On Oct. 23, Segerstrom Center for the Arts hosted its inaugural All Abilities Conference, an event that exceeded expectations.
What started as an idea grew into a passion. Organizers initially hoped to create a spark, bringing the community together to discuss inclusion in the arts and, more importantly, to listen.
What they didn’t anticipate was how much the community wanted this conversation.
As interest grew, so did the conference, bringing together artists, advocates, educators and community members who shared a desire to create more opportunities for people with disabilities in the arts.
Lisa Petersen, vice president of education and engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, wanted to create an event that listened to the community it serves. Initially planned as a smaller gathering, the conference quickly reached capacity.
“We originally had a cap of 100 participants but because we sold out so soon, we’ve opened it back up for more people to participate,” she said. “And thanks to Kaiser coming in as a sponsor, we were able to meet that need.”
A total of 137 people attended the conference, a 37% increase over the original capacity of 100.
Building on a Foundation — Studio D
Including people with disabilities in the performing arts is not a novel idea, but opportunities for meaningful participation remain limited.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is no stranger to welcoming people with disabilities. The organization has worked to create doorways where there once were walls, not only by making its physical spaces accessible but also through programs that encourage artistic expression and participation.
One of those programs is Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities. Founded in 2017, Studio D began as a program for children and has since expanded to serve students from age 4 through adulthood. Participants can explore dance, music, theater and musical theater. As the program grew, so did the opportunities, including production classes where participants could learn about backstage work, crew responsibilities and design.
What began as classes grew into showcases, performances and community outreach. Along the way, a community of artists emerged, eager for more opportunities to create, perform and participate.
Studio D’s mission is to provide students of all abilities with opportunities to develop their creative potential through quality arts experiences. For Petersen, the conference represented another opportunity to connect with this growing community, listen to what participants wanted and needed, and give them a voice. With attendance expectations expanded, attendees were divided into two cohorts.
The Conference — Creating Space for Conversation
The performing arts have long provided opportunities for self-expression, creativity and connection. But what happens when people who want to participate are told no, or when opportunities simply aren’t available to them?
Throughout the day, people with disabilities were not simply the subjects of conversation. They were part of the leadership, facilitating discussions, presenting workshops and sharing experiences about the future of inclusion in the arts.
Workshops covered accessible marketing, designing accessible environments, building inclusive programs and learning experiences, and self-advocacy and collaboration. The sessions provided participants with practical tools to incorporate inclusive practices into their arts programs.
Performances by artists with disabilities were interwoven throughout the day. In all, over 10 organizations were an important part of the conference and celebration the following day, including Infinite Flow Dance, Orange County Arts & Disability, Epic Players, Creative Identity and Straight Up Abilities.
Marisa Hamamoto, Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Infinite Flow Dance was the keynote speaker at the inaugural All Abilities Conference. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer 
A performance from Infinite Flow Dance. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer 
An Infinite Flow Dance performance at the All Abilities Celebration 2026, held the day after the conference. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer
Keynote — Creating a Yes When the Answer Has Been No
Everyone faces rejection, but for some people with disabilities, being told no has been a recurring experience. Sometimes, those repeated barriers lead people to create their own opportunities.
Keynote speaker Marisa Hamamoto, an autistic dancer and founder of Infinite Flow, spoke about being underestimated and the assumptions people make about what individuals with disabilities can accomplish. Hamamoto challenged attendees to reflect on their own potential, asking, “Is there more in me?” Rather than accepting the limitations others placed on her, she created a space where dancers of different abilities could participate and perform together.
Through Infinite Flow, dancers with and without disabilities perform professionally, participate in outreach and challenge stereotypes about disability.
One of the ideas Hamamoto shared was changing the language surrounding disability and participation. Rather than thinking only in terms of accommodations, she encouraged people to consider how an activity could be translated for someone with different abilities.
In dance, for example, a movement performed one way by a standing dancer might be expressed differently by someone with limited mobility. The movement may change, but the opportunity for artistic expression remains.
Hamamoto challenged arts administrators and other attendees to reconsider the assumptions they make about the people they serve, asking, “Is there more possibility in my team and the people around me?” Her message emphasized that everyone has a role in creating opportunities for meaningful participation.
The Community Responds — And What’s Next
As the conference took shape, additional partners stepped forward to help. Kaiser Permanente joined as the lead sponsor, making it possible for the conference to be offered free of charge.
Kaiser Permanente’s support reflected its commitment to building healthy communities by reducing barriers and connecting people. The sponsorship helped bring conversations about disability and the arts to a broader Orange County audience.
Sometimes people want to help but don’t know how. By creating this space, Segerstrom Center opened the door for organizations and individuals to become part of the effort.
Marleena Barber, executive director of Orange County Arts & Disability, facilitated one of the conference’s two cohorts. Barber noted that as the team organized the conference, they identified a gap: the need for honest conversations between artists with disabilities and arts administrators.
“Centering disabled voices helped connect accessibility practices to the people they impact,” she said.
Orange County Arts and Disability executive director, Marleena Barber, served at the All Abilities Conference emcee. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer 
John E. Stratman, senior director of public affairs at Kaiser Permanente, left, and Casey Reitz, president and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer 
Guest remarks from Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County Department of Education’s superintendent. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer 
ASL and live captioning was provided at all presentations at the All Abilities Conference. Photo courtesy of SCFTA/Scott Smeltzer
Barber hopes that hearing directly from disabled artists will help arts organizations better understand why accessibility matters. The “Access in Practice: Self-Advocacy and Inclusive Collaboration” panel provided an opportunity for conversations about what accessibility looks and feels like.
Barber and the planning team are eager to review participant feedback to better understand how they can serve their community. For Barber, one measure of the conference’s success was witnessing connections form between artists and organizations.
Conference participants ended the day with enthusiasm and hope for what comes next. Segerstrom Center leadership, including Petersen, expressed a commitment to listening to the community and remaining open to change.
Amy and Janice Hansen’s Perspective
For Amy Hansen and her mother, Janice, the conversation about inclusion in the arts is more than an idea.
Both attended the conference as members of the Studio D community. Janice came hoping to explore new ideas about arts education and inclusion, while Amy particularly enjoyed the inclusive dance performances.
Janice enrolled Amy in Studio D years ago, and their involvement has continued to grow. The mother-daughter duo have become advocates for inclusion and actively participate in Segerstrom’s Sound of Music Guild, which raises funds for Studio D.
Amy, 35, has also written a book, “See Me,” and traveled on a book tour. She knows what it means to be looked at and treated differently because of her disability.
Amy wants others to understand that her disability is only one part of who she is. Although she faces challenges in everyday life, she also enjoys music, spending time with family and friends and having fun, just like anyone else.
She summed up her perspective when she said, “Accessibility is good, but inclusion is better!”
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