Authors: Yishuai DING, Xuan YI, Yiqi Hu
Abstract: Museums, as public cultural institutions, should take the responsibility of providing equal access and barrier-free facilities for all visitors, including those with disabilities. Although many museums in Beijing seem to invest and equip with good infrastructure, they suffer from various detailed problems, such as the inconveniently placed rest areas or the absence of rest areas in large exhibition spaces, significantly impacting access, perception, experience and enjoyment for disabled individuals in reality. This study focuses on a project initiated by a Beijing social organization for the disabled, the Disabled Sisters Best. The project’s primary objective is to assess and enhance the accessibility of major and significant museums in Beijing, the capital of China. Through comprehensive and meticulous evaluations, incorporating the perspectives of diverse disabled individuals, this research sheds light on the implications of the lack of adequate resting facilities for disabled visitors. By conducting on-site investigations and gathering authentic feedback from disabled participants, this study pursues two main goals. Firstly, it seeks to create a comprehensive report on the practicality and effectiveness of museum infrastructure. Secondly, it aims to highlight the impact of non-functional or poorly designed facilities on the museums’ role in public cultural engagement. This research’s main aim is to underscore the adverse effects of neglect and misguided assumptions concerning the rest needs of disabled individuals. Beyond merely hindering their access to museums, these issues obstruct their opportunities for knowledge acquisition and social inclusion. Such findings expose the presence of disregard, scrutiny, and negligence to the disabled inherent in certain aspects of capitalist societies. This study endeavors to raise awareness and promote the necessary improvements in museum accessibility and infrastructures of rest for disabled individuals, fostering a more inclusive environment, policies and practices.
Author bios:
Yishuai DING, Intern in the Disabled Sisters Best (Beijing Tongzhou Leyirong Social Work Organization), Undergraduate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, China Agricultural University. she/her
Xuan YI, Intern in the Disabled Sisters Best (Beijing Tongzhou Leyirong Social Work Organization), Undergraduate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, China Agricultural University. she/her
Yiqi Hu, Intern in the Disabled Sisters Best (Beijing Tongzhou Leyirong Social Work Organization), Undergraduate in the Department of Social Policy and Development Studies, China Agricultural University. she/her
Rest, Activism, and Work through the lens of Disability Politics (a BSA PGR Symposium) - 1st Nov. 2023 