Chicago International Film Festival
Mary Kate Ashe is an accomplished accessibility professional with extensive experience in enhancing audience experience and inclusion in various roles. Currently serving as an Accessibility Operations Specialist at SXSW and an Audience Experience & Accessibility Coordinator at the Chicago International Film Festival, Mary Kate has also held positions such as Accessibility Producer for the Chicago Media Project and House Manager for Chicago Humanities. Additional expertise includes managing accessibility at major events for FAHNTOOSH ENTERPRISES LLC and providing ADA event staff support with Ten Fifty Entertainment. Mary Kate's background includes co-creating and designing accessibility for theatrical productions with The Neo-Futurists and working in educational settings as an Inclusion Specialist and Early Intervention Service Coordinator. Mary Kate holds a Bachelor's degree in Deaf Studies from Columbia College Chicago and a Master of Science in Inclusive Education from Portland State University.
Chicago International Film Festival
Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round cultural and educational non-profit organization dedicated to fostering better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. We serve Chicago’s diverse and under-served citizenry by providing access to world-class cinema. We aim to enrich Chicago’s cultural environment by presenting film in contexts that encourage discussion and debate.