Open Up

📅 This week's studio class schedule

Join us! Register for a Class at
www.open-up.org/events-and-classes

Let’s keep moving together. 💛
Thank you for being part of our community.

Join April Jackson and Wesley Hamilton for the 53rd Episode of Sunday Safe Spaces as they dive deep into topics around disability, wellbeing, and identity, and discuss all things disability and tech with Evolone Layne!

Evolone Layne is a 2nd year robotics PhD student at the University of Washington. She is currently focusing on physically assistive robots for assisted play for adults with cerebral palsy. Evolone holds a BS in Computer Science from Howard University and a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University.

For more info visit us at open-up.org/sunday-safe-spaces

Disability Pride Pittsburgh is this week! 🎉

This month, we've been reflecting on disability identity, accessibility, community, and belonging.
And as Pittsburgh's disability community gathers to celebrate Disability Pride, we're carrying one question with us:
What would our communities look like if accessibility and belonging were things we designed for from the very beginning?

Not just at disability-focused events.
Not just during Disability Pride.
Everywhere.

We hope you'll join Pittsburgh's disability community in celebrating this week and continue listening, learning, advocating, and creating more accessible communities long after September ends.

Happy Disability Pride, Pittsburgh. 💛

Will you tell us your Open Up story?

We've spent this month listening to the people who make this community what it is. Before September ends, we're making one final invitation.

Sometimes the smallest moments tell us the most: Feeling welcomed, trying something new, finding calm, making a connection, or watching someone you love participate.

If Open Up has been part of your story, we'd be honored to hear about it.

SHARE YOUR STORY →
Email your story or let us know when you're available to come and record at the studio to [email protected]

Get ready to dance it out this September!

Our September Dance Party is an inclusive, all-abilities dance experience welcomes everyone, no dance experience required. Whether you love choreography or prefer to follow your own rhythm, this is your space.

Join us Friday, September 25th from 7:00pm–8:00pm at Open Up!

We can't wait to dance with you. Register to join us at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monthly-dance-party-tickets-1981242378287?aff=oddtdtcreator

There isn't one way to be disabled, and there isn't one way to experience disability pride. Just like there isn't one way to communicate, move, participate, or learn.

Disability is part of human diversity. That diversity brings different perspectives, knowledge, creativity, experiences, and ways of navigating the world.

Creating inclusive communities doesn't mean asking everyone to participate in the same way. It means creating enough flexibility that more people can participate as themselves.

That's the kind of community we're working toward every day.

Open Up is exploring opportunities to share our welcoming studio space with 1–2 mission-aligned organizations, instructors, or creative groups whose work complements our values of accessibility, wellness, inclusion, and community connection. We are especially interested in partnering with:

Yoga and mindfulness instructors
Movement and dance groups
Improv or theater collectives
Disability-centered or inclusive organizations
Wellness practitioners and community educators
Creative groups seeking rehearsal or gathering space

If your work aligns with our mission and you are seeking an accessible, welcoming community space for classes, rehearsals, gatherings, or wellness programming, we would love to start a conversation.

Connect with us at [email protected].

All month long, members of our community have been helping us tell the story of Open Up in the best way possible: through their own experiences.

“I just feel really comfortable at Open Up. I can show up as I am and participate in whatever way works for me that day. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself and that means a lot.”

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has shared so far...And we're not finished!

If Open Up has been part of your story, there's still time to add your voice.

SHARE YOUR STORY →
Email your story or let us know when you're available to come and record at the studio to [email protected]