2015 vsa accessability session

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 iaccess@iupui.eduElaine Klemesrud eklemesrud@indianamuseum.orgAnna Lindgren-Streicher alstreicher@mos.orgCatherine Lussenhop clussenhop@mos.org