CULTURAL ACCESS

Presented by Marian WintersVSA Florida

January 28th, 2014

Why you need to know

• Title III of ADA applies to museums– No individual with a disability is discriminated

against on the basis of a disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the entities’ goods, services and facilities.

– Where necessary a public accommodation must also provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services in order to ensure effective communication

ADA cont.

• Requires removal of barriers to access in existing facilities where it is readily achievable to do so.

• New construction must be accessible.

Common Barriers

• Doorknobs and operating mechanisms that require tight grasping or pinching

• Deep pile carpeting, loose gravel• Signs useless for individuals who are blind• Drinking fountains, mirrors, towel dispensers

mounted too high for people who use wheel chairs.• Protrusions – more than 4 inches from wall or over,

mounted at normal height, over side walks• Movable elements – garbage cans, display racks

Who are people with disabilities

Artist – Teaching Artist

Performers

What disability?

Who are we talking about?• Twenty percent ( 63 million) of Americans have a

disability• Each year for the next 20 years, 4 million baby

boomers will turn 65 in the United States alone• Over 40 percent of baby boomers will be retiring

with some form of disability• 2015 the baby boomer generation will command 60

percent of net wealth and 40 percent of spending.

Facts about people with disabilities

• In the U.S. people with disabilities make up the largest minority group.

• Difference between this minority and most others is that many are not born with their disability

• Of the almost 70 million families in the U.S. more than 20 million have at least one family member with a disability

• About 12% of the US population identifies as having a severe disability – about 35 million.

• About 54 million Americans have at least one disability• Nearly 40% of Americans living with a disability are from the

South.

Disability breakdown:2.1 % Visual3.4 % Hearing6.9% Ambulatory4.8% Cognitive2.6% Self Care5.4% Independent Living Disability

12.3% females – all ages11.6 % males

Race:10.1 % Caucasian14.1% African – American4.5 % Asian18.0% Native Americans10.1 % other

Economic Power• People with disabilities are the largest consumer

group in the U.S.• Discretionary income is more than 250 billion

dollars annually• With direct family members the “disability market”

is at least 3 trillion• The spending power is twice the spending power of

tweens- 17%• Parent population has the same income and assets

as the general population• Multiplier of 2.8-3 .5 – people visit with others• Two – markets

• Individuals with disabilities• Family and Friends

For Success- Access must be imbedded into ALL parts of the institution.

Embraced at all levels.

Benefits of Access

• Increased Attendance• New Funding Sources• More Community Visibility• Public Perception

Ten Steps to Accessibility in the Arts

• Know how the law applies to your organization, patrons, and audiences with disabilities

• Designate an accessibility coordinator from your organization that will lead the organization in its efforts to comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Create an ADA Access Advisory group or committee

Steps

Conduct an ADA survey of your facility and program to identify existing barriers and discriminatory policies or practices

Create an ADA plan for your organization that addresses program accessibility, barrier removal, effective communication, new construction and alterations

Adopt a policy statement about your organization’s commitment to accessibility

Final Steps

Train your staff Implement your ADA plan Promote and advertise your accessibility plan Conduct an ongoing review of accessibility

efforts

• Organizational1

• Employment2

• Communication3

Policies

Organizational Policies

• Clearly visible • 504 plan• Every job

description• Training

• Staff Hiring• Accessibility policies should

exist in every job description

• Notice of Availability of Accommodations

• Do not ask about Disabilities• Do ask about:

– What/if any accommodations are needed

Maintain Staff Training and keep record of it.Staff

Training

COMMUNICATIONS

Expanding Your Audience

Include people with disabilities in program development.

Keep an open mind. Do not assume one size

fits all. Define why this market

needs your services. Become involved with

community organizations that focus on disability related issues

A personal invitation is powerful! Send invitations through

disability organizations. Work to avoid non-personal

mass mailings. Conduct focus groups and recruit

access advisory committee members through your patron base and local disability social groups and organizations.

Develop a database of interested patrons Marketing Materials

People First Language

Symbols/Policies of Symbols use

MarketingMarket your Accessibility

To your board members and patronsTo the mediaTo your community

HowUse StatisticsPersonal StoriesPhotographsMeet and Greets

• Printed or electronic document– Read the document out loud or explain it

• Make a large print version– Create a structured electronic file — a file using pre-set

headings, styles, and lists – so people can read it with their assistive devices, like screen readers. You can also use it to produce other accessible formats.

• Technical or complicated information– Use common words instead of jargon– Break text into shorter sentences and paragraphs– Use graphics to add meaning

• Graphic– Include a written or verbal description

How do you make things accessible?

What else?• Sign

– Use larger text, simple pictograms, strong color contrast, and/or tactile elements– Verbal or audio– Make it visual — write it on a piece of paper, put it in an email or on a digital

screen• Video

– Add subtitles and/or video descriptions– Provide a transcript– Consider an in-person presentation or conversation

• Telephone Use text-based technology such as email, texting or instant messaging– Use technologies designed for the hard of hearing like a teletypewriter (TTY) or a

telephone relay service• Presentation

– Share a copy of your presentation materials (e.g. PowerPoint slides – or transcript)– Hire a sign language interpreter– Use a microphone

Service Animals

• A dog or in special instances a miniature horse trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability

• No license or certificate by a state or local government is required

• Never touch or distract a service animal• A patron with a service animal cannot be

segregated from other patrons

2013 DOJ and International Spy Museum

• Agreement- services for blind- low vision– Tactile maps– Qualified audio describer for an requested

Museums presentation – audio visual computer interactives or exhibits

– Qualified reader to read all labels– Representative sample of objects or

reproductions

DOJ cont.

• Hard of Hearing visitors– Captions– Scripts or wall text if captions provide an undo

burden– ASL and oral interpreter services and realtime

captioning on advance request for all public programs.

DOJ cont.

• The Museum will also:– Website highlight accommodations– Provide enhances level of physical access including

restaurant and gift shop– Provide integrated wheel chair seating, accessible

ramps and improved access to doors and counters– All new construction is accessible– Designate ADA compliance officer– Train first line supervisors and managers staff on ADA –

and new staff within 30 days of hire

QUESTIONS