Request for Information and Good Practice Examples   
'2012: Setting new standards for the cultural equality of deaf and disabled people'

 

Dear colleague, dear friend

 

Do you have examples of good practice and research about access and equality for deaf and disabled people in cultural venues? In particular, do you have infomation about 

web accessibility and accessible technology? Here is an opportunity to stimulate London-wide engagement in the run-up to 2012 and to help shape MLA London's strategic approach.

 

I am writing a report for MLA London 'into how the cultural sector is meeting the challenge of making their services and collections representative of and accessible to Deaf and Disabled people. It will span policy and best practice in museums and galleries in London, the UK and, to a limited extent, overseas countries. It will focus on informal museum learning and summarise best practice in the arts and heritage sectors.'

 

The report will help stimulate initiatives in the build-up to the 2012 Games. It aims to be a catalyst for changes that should already be happening within the sector. It aspires to make London's contribution a leaver for global best practice and leave a legacy which will be seen as meeting the Olympic Committees vision that 'both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London set new standards for services, facilities and opportunities for disabled people'.

 

The report will be published on the MLA London website in June 2008 and all sources of support acknowledged. It will be discussed in June at a one day seminar of stakeholders from London representing cultural and disability organisations.  

 

MLA London wishes to learn from good practice in the UK and overseas. I would be very grateful to receive information from you. I am in particular looking for case-studies about: 

 

·         access to museums for deaf and disabled people, as well as access to arts and heritage venues. MLA London is particularly interested in intellectual and sensory access, as well as webaccessibility and accessible technology, but also physical access[1].

·         the representation of disabled people in museum collections[2] 

·         involving deaf and disabled volunteers

·         employing disabled people

·         involving deaf and disabled people in the development of projects and in decision making 


·    partnerships and solutions to sustainable funding 

 

as well as documents and reports on:  

 

·         consultation with deaf and disabled users and non-users

·         project evaluation: what works and doesn't work. Any evidence and lessons learnt that can serve the wider museum, arts and heritage community. Ingenious approaches to sustainability     

·         organisational change, such as access policies and plans for deaf and disabled people (the documents themselves, any progress reports, any information that documents reasons for success or lack of success)      

 

The final report will also include views, aspirations and emerging plans from London based and international organisations which promote cultural equality of deaf and disabled people; as well as any emerging plans of London based arts, museum and heritage organisations.  

 

A few words about me: I worked as RNIB's Arts Officer for fifteen years and MLA's Disability Adviser for five years. I had the chance to lead on projects such as the RNIB/VocalEyes 'Talking Images' project, the MLA Disability Portfolio, the MLA Webaccessibility Audit and the MLA Disability Survey 2005. As a free-lancer, I involve myself in projects which aim to keep access and equality for disabled people on the agenda and which serve the museums, galleries and heritage communities.              

 

My deadline for receiving information is Friday 29 February 2008 (but information received earlier would be very much appreciated). You may wish to circulate this information to other mailing lists.       

 

thanking you in advance for any help you can give, 

 

Marcus

 

 

Marcus Weisen, Museums and Galleries without Barriers 

020-76095008, [log in to unmask]



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[1] I already have excellent case-studies about access for people with learning difficulties (an article will appear in the Spring issue of Museum Practice) and information about Jodi Awards Winners in accessible technology  - but I am always interested in any new projects 

[2] I am up-to date with the 'Re-thinking Disability Representation' project led by the University of Leicester, but am very interested in hearing about other projects  

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