DeMayo is totally deaf. With more than 20 years of stage experience under his belt, he has worked with organizations such as the National Theatre of the Deaf and New York Deaf Theatre. His act, a one-man comedy show called Me Hear NONE, is a series of silent skits.

"Deaf people are still in Pandora's box," DeMayo said, using American Sign Language translated during a recent interview. "We want to get out. There's still a long way to go for hearing people to catch up with our culture."

Exposing audiences to the work of disabled artists like DeMayo has been Mimi Smith's goal since she started an arts-access initiative in 2003. As the executive artistic director of VSA arts of Pennsylvania, Smith collaborated with both cultural and disability organizations in the city to create Independence Starts Here: A Festival of Disability Arts and Culture - a monthlong celebration.

The festival kicked off yesterday with an opening celebration at the Kimmel Center. Other events include visual-art exhibitions; theatrical, musical and dance performances; film screenings with captioning and audio description, and poetry readings. Today, one of the nation's first open-captioned movie theaters is set to open at the Independence Seaport Museum, offering cutting-edge technology that permits captioning right on the movie screen. Events continue through Nov. 20.

DeMayo will perform his show at the Deaf Cabaret and Comedy Central, a Deaf Arts and Culture event Nov. 16 at Dowling's Palace on North Broad Street. Other highlights include performances by Shannon DeVido, JazzArtSigns Multimedia, an improvised and interactive jazz performance piece, the Rebecca Davis Dance Company with a new ballet about Helen Keller, blind actress Pamela Sabaugh in Molly Sweeney and deaf actor Tyrone Giordano in The Zoo Story.

"People with disabilities would call me and talk to me in meetings and say, 'I really want to go and be part of the arts, but it doesn't seem like people know how to deal with me or how to provide accessibility,'" said Smith, a former actress who suffers the repercussions of childhood polio. "I just thought it was stupid not to work with people who are great artists just because they have disabilities and not to include audiences who wanted to come just because you have to provide accessibility."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were more than 354,000 disabled people in Philadelphia as of 2000. In a survey conducted by Temple University's Department of Occupational Therapy, 91 percent of the disabled people surveyed wanted to participate in more cultural events and activities. But 81 percent said they faced some sort of barrier to access, according to organizers.

Increasing accessibility is a core mission of the festival, said Carol Finch, executive director of Creative Access. This deaf-rights-advocacy organization developed its own set of events, some of which are part of Independence Starts Here.

"I want my city to be a deaf-welcome city," Finch said. "Where there's a [wheelchair access] ramp, there should be sign language interpreters and captioning. And that means budgeting for it."

The cost of captioning and other means of accessibility is too expensive for many arts organizations. So Smith decided to purchase equipment and hold captioning and audio-description training for arts organizations. "Then they borrow the equipment from us and they can provide a basic level of accessibility at no cost to them," she said. "The entire city can become accessible pretty quickly."

Despite the festival's theme, some participants like Dave and Dan Simpson said they don't want to be "pigeonholed" simply as artists with disabilities. The twin brothers from Malvern were born blind, and both perform as poets and musicians. They will read poetry at the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia Nov. 19.

"I just want to be heard in the same way anybody else would be heard," Dave said. "Maybe if that hasn't happened for people with disabilities, [the festival] is a little place where it's special or it's highlighted."

Artists without disabilities are also encouraged to participate, said Michael Norris, who cochairs the festival's executive committee with Smith.

"We really struggled with even using the word disability as part of the name of the event," continued Norris, who is also the executive director of Art-Reach. "One of the sad realities is that everyone gets old at some point; we're all potentially a person with a disability just waiting to happen."

Ultimately deciding to embrace disability as part of the festival's name, Smith said many people with disabilities would not change their lives if they had the chance. "Whether you have a disability or not, it's the ability that matters," she said. "The people in the disabled community are saying, 'We just want to do our art.' "

Independence Starts Here! Highlights

Philadelphia

Amadeus - With Audio Description & Captioning Acclaimed tale of perhaps the greatest composer of all time combines intrigue, suspense, comedy & passion. Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824. www.wilmatheater.org. $37-$60. Captioning & audio description at 10/20 2 p.m. performance, Large Print programs & assistive listening available for 10/19 8 p.m., 10/20 2 & 8 p.m., 10/21 2 p.m.

*FREE* Artist Demonstration With Vulf Rakhman Demonstration of easel & adaptive brush holders. Liberty Resources, 714 Market St. 10/26 2-3 p.m. Artist Demonstration: Theatre Masks 10/30 noon-4 p.m.

Black, Deaf & Beautiful: On Stage & Screen One-woman show performed by Michelle A. Banks. Film by Ann Marie "Jade" Bryan screened. Post-show discussion with both. The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, 736-38 S. Broad St.; 215-893-9912. www.creativeaccess.org. $20. 11/4 2-6 p.m.

Children of a Lesser God (1986) Drama starring Marlee Matlin. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-413-8621. www.creativeaccess.org. $5. 10/19 11 a.m.

Deaf Cabaret & Comedy Central Robert DeMayo, Mike Canfield & Fred Beam will emcee this old-time vaudeville & cabaret show. Dowling's Palace, 1310 N. Broad St. (at Thompson, above Girard). www.creativeaccess.org. $20. 11/16 9 p.m.

Deaf Cirque-Carnival An all-deaf lineup of magicians, fire-eaters, mimes, ventriloquists & more. Mummers Museum, 1100 S. Second St.; 215-336-3050. www.mummersmuseum.com. $12, $6 children advance; $15, $7.50 children day of show. 10/28 noon-2 p.m.

Lynn Manning: Weights One-man show starring playwright, poet, actor, Paralympic medalist & former Blind Judo World Champion. Dan Rodden Theater, La Salle University, 20th Ave. www.independencestartshere.org. 10/30 12:30 p.m.

*FREE* Margalit Fox: Talking Hands Author appearance & book promotion. Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St.; 215-564-2431. www.independencestartshere.org. 10/23 7 p.m.

Naylamp Street & Puppet Theater: Memories of Fire Play about Latino women & domestic violence. Taller Puertorriqueño Theater, 2557 N. Fifth St. www.independencestartshere.org. $5-$10. 10/19-10/20 7 p.m.

The Poets' Challenge Disabled poets read their work. International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut St.; 215-564-2431. www.independencestartshere.org. $5. 10/23 7 p.m.

Red Carpet Philly Style Dedication of a newly retrofitted movie theater & concert hall. Concert & awards ceremony. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-923-9101. www.creativeaccess.org. 10/19 9 am-11 p.m.

Theater in the Sky Actor, teacher, director & mime Bernard Bragg discusses his experiences. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd.; 215-923-9101. www.creativeaccess.org. $20; $10 students. 10/19 7-8 p.m.

Voices of HMS/The Frog Prince Original play by disabled HMS students & play about not judging people based on appearance. Walnut Street Theatre - Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-564-2431. www.independencestartshere.org. $5. 10/30 4 p.m.

Workshop Participant Exhibition Work by cognitively & communicatively impaired individuals. Closes 12/2. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th St. & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; 215-763-8100. www.philamuseum.org.

Pennsylvania suburbs

*FREE* Silent No More - Testimonies of Deaf Holocaust Survivors Multimedia presentation by deaf historian Dr. Simon Carmel, principal gatherer of deaf Holocaust survivors' stories. Gratz College, 7605 Old York Rd., Melrose Park; 215-635-7300. www.creativeaccess.org. 10/22 7:30 p.m.

For a full festival schedule, go to www.independencestartshere.org