This is a series of posts about 2020 Spring Museum Accessibility class at NYU.
Reading memo
Book: Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in Museums
6: The Leadership Imperative by Laula
Laula's thesis is
It is urgent that museum leaders,,, focus their attention on how to strategically and effectively bring diversity and inclusion into the culture of their museums.
To do so, she strongly suggests to read the United States Census to understand how the country and its people consist now and are changing in the future. Her article reminds me of a book Factfulness; think based on facts.
Although statistics tells the current and future situation, changing museums based on the statictics sound not easy at all because it deeply connected to politics. We need to think both top-down and bottom-up approach.
9: Museums and ADA at 25 by Beth
I did not know about the Amedicans with Disabilities Act (ADA) before reading this article. For my reference, I quote the definition from ADA national network.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.
Also, I need to learn the different types of disabilities and its current solusion in museums.
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Vision: audio guides, large-print labels and materials, content in braille, tactile tours, models and maps.
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Hearing: captioned video, sign-language interpreted tours, assistive listening devices, real-time captioning, sign-language interpretaton.
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Physical: ensuing wheel chair access, display height and space, more seating options, accessible seating in auditoriums.
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Cognitive (like autism, alzheimer): offering less-crowded-visiting-times, special materials to help orient new audiences, educational programs for people with dimentia and their caregivers.
15: Disability and Innovation by Haben
Some words I liked.
Stories are powerful.
People ctreate justice. Communities create justice.
The barrier is society and expectations. All barriers thatr exist are created by people. It was the cafeteria's choice to provide the menu only in print that was the problem.
It's our choice to accept oppression or advocate for justice.
After I framed the issue as a civil rights he started to take me more seriously.
Try one solution. If that doesn't work, try another solution.
Disability is about opportunities for innovation and growth. By highlighting stories of disability driving innovation, you encourage other orgasnization to choose inclusion.
Some resources I need to check