Island. With the arena outdated and can’t seem to do. no new facility on the horizon, ownership turned towards the Barclays Centre – home TRANSPORTATION: Eleven subway lines of basketball’s Brooklyn Nets. The an- stop near the arena: 2, 3, 4, and 5, B, D, nouncement of the move was actually made N, Q, and R to Atlantic Avenue-Barclays three years ago. They have a lease here now Center C to Lafayette Avenue G to Fulton until 2040. Street. Travel time from Penn (2, 3, C) and Grand Central (4, 5) is 22 minutes. The team still has its practice facility in Long Island. Four banners are ACCESSIBILITY: The Access-A-Ride bus already hanging in the Barclays Center. In stop at Barclays Center is located on Atlantic addition, banners hang for retired players A look at the Barclays Centre. Avenue, between Ft. Greene Place and 6th , , , Avenue. This is the city’s paratransit system , as well as for- that provides transportation for people with mer coach and former general disabilities who are unable to use public bus manager . or subway service for some or all of their trips. The stop is situated on the South Side Located in the heart of Brooklyn, at the of Atlantic Avenue, adjacent to the arena, crossroads of Atlantic and Flatbush Av- and is nearest the Emblem Health Atlantic enues, Barclays Center boasts one of the Avenue Entrance. Barclays Center has been most intimate seating con¿gurations ever equipped with the most advanced assisted designed for a modern multi-purpose arena. listening devices (ALD). Headsets and re- For hockey the capacity is just over 15,000; ceivers are available at no charge at Guest 17,732 for basketball and up to 18,000 for Services. A driver’s license, credit card, or musical or other performances. It opened on some form of identi¿cation will be required September 28, 2012. as a deposit. Guests who choose to bring their own headset and receiver may access I enjoyed the experience immensely and the system on a standard FM broadcast. strongly recommend it to anyone visiting New York. As Mike Bossy told, this is in- Every concession stand and bar is acces- deed a work in progress. Most of the team’s sible to guests with disabilities. If assistance loyal fan base is still in Long Island. They is required at any of the food service areas, either drive in or take the train. I spoke to they welcome you to contact the nearest many of them as I walked through the arena. staff member. Elevators for guests with dis- While some complained about the commute abilities are available in the Barclays Center of at least 45 minutes, they pledged to sup- on the Main Concourse, Lower Suite Level, port the team. Communications manager Upper Suite Level and Upper Concourse. Jesse Eisenberg told me the adjustment is Predesigned elevators leading to the Event going well and that sponsorship opportuni- Level are also available for guests with Action from a recent Islanders game. ties in Brooklyn far outweigh those in Long ADA needs. Guest Services escorts can be Island, where the team still practices. The