WE WILL BEGIN SHORTLY If you would like to dial in for audio: Call: (855) 685-9261 Access Code: 49996102 You may also use the broadcast feature and listen through your computer s speakers or headset. You can access closed captioning by going to http://www.captionedtext.com and entering: 2622052 Thank you!
INCLUSIVE EXHIBITS
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! Anita Walker, Executive Director Massachusetts Cultural Council Hannah Goodwin, Manager of Accessibility Museum of Fine Arts
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! Nora Nagle, ADA and 504 Accessibility Coordinator Museum of Science Emily Curran, Executive Director Old South Meeting House
AGENDA 1:00 Background about UP, Anita Walker 1:10 Museum of Fine Arts, Hannah Goodwin 1:20 Museum of Science, Nora Nagle 1:30 Old South Meeting House, Emily Curran 1:40 Moderated discussion and Q&A 2:00 Webinar concludes
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS All participants will be muted during presentation. If you have a question or comment you can use the chat feature at any time. We will respond to all questions at the end of the presentation during the moderated discussion.
WHAT IS UP? Anita Walker, Executive Director Massachusetts Cultural Council www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/up.asp
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Hannah Goodwin, Manager of Accessibility
Accessible Foundation All visitors Specific support Accommodation Basics Responding to need
MFA, Boston, Ancient Coin Gallery
Please Be Seated
Inclusive offerings ASL Interpretation Tactile Materials
Mobile Guide: ASL, AD, Text transcript, CC, Voice over..
Programs
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE Nora Nagle, ADA and 504 Accessibility Coordinator
Inclusion in museums Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education inquiry group framework: Physical inclusion Cognitive inclusion Social inclusion
Universal design example
Physical inclusion Defining universal design The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Center for Universal Design North Carolina State University
Physical inclusion Principles of universal design Equitable use Flexibility in use Simple and intuitive Perceptible information Tolerance for error Low physical effort Size and space for approach and use Copyright 1997 NC State University, The Center for Universal Design
Physical inclusion Why provide physical and sensory access? People are diverse in their abilities: How they can navigate an area How much they can hear & see How much they can sit or stand
Physical inclusion Communication Access Ensure Effective Communication Through the Provision of Auxiliary Aids and Services, such as: Large Print Braille Audio Recordings Readers Electronic Formats Sign Language Interpreters TTY CART Captioning
Physical inclusion Other Access Examples: Have an audio tour? Offering transcripts will makes it accessible to people with hearing loss. Inaccessible rooms in a historic home? Offering pictures or a video tour could provide some access. Written materials can be provided in large print, braille and electronic formats at little or no cost. Make sure that your website is accessible to screen reading software. Live presentations? By slowing the pace and including descriptive language, the presentation can become more accessible to many. Make sure that all videos are open captioned. Good lighting makes exhibits easier to see for everyone Label exhibits with easy to read fonts with high contrast
Cognitive inclusion Defining universal design for learning: To accommodate a broad spectrum of learners, universally designed curricula require a range of options for accessing, using, and engaging with learning materials. Like universal design in architecture these alternatives reduce barriers for individuals with disabilities but also enhance opportunities for every student. Rose, David and Ann Meyer. Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning. Cambridge: ASCD, 2002. Print.
Cognitive inclusion Universal design for learning Recognition learning: recognizing essential cues and patterns through multiple, flexible methods of presentation. Strategic learning: mastering skillful strategies for action through multiple, flexible methods of expression and apprenticeship. Affective learning: engaging in learning through multiple, flexible options for engagement. (Rose and Meyer, 2002) Photo by Emily Maletz
Inclusion in museums Museums are places where design is used to facilitate learning Museums offer the possibility of multi-sensory learning activities Museums provide groups of visitors with the opportunity to learn through conversations Photo by Emily Maletz
Introduction to the Universal Design Guidelines Photo Michael Malyszko
Three Main Concepts Three main ideas can be used by museum educators while developing and implementing exhibits. 1. Repeat and reinforce main ideas 2. Multiple entry points / ways of engagement 3. Physical and sensory access
Why repeat and reinforce main ideas? Learners have different preferences for receiving information: Audial Tactile Visual Helpful for those with different attention spans or short-term memory Can relate to a disability or context of the situation
Considerations for Developing an Exhibit Explicitly state and focus on the main idea. Break down the exhibit into distinct pieces. Be explicit about this breakdown.
Why make multiple entry points and multiple ways of engagement available? Different levels of content knowledge and personal experiences Gives a wide range of visitors an avenue for understanding Multiple examples provide visitors ways to connect to the content
Developing exhibit content Connect to a range of prior experiences Make it fun and engaging for all learners Consider multiple analogies for the same idea Use examples and non-examples Build multiple layers into the program
Social inclusion Accessible exhibits wont bring people in if they don t feel welcome. Outreach is important! Make sure that your institution lets people know about the accessibility of your institution. If you provide it, they will come! Staff and volunteers are an integral part of inclusion. Ensure that staff and volunteers are familiar with accessible features, services and routes, just as they are expected to be familiar with other amenities. Including people with disabilities in trainings makes staff and volunteers more at ease, less afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. When staff and volunteers are at ease with visitors with disabilities, and this message is conveyed to visitors, who often takes cues from staff and volunteers.
Institutional inclusion Physical accessibility is only a facet of inclusion. Institutional change toward meaningful inclusion incorporates: Institutional culture of inclusive values and beliefs Distributed knowledge and expertise you can t do it alone! Distributed leadership sharing responsibility Collaboration within the organization, as well as outside Involvement of people with disabilities this is critical An ongoing learning process there is always room for improvement The perception of available funding Reich, C. Changing Practices: Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Science Museums. Dimensions, v. 14no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2012) p. 22-26.
OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE Emily Curran, Executive Director
SUGGESTED RESOURCES: Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibit Design: http://accessible.si.edu/pdf/smithsonian%20guidelines%20for%20acc essible%20design.pdf National Park Service Accessibility Resources: this includes links to accessibility guidelines (below) as well as updates and additional resources: http://www.nps.gov/hfc/accessibility/ Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media: http://www.nps.gov/hfc/pdf/accessibility/access-guide-aug2009.pdf Good article on inclusive language: http://www.diversityinc.com/things-not-to-say/diversity-leaders-6- things-never-to-say-about-disabilities/
If you have questions or comments for Anita or the panelists, please type them into chat.
WRAP UP UP Guidelines and applications will come out this summer. We will include all webinar participants on any UP related emails or notices about inclusion/access events, workshops, and webinars. Please take a moment and let us know what you thought of this webinar by completing the survey you will receive.
THANK YOU! To our panelists And to YOU for joining us today!