2015 vsa accessability session
TRANSCRIPT
Accessibility:What’s an Evaluator
to Do? Kris Johnson, Access Indy
Elaine Klemesrud, Indiana State Museum and Historic SitesAnna Lindgren-Streicher, Museum of Science, Boston
Catherine Lussenhop, Museum of Science BostonVisitor Studies Association Conference
July 16, 2015
Disability & Diversity
Who are People with Disabilities?• 2010 Census Report—
20% of the people in the US have a disability
• Disability doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can acquire a disability at any time.
• People with disabilities are in every community
How are Disabilities Categorized?• Physical • Cognitive/Developmental• Sensory• Age-related• Temporary
Understanding Obligations to Our Visitors
“Equal Opportunity to Benefit”
• Any person of any ability level should be able to approach and use anything in your museum
• Any person of any ability level should be able to participate in any activities and events at your museum
Self-Assessments
• Assessing legal compliance (Federal, state and local laws)
• Identifying barriers that prevent equal access for visitors with disabilities (spaces AND programs)
Identifying Barriers
• Physical barriers prevent people from entering a space and/or using features within a space.
• Communication barriers prevent people from receiving and responding to information.
• Attitudinal/behavioral barriers prevent people from interacting in positive and effective ways.
Cane Denied:When Good Policy Isn't Enough
Access vs. Inclusion
Medical Model of Disability• Disability is a result of
medical conditions that must be overcome by the individual
• Requires specific accommodations to alleviate issues of accessibility
• Often results in separation/isolation of people with disabilities
Social Model of Disability• Disability is the result of
barriers that exist in the environments we create
• Requires that we remove barriers and reconsider our role in designing experiences for people on a broad spectrum of ability
Levels of Assessing Access & Inclusion
1. Self-Assessment of Your Position• Reviewing your daily tasks/duties, and examining your own process for
incorporating access and inclusive practices into the products of your work
2. Cross-Departmental Approach• Establishing a network of communication and cooperation across
departments to ensure that access and inclusion don’t slip through the cracks
3. Community Engagement of People with Disabilities• Developing relationships with individuals or advocacy groups who are
willing to be advisors and provide consistent feedback
4. Institutional Assessments• Examining existing systems of strategic planning and evaluation to identify
areas of operations that need improvements, and also assign accountability and metrics for success
Access Indy: A Local Knowledge Network
What We Do:• roundtable discussions focused on topics
related to access and inclusion
• guest speakers present and lead discussions
• sessions are free and open to the public
• encourage staff and volunteers from any cultural arts organization to attend
• welcome people from the disability community to share their insight and experiences
Accessibility BasicsElaine Klemesrud
July 2015Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
Accessibility Basics:
BACKGROUND
Accessibility Basics:
BASELINE
Where does your institution currently fulfill accessibility? ADA compliance only Universal Principles of Design
How does your senior staff view accessibility as an institutional priority?
What do you need to move forward? Research Money
What resources to you have available that can help you move forward?
Accessibility Basics:
BUILD A TEAM WITHIN
Does your institution have an ADA Coordinator?
Who else already advocates for inclusion?
What departments should be invited to the table to create an interdisciplinary team? Visitor / Guest Services Exhibition Design Facility Maintenance A/V IT Volunteer Services Marketing
Are there missed opportunities for input?
Accessibility Basics:
BE REALISTIC
What are you up against?
Historic structure versus modern facility
Where is the money coming from? Government funding Grant funding
How much time will it take to ensure that it’s done right?
What if we think it works and it doesn’t?
Accessibility Basics:
BRING IN COMMUNITY EXPERTISE
Who better to give you insights than those who you want to serve?
Every community has resources. Utilize their expertise.
What better way to breakdown preconceived notions and put you on the right track?
Greg Fehribach and The Fehribach Group: Innovative Access Solutions
AccessIndy
Accessibility Basics:
BECOME SUSTAINABLE
How do we remain relevant in a quickly changing world?
Initiate institutional processes for building inclusion into: Programming development Staff training Promoting opportunities Remaining relevant
Accessibility Basics:
Go BEYOND ADA
On July 26, 1990 President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
ADA compliance meets only the minimum in accessibility requirements.
Strategies for Accessible Visitor Testing
Anna Lindgren-Streicher and Catherine Lussenhop
July 16, 2015Museum of Science, Boston
• In order to meet the needs of an audience, you need to talk to that audience
• This is especially true of a new audience you don’t know well
• “Nothing about us without us”
• Values the voices & expertise of the audience themselves
The need for visitor feedback
• Answer questions you have about exhibits, programs, etc.
• Help you develop relationships
• Hear and value voices of people with disabilities
What you can gain
• Make a universal design or access plan
• Personas
• Advisors
• Visitor testing• Focus groups• Individual/small group user testing
Complimentary approaches
• Hypothetical archetypes of real users, based on real data
• Allow for user-focused design in early stages
• Inform team members about audiences that may not be familiar to them
Personas
• Have access-related expertise beyond their own personal experience
• Education, legal code, software development, live performances, etc.
• Should be paid like any expert advisor
Advisors
• Speak about their own experiences as persons with disabilities
• Some also have professional experience
• Come in the social group they’d usually visit the museum with
• Receive free admission & parking
User testing
• Internal resources (Community Outreach, etc.)
• City or state commissions on disability• Local disability listservs, agencies, or
community groups• SPED Child and Teen Massachusetts• Mass Deaf Terp• New England Handicapped Sports Association
• Schools (can present consent issues)• Group homes or independent living centers
Connecting with communities
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2012, Patti Panzarino
• Recruit for a range of experiences
• Use simple language. More concise = better.
• Allow multiple contact methods (phone/email)
Clarity is key! When we weren’t clear…
• Emails got forwarded too widely
• Information got distorted
Recruiting visitors
Minimum info for an email:• “This involves research or evaluation”• What they would be doing/testing • “By appointment only”• “We have a limited number of spots
available”• Do or do not forward this email• ASL interpreter lead time
Also: accessibility survey and database
Recruiting visitors
• Learn basic communication strategies, but…
• …Don’t get too nervous
• Value variation in experiences over large numbers
• Look for physical, cognitive, social inclusion
• Remember interest and learning
Data collection preparation
Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2012, Patti Panzarino
• Invite other stakeholders (but not too many)
• Prepare to reword survey or interview questions
• Prompt for personal perspectives
• Consider how design disables or enables learning
Data collection tips
• Use universal design & social model of disability as a framework
• Identify barriers to physical, cognitive, and social inclusion
• Call out designs that work well and foster inclusion
• Review findings with participants
Data analysis and reporting
“Build a Bridge Support,” June 2015Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River
• Involve people with disabilities in the work of the organization
• Embed information about inclusive practices into communication, PD, and large projects
• Engage in ongoing experimentation and reflection
• Promote that design strategies are better for all
Organizational change
Small group discussion
• Share who you are and what work you are doing now to apply accessibility.
• What is one thing you want to change or apply in your own work?
• Who are your resources in your museum or community to support your work?
Presenter contact informationKris Johnson [email protected] Klemesrud [email protected] Lindgren-Streicher [email protected] Lussenhop [email protected]