Disabled to the Front Advisory Group

A group working with the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife where Dr. Cyn serves as the Chair that serves to promote disabled people’s access to nightlife in Nashville, TN.

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisabledToTheFront

There is also a Facebook Group you may join to help plan nights out among people with disabilities. “Disabled to the Front - Nashville Nightlife” https://www.facebook.com/groups/1322425929024439

Check out this story on Disabled to the Front by Channel 5 News (2/18/2025)

This group is working to create space for disabled artists on Nashville stages and for disabled fans in Nashville audiences, and for opportunities for disabled individuals that work in Nashville's nightlife industry. 

Specifically we will gather, analyze, and share information about disabled people's experiences with nightlife in Nashville and coordinate communication through the Mayor's Office of Nightlife so we can work to promote disabled people's safe and equal access to nightlife in Nashville. 

Mission:

To coordinate an Advisory Group comprised of people with disabilities and their allies to promote disabled peoples’ access to nightlife in Nashville.

Vision:

We envision a Nashville that consistently demonstrates pride in welcoming people with disabilities and ensuring their equal and safe access to nightlife throughout the city, and for Nashville to become an exemplary destination known world wide for supporting disabled people’s access to nightlife.

Goals:

• Manage an Advisory Group comprised of people with disabilities and allies to work on this issue:

  1. Our Advisory Council of people with disabilities who engage in nightlife in Nashville will meet April 17, 2025.

  2. You may sign up to be part of our larger Advisory Group, which is comprised of people with disabilities who will attend our events and advise us about disabled nightlife in other ways, such as participating in focus groups and surveys

  3. We are also forming a Caregiver’s Council comprised of parents, guardians, spouses, friends, and other caregivers that regularly support people with disabilities to engage in nightlife

  4. We are also seeking partners and organizations that may want to sponsor events, activities, or other services with our group

• Plan events that promote disabled people’s access to nightlife:

  1. Disabled To the Front Night Out Downtown - Summer 2025

  2. Create press around venues that are accessible and welcoming

  3. Would your organization like to plan a night out with us?

  4. Join the Facebook Group to network and plan your own events

• Develop and implement an agenda to promote disabled people’s access to nightlife. Projects proposed and being discussed thus far include:

  1. Training for low vision people to maximize use of their phones and promote safety navigating downtown - Achieved! and ongoing

  2. Improving safety and accessibility downtown, inside the businesses and throughout the immediate area - Added to the Mayor’s Subcommittee on Transportation

  3. Clarifying parking privileges to disabled placard holders in the age of privatized meters and lots, and ensuring any entity authorized to charge fees to disabled parkers maintain ADA accessible apps and websites

  4. Securing safe transportation from the surrounding counties into Nashville for nightlife and back home again

  5. Access to nightlife for people living in long term care settings

  6. Flagging accessible places for nightlife on Google maps or another similar service

  7. Creating and providing training for bar/venue employees about accommodations and supporting patrons with disabilities

  8. Join the Advisory Group to add your ideas to this list and help us prioritize our actions

For the purpose of this group, "nightlife" is defined as any public activity where people engage in recreation during nighttime hours. This includes music venues, restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, sporting events, and any other public setting where people congregate to relax and have fun at night. 

Need to get educated about #DisabiliityJustice and #DisabilityPride? Check out this curated playlist and Subscribe YouTube.com/@Dr.Cyn.GraduatesRise

Join the Disabled to the Front Advisory Group

by scanning the QR code or clicking the link to complete the webform.

https://bit.ly/DisabledToTheFront  

Check out this story from the Nashville Scene about Disabled to the Front.

Check out this live performance of In Love by Dr. Cyn and the Graduates Rise from the Jann 18, 2025 Launch Party for this Advisory Group held at East Side Bowl. Learn More here.