Overview of future posts...

Chuck Baird
Art No. 2
Acrylic, 24"x30"
1994

This painting by Chuck Baird encompasses my ideas, beliefs, and interests in relation to my research. In this work of art, the hand motion represents the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for art. Since this blog focuses on art museums, I will integrate works of art from Deaf artists throughout my posts. Most of this art focuses on the experience of being Deaf through the eyes of these artists.

Since members of the Deaf community are very visual individuals and art museums provide plenty of objects for analysis and visual stimulation, I believe Deaf people can have enjoyable and meaningful experiences in art museums. However, many art institutions in our country are not prepared to provide the accommodations that Deaf visitors require to have a fully enjoyable and educational experience.

Here is a list of the topics I will discuss in future posts:

• Information about Deaf culture.
• Gaps in museum accessibility.
  
• Various examples of exemplary accommodations for Deaf audiences from cultural institutions in England and the U.S.
  
• Governmental policies in both the U.S. and England regarding people with disabilities and cultural institutions in order to find out why England's museums have come a bit further in providing museum accessibility for the Deaf community despite the fact that England's Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was enacted 5 years later than the United States' laws (Americans with Disabilities Act aka ADA).
• Resources and recommendations for museum professionals interested in increasing accessibility for Deaf audiences.
• Resources and information for the Deaf community about how to make museums more aware of their accessibility needs.