Accessibility Spotlight: DDR Grant Helps Bring Closed Captioning to Muny Audience

The St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources is all about creating opportunities and breaking down barriers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

In FY24 alone, the organization invested more than $6.3 million in local services and support, reaching more than 1,500 city residents. One of those investments helped bring real-time closed captioning to The Muny through the GalaPro mobile app, making performances more inclusive for audience members who are D/deaf, hard of hearing or neurodivergent. 

We chatted with DDR Executive Director Shaelene Plank about the impact of our partnership, why accessibility matters and what’s next in the work to build a more inclusive St. Louis.

Q • How does your organization’s mission align with The Muny’s? 

A • The Muny’s mission to enrich lives through exceptional, accessible musical theatre directly complements our mission to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities in the city of St. Louis have access to quality services, meaningful choices and full inclusion in community life. Our support of GalaPro closed captioning is one way we help make sure these performances are welcoming and inclusive for all audience members.

Q • Why is it important to offer closed captioning?

A • Captions are beneficial for individuals with autism, as they provide a supplementary auditory stream of information that can be particularly helpful for those who experience auditory processing difficulties or sensory overload. This can enhance understanding and engagement with visual content. 

People with [intellectual and developmental disabilities] show losses of hearing three to nine times greater than those without IDD, depending upon age decade.

Access to live events, like The Muny’s productions, should not be limited by disability. By offering tools like GalaPro, this partnership creates a more inclusive experience for audience members who are D/deaf, hard of hearing or neurodivergent. It’s about equity, dignity and ensuring everyone can participate in our city’s rich culture. 

Q • Why is accessibility to the arts important? 

A • Making the arts accessible to everyone is essential to fostering diversity, leading to greater representation and a wider range of experiences and perspectives. When people from different backgrounds come together, it helps break down barriers, creating opportunities for increased connection and understanding.

Q • What are your future goals for your partnership with The Muny and the St. Louis community as a whole? 

A • Our goal is to continue supporting initiatives that remove barriers and expand access for individuals with developmental disabilities. Whether it’s through the arts, employment, housing or community engagement, we prioritize projects that promote independence and inclusion. We’re especially interested in collaborative efforts that bring organizations together, create paid employment training opportunities or improve accessibility in physical spaces. Our partnership with The Muny is a great example of how we can work together to build a more inclusive and connected St. Louis for everyone.

Visit muny.org/accessibility to learn more about accessibility services at The Muny.

This article originally appeared in the spring 2025 edition of Behind the Booms, a publication for Muny Guarantors.