Is your museum’s digital 'shop window’ bringing in people with disabilities or are the 'shutters' down?
11 million Britons have a limiting long-term illness, impairment or disability. [i] 54% say they avoid going to new places when they can’t find the relevant information before visiting. [ii] In today’s digital age, this means basic access information which helps ease social isolation and depression, and prevents visiting disappointment, frustration, embarrassment, and distress, is unavailable on many venues’ web and social media sites. Even excluding people who have temporary or unregistered access needs [iii] , that’s 6 million potential visitors lost to museums and galleries. Multiply that by all the friends and family who can’t or won’t go without the person concerned, and it’s a huge moral and economic deficit. All my life, I’ve need to know in advance what sites will be like to gauge whether relatives with physical and cognitive disabilities will be able to access and enjoy them. As a heritage worker with particular experience of learning services and volunteer managemen