An Investigation of Disability Access and Social Inclusion in Art Museums

Abstract

This thesis by publication is a combined synthesis of a multipart body of research that investigates disability access and social inclusion in art museums. This research combines the findings from a series of interrelated studies to present a comprehensive view of disability access in art museums. A qualitative, grounded theory research design utilised a variety of data collection strategies to provide rich data. The researcher chose a qualitative research design guided by the theoretical lenses of disability access and social inclusion theories in order to capture expressive individual perspectives from both museum staff members and individuals from the disability community about values, beliefs, and motivations that underlie museum services and programs. The primary research question for this research is: What key measures can art museums take to become more accessible and socially inclusive for people with disabilities? Related to this primary question, the researcher considered the role and value of the types of technological tools and outreach strategies that art museums currently employ to encourage social engagement and improve the quality of the museum experience for people with disabilities. Another aspect of the research enquiry was to discover the perceptions that people with disabilities have about art museums programs and services and their ideas about how these institutions could provide a greater sense of social inclusion to people with disabilities. The results of this research highlight general trends in disability access offerings in art museums and underscores the importance of inclusion and disability advocacy in terms of taking steps towards improving museum outreach and services. An important finding was that the majority of participants with disabilities involved in the research often did not visit public art institutions because they feel excluded, unwelcome, or did not find anything of value. What emerged through an evaluation of the research findings, was an understanding that the process of becoming an accessible and inclusive museum requires a change in attitude, policy, functionality, and programming throughout the museum's administrative, access, and outreach functions. This research provides art museum administrators and staff with strategies and examples of successful inclusive initiatives offered by art museums. Moreover, this research provides a conspectus of resources and a theoretical framework of disability access and social inclusion that may assist art museums with becoming more accessible and socially inclusive for all.