Access Granted with R. David New

Bill McCann, Founder of Dancing Dots Inc.

Today's guest is someone who has been at the forefront of accessible music technology for decades. Bill McCann is the founder of Dancing Dots, a pioneering company dedicated to making music accessible to people who are blind and visually impaired. Through innovations in music notation, assistive software, and education, Bill has opened doors that were once firmly closed, empowering musicians to read, write, and produce music independently. His work doesn't just adapt a system, it reimagines it. In today's conversation, we'll explore how accessibility fuels creativity, the evolution of music technology for blind musicians, and what the future of inclusive design in the arts can and should look like.

Georgina Kleege, a writer, scholar, and leading voice in disability studies and the arts

Today, we're honored to welcome Georgina Klieg, a writer, scholar, and leading voice in disability studies and the arts. Georgina is a professor emerita at UC Berkeley and the author of several influential books, including Sight Unseen and More Than Meets the Eye, where she challenges traditional ideas about blindness and visual culture. Her work has helped reshape how museums, artists, and audiences think about accessibility and inclusion. Through her writing, teaching, and advocacy, Georgina has been a powerful force in making the arts more welcoming to people of all abilities

Sina Bahram, the president and founder of Prime Access Consulting,

Sina Bahram is the president and founder of Prime Access Consulting, or PAC. PAC is an inclusive design firm that helps welcome the widest possible audience to all digital and physical spaces. Sina has served as an expert witness, spoken at the United Nations, and contributed to landmark disability cases at all levels, including the Supreme Court of the United States. He also serves on and chairs multiple corporate, academic, and nonprofit boards. As an Astro Access Ambassador, Sina took part in a groundbreaking program that brought people with lived experience as close as possible to space. Flying aboard GeForce One, a specially modified Boeing 727-200, he helped test how astronauts with disabilities could navigate spacecraft, shaping the future of a more inclusive space program.

Joy Mistovich, Assistant Education Director and Digital Accessibility Specialist at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.

Today's guest is Joy Mistovich, Assistant Education Director and Digital Accessibility Specialist at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Joy is a passionate advocate for accessible and inclusive museum experiences, combining her background In art education, technology, and accessibility to make art available to all. A blind visual artist, author, and accessibility pioneer, Joy considers her blindness a gift that fuels her mission to break barriers and challenge misconceptions.* She's presented at national conferences, serves on multiple accessibility boards, and was named the Ohio Museums Association Emerging Professional of the Year in 2024.*

The Art Basel Special Edition

Step inside an exclusive Art Basel special edition of Access Granted, where creativity takes center stage. This episode unlocks behind-the-scenes conversations, bold ideas, and the cultural moments shaping today's art world—bringing you closer to the artists, stories, and inspirations that make Art Basel unforgettable.