As an exhibit designer: us!
Whoever is designing the exhibit has to ensure it’s (from a US perspective) at *minimum* ADA compliant, and ideally meets (or goes above and beyond) the Smithsonian accessibility guidelines. If there are questions about how to make a particular element more accessible, there are also accessibility consultants that can come in and do user testing of prototypes.
If you want a research direction, first read through the [Smithsonian guidelines,](https://www.sifacilities.si.edu/sites/default/files/Files/Accessibility/accessible-exhibition-design1.pdf) and then learn more about “[universal design](https://www.washington.edu/doit/universal-design-process-principles-and-applications)”. The NPS also has [comprehensive accessibility guidelines](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/upload/Master-Program-Guidelines-Interp-Media-V2-4-2.docx) for interpretation.
Oh also here’s [my favorite cheat sheet](https://missionstem.nasa.gov/docs/MOS_UD_poster.pdf) that I refer to all the time. Probably not relevant to OP just yet, but other designers might want to save it!
There’s usually some on staff dedicated to accessibility and inclusivity, most likely in the education department. Design departments are also generally well versed in ADA compliances as well
Only if the institution cares.
You can find all kinds of directives and guidelines, but they are not what people think of first when designing exhibits. People are still fighting in my institution about bilingual labels. They never think about braille or other accessible features.
Also, museum attendance was affected by the pandemic. I don’t think accessibility is the culprit. And it’s commendable that you’re enthusiastic about making museums for all, but as a WOC curator, it’s not even hospitable to me and those who look like me. Look at the demographics of your classes and you’ll see that it starts at the staff level.
Yes. I noticed this in under grad. Makes me sad. I wish I could be apart of this changing this aspect. I really do. Museums are cool and a place for everyone. I wish it truly was that though. A place for everyone
I'm speaking out of mostly ignorance (because I'll the de facto accessability person where i work because I'm the person who adopted that role and we didn't have the staffing to hire an actual expert... I'm just the mildly disabled employee who has an autistic child, so i literally started working a different job and advising as a part of it. We've made a lot of progress, ask things considered), but there are orgs that work on this.
lead is the big one:
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/networks-conferences-and-research/conferences-and-events/lead-conference/
But states have their own. (Hint, maca virtual meetings are frequently attended by out of state ppl. Message these folks)
https://www.miculturalaccess.org/
At a prior job - it was the education and interpretation department, technically, who had all the buy in from the directors, but then it fell to the curators - who generally were supportive but also had to pull a rabbit out of a hat by having zero say in final interpretation and were denied appropriate staffing to ensure folks were on the same page. Ditto for marketing/design. There was a lot of infighting.
Ultimately, it’s a museum wide job - everyone needs to understand that if this is an institutional priority, it goes for all departments - it won’t just be the job of one person.
It really varies greatly by museum. I am a full-time accessibility manager at a large museum, and have been at a mid-size museum as well. Many museums have a single staff member like me, some are lucky enough to have whole accessibility teams, and I would say many more don’t have any staff dedicated solely to this work.
I recommend seeking out museums who do great accessibility work to learn more about the various programs they offer and to see how they approach their exhibitions. MoMA in NYC (I do work in NYC, but not there) has a fantastic access team and they do great work. Many NYC museums are doing exciting things around accessibility right now.
Technically we're ALL responsible for this, and there's a lot of good stuff going on as people realise and embrace this. You SHOULD be an advocate for this. Be the change you want to see!
As an exhibit designer: us! Whoever is designing the exhibit has to ensure it’s (from a US perspective) at *minimum* ADA compliant, and ideally meets (or goes above and beyond) the Smithsonian accessibility guidelines. If there are questions about how to make a particular element more accessible, there are also accessibility consultants that can come in and do user testing of prototypes. If you want a research direction, first read through the [Smithsonian guidelines,](https://www.sifacilities.si.edu/sites/default/files/Files/Accessibility/accessible-exhibition-design1.pdf) and then learn more about “[universal design](https://www.washington.edu/doit/universal-design-process-principles-and-applications)”. The NPS also has [comprehensive accessibility guidelines](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/upload/Master-Program-Guidelines-Interp-Media-V2-4-2.docx) for interpretation. Oh also here’s [my favorite cheat sheet](https://missionstem.nasa.gov/docs/MOS_UD_poster.pdf) that I refer to all the time. Probably not relevant to OP just yet, but other designers might want to save it!
There’s usually some on staff dedicated to accessibility and inclusivity, most likely in the education department. Design departments are also generally well versed in ADA compliances as well
Only if the institution cares. You can find all kinds of directives and guidelines, but they are not what people think of first when designing exhibits. People are still fighting in my institution about bilingual labels. They never think about braille or other accessible features. Also, museum attendance was affected by the pandemic. I don’t think accessibility is the culprit. And it’s commendable that you’re enthusiastic about making museums for all, but as a WOC curator, it’s not even hospitable to me and those who look like me. Look at the demographics of your classes and you’ll see that it starts at the staff level.
Yes. I noticed this in under grad. Makes me sad. I wish I could be apart of this changing this aspect. I really do. Museums are cool and a place for everyone. I wish it truly was that though. A place for everyone
I'm speaking out of mostly ignorance (because I'll the de facto accessability person where i work because I'm the person who adopted that role and we didn't have the staffing to hire an actual expert... I'm just the mildly disabled employee who has an autistic child, so i literally started working a different job and advising as a part of it. We've made a lot of progress, ask things considered), but there are orgs that work on this. lead is the big one: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/networks-conferences-and-research/conferences-and-events/lead-conference/ But states have their own. (Hint, maca virtual meetings are frequently attended by out of state ppl. Message these folks) https://www.miculturalaccess.org/
At a prior job - it was the education and interpretation department, technically, who had all the buy in from the directors, but then it fell to the curators - who generally were supportive but also had to pull a rabbit out of a hat by having zero say in final interpretation and were denied appropriate staffing to ensure folks were on the same page. Ditto for marketing/design. There was a lot of infighting. Ultimately, it’s a museum wide job - everyone needs to understand that if this is an institutional priority, it goes for all departments - it won’t just be the job of one person.
It really varies greatly by museum. I am a full-time accessibility manager at a large museum, and have been at a mid-size museum as well. Many museums have a single staff member like me, some are lucky enough to have whole accessibility teams, and I would say many more don’t have any staff dedicated solely to this work. I recommend seeking out museums who do great accessibility work to learn more about the various programs they offer and to see how they approach their exhibitions. MoMA in NYC (I do work in NYC, but not there) has a fantastic access team and they do great work. Many NYC museums are doing exciting things around accessibility right now.
Technically we're ALL responsible for this, and there's a lot of good stuff going on as people realise and embrace this. You SHOULD be an advocate for this. Be the change you want to see!