Chaz Kellem is a rising star in the disability community and the community at large.

The personable 25-year-old has been defying stereotypes about disability ever since his days as a Pittsburgh Public Schools student, carving out a path all his own.

An avid sports fan and participant, he pursued a degree in sports administration at Edinboro University. Following graduation in 2005, he landed a job as a group accounts executive with the Pittsburgh Pirates and jumped headlong into community service by joining nonprofit boards and coaching wheelchair sports.

He's also the driving force behind PNC Park's Disability Awareness Night. The third annual event is scheduled for May 24.

Like many Major League ballparks, PNC Park offers a disability awareness event to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities and to showcase the inclusiveness of its facility.

Organizing the event is a particular pleasure for Mr. Kellem because PNC Park is widely recognized as the most accessible Major League sporting facility in the nation.

"PNC Park is very accommodating," said Mr. Kellem. "We want people with disabilities to enjoy our park."

PNC Park, which opened in 2001, was designed by HOK Architects of Kansas City -- the firm that also designed Heinz Field and the soon-to-be-built Penguins arena. The ball park features wheelchair-accessible seating in every price area, power sources in most seating areas (for battery plug-in), and a captioning board. Rotundas at each level provide generous space for wheelchair traffic. Concessions and restrooms are fully accessible, and there are 16 family restrooms, which offer convenience for patrons who have personal assistants.

The physical accessibility of the park and its customer service training reflect the input of another star in the disability community -- Joan Stein, president and chief executive officer of Accessibility Development Associates Inc., a 16-year-old Downtown firm that consults nationally on access issues.

"Our mission is to remove architectural and attitudinal barriers," said Ms. Stein, 52. In addition to its work with PNC Park and the future Penguins arena, the firm is the accessibility consultant for the U.S. Open and other major events and venues.

"PNC Park is my baby," said Ms. Stein. "I call it the most successful ballpark in America. It goes way beyond the requirements of the ADA [Americans with Disability Act]."

"All of HOK's parks are accessible, but PNC Park excels because of its structure and its people. Patrons are greeted well; they are treated respectfully. Access is not just about wheelchairs; it's about being a user-friendly environment."

"Our customer service staff is well-trained and resourceful," said Mr. Kellem. "They know the best routes to the seats and are very patient. Everyone -- from ticket takers and ushers to office staff -- is welcoming."

Mr. Kellem notes that PNC Park is also an outstanding workplace. "The Pirates organization is a good employer for people with disabilities, without a doubt. They have placed me in a situation to be successful."

Ms. Stein notes that the decision to exceed ADA building requirements requires a "top-down" commitment. She has seen that commitment in the officials responsible for planning all three of Pittsburgh's major sports venues.

The people who are planning access to the new Penguins arena "are taking all the right steps," she said.

"The arena is not just hockey," she said. "It will be our crown jewel, a top venue 365 days a year. It will be the only facility in the region that offers big events like circuses, major concerts, ice shows. If the building has a reputation for being user-friendly, you will see grandparents buying five tickets to take their grandkids to a Disney ice show."

Otherwise, "you're missing a market," she said, adding that the U.S. Department of Labor estimates the discretionary income of people with disabilities at $175 billion.

Operators of entertainment venues of all sizes are beginning to understand the need for disability awareness training. Earlier this year, Caddy Durkin Harper and her husband John, part-owners of the Waterworks Cinemas near Fox Chapel, sought out such training for their mostly teenage staff.

Ms. Harper brought in Mary Ann McGuirk of UCP Kids (Unique Community Partnership for Kids), a division of United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh. UCP Kids provides trainings on inclusive practices under a program called FUN (Fully Understanding the Needs ) for Everyone, funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disability Council.

On a Saturday morning in April, Ms. McGuirk met with about 25 employees in the lobby of the theater. She talked candidly about treating patrons with respect and dignity, but without going overboard with attention. She explained the concept of "person-first" language (i.e. using language that acknowledges the person before making reference to a disability).

Several teens shared experiences they have had on the job and in their lives.

"Is it OK to help a person who has trouble putting her change back in her wallet?" asked a young female employee who works at the concession stand. Ms. McGuirk told her that it is fine to offer assistance but to let the patron make the decision to accept or not.

"Treat people as you want to be treated," she stressed.

Both Ms. McGuirk and Ms. Stein say that disability awareness training is a must for staff in leisure-time venues.

"Never make assumptions about a person's level of functioning," said Ms. McGuirk. Waitstaff in restaurants, she said, often seem unsure about whether to directly address a person with a significant disability.

On this subject, Ms. Stein adds, "If a person who uses a wheelchair can get to the table in a restaurant, but then the server comes up and ignores the person, that's not good."

"Not that anyone is intentionally mean, but they just don't know what to do. That's where training comes in."