Maine Arts Accessibility

Art Knows No Boundaries - What is Accessibility?

The Maine Arts Commission strives to provide arts access for everyone! Work is ongoing to ensure that meetings, programs, events and facilities are fully accessible to people with disabilities. All agency meetings are open to the public and are fully accessible, and all grant programs must also be fully accessible. The Maine Arts Commission is eager to find solutions to challenges and remove barriers to make the arts more enjoyable for everyone. In 2007, the agency formalized its commitment to accessibility by dedicating an entire goal in its newly adopted long range plan to simply "provide access to the arts for all Maine people." The goal, and the objectives delineated under the goal, develops a strategy for serving a broad spectrum of underserved and disenfranchised populations.

In life, we are all “temporarily-abled” meaning that at some point in our life, we will be faced with a disability or know someone with a disability. In a perfect world, everything would be designed using Universal Design to make everything universally accessible to all people regardless of disability. For example, at the street corner, you may choose to cross the street using the curb cut, even though you do not use a wheelchair, because it is simply ergonomically easier than stepping on and off of the curb. A person may use a ramp when making deliveries because it is easier than maneuvering the stairs. Or, assistive listening systems might be used in conference rooms or large meetings spaces not only to allow someone with hearing loss to participate fully, but also to allow everyone to participate. Unfortunately, the world as we know it is not yet universally designed. In the meantime, we must raise awareness and provide information to educate and make accommodations.

According to the 2000 United States Census:
• of the 69.6 million families in the United States, 20.3 million families have at least one member with a disability.
• the total number of Maine residents (age 5 and older) who identify as a person with a disability was 237,910 or roughly 18 percent of the population.
• more than half of the population over the age of 65 have a disability (14.4 percent of Maine residents were over age 65 as of 2000).
• people with disabilities spend on average 20 hours per week on the Internet and 48 percent say the Internet has significantly improved the quality of their lives.

For more information about accessibility or to request an accommodation, contact Kathy Ann Shaw senior development associate & accessibility coordinator, at 207/287-2750 (voice) or TTY/NexTalk 877/887-3878 User ID: kathy.shaw.

Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator's Handbook
Designed to help organizations not only comply with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also assist in making access an integral part of planning, mission, programs, outreach, meetings, budget and staffing.
Complete guide in printable format (.pdf)

Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators
An online companion to the printed text Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook (2003). The Guide provides guidance to cultural administrators on how to achieve accessible and inclusive programming for everyone including individuals with disabilities and older adults.
Complete guide in printable format (.pdf)

The Accessible Museum: Model Programs of Accessibility for Disabled and Older People
This is a publication from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Association of Museums (1993). Profiles a wide variety of museums, including art, natural history, and historic museums that have exemplary accessibility programs. Order number YAX221. Price $35 (AAM members) and $40 (non-members). Shipping and handling $5.00. Mail to: the American Association of Museums (AAM) Bookstore, 1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. To order by phone, call 202/289-9128 or FAX 202/289-6578.