CounterPulse is committed to creating a welcoming physical environment with various access points for people with disabilities. We strive to create a culture where people with diverse needs are recognized as integral to our community. CounterPulse works towards dismantling barriers to access throughout our facilities and programs.
CounterPulse is a fully ADA compliant space. Our box office and main theater entrance are on the ground level. To access the basement, mezzanine, and second level, there is an elevator available for use. Our gallery exhibitions span our three-level lobby across the basement, ground level, and mezzanine. The basement includes the bathrooms, project space, and dressing room. The mezzanine includes an additional entrance to the theater. The second level includes a studio, administrative offices, a bathroom, and a visiting artist apartment.
Our administrative offices are generally available by appointment Monday through Friday 10-6PM. To make an appointment, call +1 (415) 626-2060 or email us at info@counterpulse.org. To access the space upon arrival, please ring the doorbell to the left of the black office door.
CounterPulse is closest to the Powell Street BART and Muni Station. When the station’s elevators are operational, there are no stairs, level changes, or hills en route from the station to CounterPulse. The distance is 0.1 miles. The status of the elevators is updated here >>
Please check individual event listings for information about Audio Description, ASL Interpretation, and Haptic Tours offered at our shows. Assistive listening devices and magnifying lamps are available upon request at all public events.
Please do not hesitate to call us at 415-626-2060 or email us at info@counterpulse.org with your needs, questions, concerns, or feedback.
We commit to the following:
- Training Front of House staff on accessibility best practices.
- Promoting our events that feature access services to external community groups and organizations that are connected to relevant audiences.
- Integrating feedback from staff, artists, and audiences to assess and improve the accessibility of our space and events (fill out our feedback form here >>).
- Ensuring that marketing materials abide by high-contrast accessibility standards and that digital images contain alt text captions for people who use screen readers.
- Maintaining a staff-led Accessibility cohort that meets monthly and partners with access groups as needed to continually audit and improve CounterPulse’s accessibility in programming, operations, and marketing.
- Utilizing our HVAC system during any public presentation to provide air quality safety to our artists and audiences.
- Canceling our events when there are red or purple air alerts, such as during wildfires. Please check events pages for real time updates.
Suggested reading and resources
- How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired – Perkins School for the Blind
- Audio Description & Other Access Services for Performance Works — Jess Curtis/Gravity
- AXIS Dance’s Access Guide to Presenting and Touring the Performing Arts
- Classes, Workshops & Fellowships for artists living with disabilities – AXIS Dance Company
- Fiscal sponsor for disability justice initiatives led by disabled Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color – SPM Disability Justice Fund
- Disability Justice Primer – Sins Invalid
Program Highlight
Check out this interview with Drag performer and ASL interpreter Kevin Abrams aka Iman
Header photo from “divisions the empire has sown” by pateldanceworks for CounterPulse’s ARC Performing Diaspora 2021 Residency. Photo by Robbie Sweeny.