Accessibility

Behind the Image: Using Alt Text to Make Your Museum’s Website Accessible

By Michelle Padilla

This tipsheet was developed by Michelle Padilla, Digital Content Strategist at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, nearly four million Americans struggle to …
Cultivating the Next Generation of Black Museum Leaders: The AAAM x Howard University Advanced Executive Training

By Vedet Coleman-Robinson

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) stands as the principal voice of the African American museum movement, providing support, respite, and abundant educational opportunities. For more than four decades, AAAM has successfully …
When HR is the Barrier: Identifying Problems and Solutions

By Michelle Martin Bonner

After more than two decades of experience in human resources (HR) and diversity, inclusion, and belonging roles, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the inner workings of these departments across a diverse array of sectors, …
Three Core Values That Will Boost Your Museum Writing

By Trey Whitted

Writing well is essential for communicating information in any field, especially in educational institutions like museums. However, with the wide range of roles museum professionals fill, it can be difficult to define what writing well …
Content Warnings in Museums and Galleries: Taking a Proactive Approach

By Jackie Armstrong

I began writing and speaking about the need for trauma-informed practices in museums several years ago, and while I haven’t seen any big changes in the time since, I have seen small shifts happening that make me hopeful. I’m noticing more …
Creating Access, Inclusion, and Belonging through Language

By American Alliance of Museums

This is a recorded session from the 2024 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo. Panelists in this session share how they incorporate Spanish language into visitor and staff experiences. Featuring four case studies from a diverse set of …
Creating Restorative Moments at Woodland Park Zoo

By Lauren Carroll-Bolger

Woodland Park Zoo’s Hope & Healing offers uplifting community experiences for people facing life-altering challenges. This article originally appeared in Museum magazine’s May/June 2024 issue, a benefit of AAM membership. A child …
Faces of Baltimore Museums: Rachel Leeds

By American Alliance of Museums

Have you heard about AAM 2024 in Baltimore this month? (We hope so—we’re doing our best!) If so, you might have seen one of our ads for this year’s edition, featuring a lovely cast of smiling faces. But just whose faces are …
Extending the Invitation: Strategies for Welcoming Visitors and Reducing Barriers to Access

By Raphaela Platow

In the aftermath of the pandemic and amidst ongoing calls for museums to become more inclusive and attuned to community needs, many institutions are still seeking ways to recover from faltering attendance and expand the reach of their …
Neurodivergent Needs: A Q&A with ADDitude Magazine

By Adam Rozan

If museums want to be welcoming and accessible, one of the areas they must consider is neurodiversity. How do the ways we process information and stimuli differ from person to person, and how can we design experiences that work across this …