Recommendations for the Deaf Community...

Betty G Miller

Growing in ASL 

When trying to create change in an established institution, the institution as well as the people it serves should play a role to facilitate changes. If members of the Deaf community want museums to better their accessibility programs and accommodations, then the Deaf community must put forth an effort to help museums create equality. The following list demonstrates steps that Deaf organizations and members of the Deaf community can take to help art museums make the necessary changes to create equal access:


1. Forge Relationships
Before making any other move, members of the Deaf community should try to take initiative in forging relationships with art museums. Many members of society, including those who work in art museums, are not aware of the needs of the Deaf community or are not aware that there is a Deaf population in the city where the institution exists. Thus, it would be advantageous to a local Deaf community to introduce themselves to the art museum and try to create a long-term relationship with the museum. Deaf organizations can contact the Director of Education or other museum employees who may work in educating the public and give the museum staff information about local Deaf groups, organizations, and schools that would enjoy making more visits to the art museum if appropriate accommodations are provided. Then, the Deaf community and the museum could try to work together to enhance the museum’s programming utilizing the resources available on both the end of the museum and that of the Deaf community.

2. Raise Funds
All art museums vary in their ability and methods of serving visitors. Some museums are not able to or do not consider setting aside money in their budget to increase accessibility for visitors with different abilities. Hence, members of the Deaf community can try to work together to raise funds for their local art museum specifically for enhancing accommodations and programming for members of the Deaf community. Before a fundraiser is organized, it is important to establish a mutual relationship with the art museum. Once the relationship is established and both the Deaf community and the art museum are ready to work together to enhance accommodations and programming for Deaf visitors, then members of the Deaf community should suggest and attempt to raise money for Deaf programming in the museum.

3. Volunteer
Providing funding alone may not suffice when it comes to helping museums increase programmatic access for Deaf audiences. An art museum may have funds to increase and enhance accommodations for the Deaf community, but it may not have the manpower to do so. Thus, members of the Deaf community can provide human resources that may be lacking in the art museum. A combination of fundraising and volunteering is the best way to help a museum increase and improve its programming for people who are Deaf. Again, it is advisable to first establish a solid and mutual relationship with the museum to make future initiatives productive and effective.

4. Create Report Card
A local Deaf organization and/or members of the Deaf community can create a report card to evaluate museum websites and programming based on what members of the Deaf community need from art museums. For example, the report card can rate the website on accessibility information, the ability of museum staff to communicate with Deaf visitors, the ability to provide programming in sign language, the ability to provide sign language interpreters for programming, etc. Then, the evaluations can be combined into a publication that can be sent to museums so that they can be notified on how they can improve their accommodations and to other Deaf organizations in the nation so other Deaf communities and organizations can create their own report cards. The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance created an excellent report card that evaluates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) issues in programs that prepare educators to work in schools across Illinois; Deaf organizations may use this report card as an example of how to evaluate programs and institutions.

5. Report Injustices & Inequality
It is the right of any person with a disability to be treated as equally as any other person. Therefore, members of the Deaf community should report instances of inequality when such an injustice has occurred. However, before a complaint is filed, one must make sure to give the art museum an opportunity to accommodate a Deaf person with the resources it has available. The Americans with Disabilities Act allows enforcement of the law in two formats. One way is to file a complaint with the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice will then investigate the matter and try to mediate a settlement or take the matter to court. The other method of enforcement is for the Deaf person who was treated unequally to sue the accused party at his/her own expense. On a more local level, Deaf Chicagoans can contact the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) to report cases of unequal treatment. Chicagoans can also contact Access Living for legal counseling on discrimination claims.