Statements
Mission
To amplify the voices of people with disabilities through the powerful medium of photography, ultimately fostering more inclusive communities.
Background
AbleVoices was founded in 2019 by Jen Vogus, who is a parent of a child with a disability, an educator, a photographer, and disability advocate. When Aidan, her nonverbal son started school, he had limited ways to communicate with his teachers and peers. So Jen began taking and sharing pictures of Aidan's interests and the things he enjoyed doing. This opened up Aidan's world and gave him the opportunity to build lasting and meaningful relationships. Jen created AbleVoices to harness the accessibility, power, and impact of photography to help others whose voices may not be heard. And by sharing their photos with others, we increase disability and diversity awareness and promote more accepting and inclusive communities through the powerful visual medium of photography.
AbleVoices provides hands-on photography programming grounded in the photovoice methodology developed in 1993 by researchers Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris. Photovoice provides cameras to underrepresented groups to create images that amplify their voice about a particular issue or topic and to give them tools to make pictures as a means for communication, self-expression, and self-advocacy. Change can occur at both a personal level for the participants by developing social and technical skills, building confidence, and encouraging dialogue, and also on a wider societal level for those viewing the photographs. AbleVoices initially began as a program of The Arc Williamson County and we are incredibly grateful for this strong partnership with an organization that gives so much to people with disabilities.
Impact
Top Accomplishments:
1. Purchased an accessible bus to tranport our photographers with disabilities to photography club outings year-round.
2. Provided virtual 'photography for self-expression' class to individuals with disabilities throughout Tennessee and other states in response to COVID-19, helping decrease anxiety and loneliness of participants will in quarantine
3. Provided an in-person summer photography club with peer mentors, visiting different outdoor, scenic locations each week, while abiding by COVID-10 requirements of masks and social distancing.
4. Provided professional photography services for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Kindred Stories 20201publication. Each booklet was given to every TN state legislator during Disability Day on the Hill in February. AbleVoices participants assisted on each of the professional shoots. The publication can be viewed at: https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/resources/kindred/
5. Held our first virtual fundraising event for the "I AM DETERMINED!" project receipients with disabilities, celebrating their successes and self-determination through their artiitcally composited images created just for each individual. Images can be viewed here: https://www.ablevoices.org/photo-advocacy-projects/i-am-determined
6. Developed a comprehensive strategic plan along with 3 board committees; internal relations, external relations, fundraising and finance
Top Goals:
1. Create a county-wide 'Camera-in-a-Bag' program to give people with disabilities an opportunity to learn about photography as a means for self-expression. Provide the bags (contents include camera, tabletop tripod, activity booklet, etc) to local libraries and other community organizations.
2. Obtain a space for equipment storage and a place to hold classes for 15 participants at a time.
3. Obtain technology for photography club members to learn photo editing and computer skills
4. Obtain grants to fund our programs such as I AM DETERMINED!, Kindred Stories, in-school photovoice projects, and presenting to other groups to bring photography to people with disabilities in other areas.
5. Implement positive reward system in our photography club to encourage and members to be active and involved.
Needs
aTop 5 Needs:
1. To develop and put a comprehensive accounting system in place with guidance of a CPA
2. To bring on board members and others who support our organization by volunteering to do needed tasks, promote the organization throughout their networks, willingly share their unique perspective and expertise, and are involved with the organizations in a hands-on way.
3. To obtain funding for the creation of online courses; $10,000 for developing course content, creating video content, utilizing a Learning Management System to house courses, and update website to describe/sell courses. .
4. To increase our individual donor base by doing the following and more-Establish a regular marketing strategy (newsletters, social media posts, etc.) that informs and engages our supporters.
5. To obtain funding to support our professional projects that provide our participants with work-based experience as a photography assistant. Examples of these programs are our "I am Determined!" poster project and creating photos for the 2021 Kindred Stories publication. The photos produced also reinforce our mission of "amplifying the voices of people with disabilities through the powerful medium of photography, ultimately fostering more inclusive communities". Each of these projects cost $3,00
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Alliances & Advocacy |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
AbleVoices in-person programs aim to serve young adults with disabilities in the Middle Tennessee area. Our online/virtual Photography Club and Photography for Self-Expression" course serves people with disabilities (ages 14 and up) throughout the State of Tennessee as well as other states.
| TN - Williamson |
