Mental Health and Collective Health Resources for Disabled Theater Artists
We know that being a theater artist in New York City means navigating uncertainty, pressure, and a constant push to keep creating – even when your mental health needs attention.
This guide was created with care for our community: a collection of grants, directories, therapists, healing spaces, podcasts, and ASL videos that center the mental health needs of Disabled indie theater artists.
Whether you’re looking for financial support for therapy, a competent mental health provider, or a space to reconnect with yourself or others – these resources are here to help you.
You deserve care. You deserve rest. You deserve healing.
We hope this guide helps make that a little more possible.
Grants and Funding Resources for Mental Health, Disability, and Access-Centered Care
IndieSpace Mental Health Grant – The IndieSpace Mental Health grant awards individual indie theater artists $500 grants to use toward therapy, medication, meditation classes, and any other mental health-related costs. As the number of grant requests outnumbers our budget, we hold an opportunity drawing at the end of each month. It is our hope that by providing this financial resource, we can help remove barriers that prevent artists from seeking and receiving the care, support, and information they need to care for their mental health.
HealthWell Foundation – Provides financial assistance to people living with chronic or life-altering illnesses, including mental health conditions. If you qualify, they may cover co-pays or premiums.
The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants – This program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography, but it is for non-chronic conditions.
Entertainment Community Fund Disability Support – Social workers can assist entertainment professionals coping with a short- or long-term illness or disability and can provide advocacy for negotiating medical bills. Reach out for supportive services tailored to the needs of our entertainment community.
Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for Disabled Musicians – This charitable trust will provide emergency financial aid for members of the The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (application required).
NYC-Based Mental Health Resources and Therapists
ZenCare – A directory of New York City-area therapists who specialize in artists’ mental health.
Artists Health Insurance Resource Center – This center provides through personalized health insurance counseling provided nationally, guidance and enrollment support; referrals to health care resources; as well as primary and specialty care at The Friedman Health Center in New York City.
Kara Krauze – Licensed Master Social Worker who specializes in Chronic illness. You can schedule a free 10-minute consultation to see if it is a good fit.
Megan Walsh – Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (NY State), Licenced Professional Music Therapist (RI), and National Board-Certified Music Therapist (IL) offering online therapy services and specializing in chronic pain and chronic illness.
Aaron Shragge – Licensed Creative Arts Therapist who specializes in chronic pain and chronic illness uses music and verbal psychotherapy to explore challenging emotions, promote personal growth, and help clients achieve their goals.
Creatives Care – A New York City nonprofit that provides free, personalized guidance and referrals for artists and creatives seeking mental health treatment.
Low Cost Therapy NYC – A comprehensive guide to different kinds of low-cost therapy services in New York City.
211 – 211 New York is a free, confidential service that connects residents to local health and human services across the state. Available 24/7 by phone, text, or online, it assists with needs like housing, food, mental health care, and more. Simply dial 2-1-1 or visit 211newyork.org to find support in your area.
988 (fka NYC Well) – 988 is New York City’s mental health hotline covering everything from immediate suicide prevention and crisis counseling, to referrals to further resources. You can call the hotline, text, or chat with an operator via the website. Operators are available 24/7 in more than 200 languages. You can also call 988 to request a Mobile Crisis Team for yourself or another person.
National Mental Health Resources and Counseling Directories
Inclusive Therapists – A social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub that centers on the intersections of racial, 2SLGBTQIA+, Neurodivergence, and Disability Justice.
My Deaf Therapy – A team of therapists who are fluent in ASL and provide care that is accessible, culturally aware, and sensitive to the unique needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
DeafLEAD – DeafLEAD offers free mental health services to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and Late-Deafened Victims and their families, including children and provides 24/7 crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting, and mental health support services to victims of crime.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective – A nonprofit that provides low-cost therapy services to those who do not have health insurance, or whose insurance lacks adequate mental health coverage.
Lower Cost Prescription Drugs – There are a number of resources for finding lower-cost prescription drugs. These vary in accessibility and affordability. Some are also funded by drug manufacturers, which makes them complicated. Two resources that are generally accepted as helpful are GoodRx and NeedyMeds.
