Many voices, making choices: Audiences with disabilities and museums

Almost 20%, or 1 in 5, Australians have some form of disability People with disabilities have generally positive view of the arts Potential to increase visitor numbers: they visit in groups strong networks & word of mouth Huge amount of literature/guidelines available: yet little from the perspective of audiences with disabilities themselves none in museums sector in Australia Reasons for study 1

Almost 20%, or 1 in 5, Australians have some form of disability

People with disabilities have generally positive view of the arts

Potential to increase visitor numbers:

they visit in groups

strong networks & word of mouth

Huge amount of literature/guidelines available:

yet little from the perspective of audiences with disabilities themselves

none in museums sector in Australia

Better ways to meet needs of disabled groups means all audiences benefit Reasons for study 2

Better ways to meet needs of disabled groups means all audiences benefit

Literature Review Focus Groups Sydney + Canberra: Mixed groups physical disabilities intellectual disabilities Deaf community Carers Mix of visitors and non-visitors Email survey Workshops with range of museum staff/peak body groups in Sydney/Canberra Research method

Literature Review

Focus Groups Sydney + Canberra:

Mixed groups

physical disabilities

intellectual disabilities

Deaf community

Carers

Mix of visitors and non-visitors

Email survey

Workshops with range of museum staff/peak body groups in Sydney/Canberra

Mixed groups: heard from many different types of disabilities identified common issues from range of perspectives more enjoyable for participants networking opportunities learning experience for disability groups as they hear experiences of others Exceptions: carers, deaf culture, some intellectual Research issues 1

Mixed groups:

heard from many different types of disabilities

identified common issues from range of perspectives

more enjoyable for participants

networking opportunities

learning experience for disability groups as they hear experiences of others

Exceptions:

carers, deaf culture, some intellectual

Sourcing the sample: email & posting to websites people with disabilities are tech-savvy word of mouth is key use peak bodies consultants that are credible within the community Participants: identify as disabled interested in museums (even if haven't visited) able & comfortable to attend group discussion Research issues 2

Sourcing the sample:

email & posting to websites

people with disabilities are tech-savvy

word of mouth is key

use peak bodies

consultants that are credible within the community

Participants:

identify as disabled

interested in museums (even if haven't visited)

able & comfortable to attend group discussion

Organising the research groups “tested” the capacity of each organisation to supply services for these groups: parking & transport location of rooms easy to find, no stairs catering staff needed to be comfortable with people with disabilities &/or had awareness training signing receipts for payment Research issues 3

Organising the research groups “tested” the capacity of each organisation to supply services for these groups:

parking & transport

location of rooms

easy to find, no stairs

catering

staff needed to be comfortable with people with disabilities &/or had awareness training

signing receipts for payment

Intellectual disabilities: involved in mixed group to give different perspective Year 10 high school group (Canberra): valuable experience for skills development & social integration Research issues 4

Intellectual disabilities:

involved in mixed group to give different perspective

Year 10 high school group (Canberra):

valuable experience for skills development & social integration

Supportive of museums Interested & frequent visitors if: something there they want to see range of access services available See museums as excellent environments for learning, educational & social experiences with family and friends Knew of staff concerns about & problems with access, yet wanted these dealt with General findings

Supportive of museums

Interested & frequent visitors if:

something there they want to see

range of access services available

See museums as excellent environments for learning, educational & social experiences with family and friends

Knew of staff concerns about & problems with access, yet wanted these dealt with

Access museums on their own terms: understand it is hard to visit alone but increases confidence & self-esteem choosing their own type of visiting experience gives them independence need good information/separate section on websites about accessibility “ Having to book [parking] means having to make a commitment. It means you can’t think ‘Oh, I’ll just go to the museum today’. [I want to be] flexible and spontaneous.” They want to …

Access museums on their own terms:

understand it is hard to visit alone but increases confidence & self-esteem

choosing their own type of visiting experience gives them independence

need good information/separate section on websites about accessibility

“ Having to book [parking] means having to make a commitment. It means you can’t think ‘Oh, I’ll just go to the museum today’. [I want to be] flexible and spontaneous.”

Physical: include whether possible to independently enter & enjoy the museum on their terms Failure to provide specific services (e.g. captioning) Staff attitudes, awareness & training Cost: admission, transport, food, carers’ costs Uninteresting, irrelevant topics & content Barriers

Physical:

include whether possible to independently enter & enjoy the museum on their terms

Failure to provide specific services (e.g. captioning)

Staff attitudes, awareness & training

Cost:

admission, transport, food, carers’ costs

Uninteresting, irrelevant topics & content

Conclusions Museums have much to offer audiences with disabilities Museums are being asked to open their doors, invite people with disabilities in and let them enter independently, assured of good access, and with the chance to make their own choices about their museum experience in a respectful, enjoyable and stimulating environment

Museums have much to offer audiences with disabilities

Museums are being asked to open their doors, invite people with disabilities in and let them enter independently, assured of good access, and with the chance to make their own choices about their museum experience in a respectful, enjoyable and stimulating environment

Respect for them as individuals Choice Welcoming atmosphere from trained & aware; friendly & knowledgeable staff: both front & back of house See themselves reflected in programs, exhibitions, collections & staffing: the “work” of the museum Active & varied learning experiences Involvement Contemporary: in communication & interpretation modes content/issues covered that are relevant & current All audiences want

Respect for them as individuals

Choice

Welcoming atmosphere from trained & aware; friendly & knowledgeable staff:

both front & back of house

See themselves reflected in programs, exhibitions, collections & staffing:

the “work” of the museum

Active & varied learning experiences

Involvement

Contemporary:

in communication & interpretation modes

content/issues covered that are relevant & current

NOVA Employment Group (Sydney): develop skills in answering questions, completing worksheets, reading, writing & talking increase sense of social integration develop capacity to visit museums a way of earning money – effort and reward provide trainees and job coaches an enjoyable, social experience that will encourage them to return Current work

NOVA Employment Group (Sydney):

develop skills in answering questions, completing worksheets, reading, writing & talking

increase sense of social integration

develop capacity to visit museums

a way of earning money – effort and reward

provide trainees and job coaches an enjoyable, social experience that will encourage them to return

http.//www.australianmuseum.net.au/amarc/