What does museum accessibility mean today? How can it generate impact in museums and in society itself? Where should we begin to take concrete action? Museum Accessibility by Design: A Systemic Approach to Organizational Change guides readers through the process of designing a museum accessibility strategy. Real world examples, tools, and resources foster implementation. This book offers a comprehensive exploration of museum accessibility, with an up-to-date and critical survey of the discipline; a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to set up a rigorous and effective process that promotes accessibility throughout the museum institution; tools and suggestions for rethinking accessibility and usability for a diverse range of museum visitors; international case studies and best practices; and, a full accessibility training course with activities and exercises aimed at fostering an accessible mindset within any institution. An engaging and accessible resource for university students, museum professionals and researchers, this book speaks to museum professionals of all types, from those just starting out to seasoned experts looking for a comprehensive, multi-faceted look at museum accessibility.
Maria Chiara Ciaccheri is a museum consultant, researcher and docent, as well as an expert in the field of museum accessibility with a focus on cognitive issues and participatory approaches in adult education. With a background in Museum Studies and Management and an MA in Learning and Visitor Studies in Museums from the University of Leicester (UK), over the last fifteen years she has worked and researched extensively in the field of museum accessibility. In 2014, thanks to a visitor grant, she travelled all over the US, mapping more than a hundred accessible best practices throughout the country. As a lecturer in Museum Accessibility for a number of Post-graduate University Programs in Italy, and the author of many articles and publications on this topic, she often speaks at national and international conferences (including LEAD Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability from the VSA Kennedy Center) and in 2019 she launched the project "Museums for People" to support museum studies and the spread of accessibility practices and awareness through illustration.
Highly recommended for everyone working in the field-- "Artribune Magazine" An important contribution to broadening our concept of accessibility, integrating theory and practice to ensure audience's different needs become core, rather than marginal, to a museum's business. Drawing on best practice across the world it offers a step-by-step guide to identifying and measuring objectives as well as overcoming internal resistance and barriers to organisational change. It offers wise words on the importance of internal and external allies, normalising disability, boosting visibility, co design, encouraging exchange between different people and not reinventing the wheel. Its focus on staff development with an accompanying range of exercises to raise awareness and help put policy into practice is especially welcome as well as recent lessons learnt during the pandemic about the transformative role of digital technologies.--Eithne Nightingale, co-editor of Museums, Equality and Social Justice and previous Head of Equality and Diversity, Victoria and Albert Museum
