The Asian Art Museum has recently formed an internal Accessibility Taskforce
with members of staff working toward creating a more accessible and inclusive
museum for individuals and diverse groups of people. We want to hear your
perspectives so we can learn from you; your stories will help shape our short and
long-term accessibility strategy.

To hear your stories, the Accessibility Taskforce is launching a new initiative to
engage a cross-section of the diverse, Bay Area disability community. As the focus
of this initiative, the museum is hosting a series of quarterly “Community
Charrettes”, which provide staff the opportunity to learn about your experiences
both in the Asian Art Museum and other museums you’ve visited.

Although they know that access is a complex process and what works for one group
may not work for another, we are committed to listening to your feedback and
striving to improve the museum experience for visitors with a wide range of
disabilities.

Objectives of the Community Charrettes:
 Hear stories about and insights into the AAM guest experience from a
broad range of perspectives. The focus may include: way-finding and
navigation; staff awareness and cultural competencies; digital technology;
labels; programmatic offerings
 Expand museum offerings for disability communities. For example:
o Tours (self-guided audio tours, descriptive and tactile tours, ASL-
interpreted)
o Graphics standards (labels, way-finding, font size)
o Exhibition/rotation design

o Programs that consider disability
 Improve the museum guest experience for all visitors

To accomplish these objectives, four Community Charrettes are being scheduled
over the next year. For these charrettes, the Accessibility Taskforce is inviting
members of the different disability communities to the Asian Art Museum for
solutions-based listening tours through our galleries and public spaces.

The first Community Charrette was held in April and we had a great response
from the people who participated. We hope you join us for the next charrette,
which will be held from 12–4 PM on Wednesday, June 20. The third charrette is
scheduled for a Saturday in September so we may accommodate anyone unable
to attend weekend workshops.

Snacks and ASL interpretation are provided. Please use the contact information
below to request other accommodations. Charrettes will be held at the Asian Art
Museum and free admission will be provided to all participants.

Space is limited; registration required. All participants must register by emailing or
calling Allison Wyckoff, 415-581-3666; awyckoff@asianart.org. They will create a
waitlist and prioritize anyone who didn’t get a spot for one of the next Charrettes.
Please contact them with questions!