Evaluating Accessibility in Museums : A Practical Guide

Evaluating Accessibility in Museums bridges accessibility and evaluation through stories that highlight how diverse organizations have developed and grown accessibility initiatives and the vital role that evaluation played in their evolution. Authors share how they worked from a variety of institutional starting points to design programs, exhibitions, and accommodations for visitors with disabilities and how these initiatives were evaluated both during and after implementation. Read about the impact of this work on disabled (and non-disabled) audiences, what staff learned, and conversations about iterating and moving forward. Each story demonstrates how evaluation created more responsive institutions that value diverse communities, invite communication and collaboration, and more meaningfully impact visitors.

This book bridges accessibility and evaluation through case studies of museums that highlight the role of evaluation in accessibility work. Stories from institutions of various sizes, types, and geographical locations highlight how diverse organizations have developed and grown accessibility initiatives and the vital role that evaluation has played in their evolution. Read about different types of accessibility initiatives and how they were evaluated, the impact of these programs on disabled (and at times non-disabled) visitors, what staff and community members learned, and their conversations about iterating and moving forward. In each case, evaluating accessibility work created better more responsive institutions who value, and are in conversation, with their various communities, while demonstrating the importance of always talking, always asking, always adapting, and always using evaluation to help guide you forward.