This training course will be devoted to making museums accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing.
What can a museum do to be accessible for hearing impaired visitors? This training course invites museum staff to look into the key challenges that deaf and hard of hearing visitors face in museums and discuss ways of helping them overcome these difficulties, drawing on Russian and international experience.
On the first day of the training course, the group will focus specifically on the deaf community in order to learn about the history of Russian Sign Language, the way deaf people perceive information, and different concepts of disability. At the end of the first day, Garage’s Department of Inclusive Programs and invited experts will present the first contemporary art dictionary in Russian Sign Language, developed in collaboration with RSL native speakers. The second day will be devoted to the practical aspects of working with hearing impaired visitors, which will be important in developing programs for the deaf and hard of hearing in Russian museums. Participants will also discuss some of the successful programs implemented in British, American and Dutch museums.