Healing Spaces and Resources
LAB – An online community that offers a series of monthly gatherings for Disabled artists and creatives. The community is made up of and welcomes anyone who experiences disability, including but not limited to those who identify as chronically ill, neurodivergent, with learning or intellectual disabilities, MAD, Deaf/deaf/HOH, Blind, low vision, having learning or intellectual disabilities, and so on. This cross-disability space welcomes all who are unsure or who might not yet identify with disability identity.
Circle O – Circle O reimagines a dance world where Black Disabled and other multiply marginalized creatives are central, and every body is worthy of care.
Community Access ArtCollective – A progressive art studio for artists living with mental health conditions who share a commitment to pursuing their artistic practice and profession.
Embraced Body – Advances Disability Justice through inclusive performing arts, accessibility consulting, and anti-ableist education for all. Includes the How We Move, a dance intensive created for and by Disabled dancers and centering multiple marginalized (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, etc) dancers. Each participant will receive a $2,000 stipend, and an additional $1,000 stipend is available for Personal Care Attendants (PCA) who attend the in-person intensive with a participant. The second cohort will begin in 2026.
Access Docs for Artists – An access doc is a document that outlines your disability access needs and is given to galleries/institutions/organisations when you start work to let them know what you need to ensure you have equal access to work.
access arts resource list – This database includes readings, resource libraries, event guidelines for Covid safety, and examples of access docs for different venues.
Disability Resource Landscaping: Arts, Film, and Journalism – Spreadsheet with workshops, trainings, and resources with call outs for disability led and/or BIPOC-led groups.
Divas with Disabilities – This site amplifies voices of Black and Brown women and girls with visible disabilities and reshapes what “visible disability” looks like. Includes curated database of casting calls and funding resources.
EPIC Players – A neurodiverse theater company that offers its members access to over 100 free arts education classes, both in person and virtually, per year.
Sins Invalid – A disability justice-based movement building and performance project that celebrates Disabled people, centering and led by Disabled Black, Indigenous, and people of the global majority, and queer, trans, and nonbinary disabled people. Based in San Francisco but active online.
DISABILITY. DANCE. ARTISTRY. RESOURCES – A collection of service organizations and government entities that provide useful resources at the intersection of disability and dance in the New York City metropolitan area as identified by Dance/NYC and/or its Disability. Dance. Artistry. Task Force.
Current Mental Health Podcasts Catered to Disabled Artists
Stuck Not Broken Podcast – Justin Sunseri explores polyvagal therapy and how to apply it for anxiety and PTSD.
Beyond 6 Seconds – Carolyn Kiel talks with neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, advocates and more about their lives and identities. Their stories shatter misconceptions, break stigma and showcase the vibrancy of neurodiversity.
Claiming Disability Inc: You Belong Here – Erin Noon Kay is the CEO & Founder of Claiming Disability LLC and is working hard to bring representation for disability in film and everyday culture through media projects and disability related content.
Archived Mental Health and Collective Health Podcasts and Videos Catered to Disabled Artists
While these podcasts are not actively updated, their archived episodes may be a resource for you.
Power Not Pity: A Podcast for Disabled People of Color – In an effort to break down the systemic barriers that keep disabled people of color silenced, this show serves as a vehicle to dismantle ableism with grace, humor and downright determination.
DisArt – An arts-centered nonprofit dedicated to cultivating and celebrating Disability Culture through creation, conversation, and consultation and includes archived podcasts.
Disability Visibility Project Podcast – A podcast hosted by San Francisco night owl Alice Wong featuring conversations on politics, culture, and media with Disabled people. Features 100 episodes.
Creatives Rebuild New York - Deaf & Disability Arts Project – Artist-Organizer Kevin Gotkin worked on a range of projects about the lives and livelihoods of Deaf and disabled artists and offers data, programming, and documentation to support the vibrant fields of Deaf and disability artistry. Also includes the Access Access series videos with recorded talks and linked resource guides for disabled artists.
Krip News – Discusses radical disability issues from Hip-Hop to historical facts of people with disabilities, to the latest news touching people with disabilities, especially Black/Brown/Poor disabled people around the world.
Disclaimer:
This guide includes resources and providers that have been recommended to us by members of our community. While we’ve done our best to share supportive and reputable options, IndieSpace is not affiliated with and does not formally endorse any of the organizations, practitioners, or services listed here. We encourage you to do your own research and choose the options that feel right for you.
If you have feedback on this guide or would like to share a resource, please contact IndieSpace at communications@indiespace.org. We appreciate it!