Emancipatory Disability Research – Implications for Museum Practice

1. Emancipatory Disability Research – Implications for Museum Practice Dr Heather Hollins Associate Tutor School of Museum Studies

2. But First: • A short confession… • And principles are important…

3. Aims of Session • Explore principles involved in emancipatory disability research • Explore case study of The Holocaust Centre and the Pioneers group • Explore implications for museum practice

4. Emancipatory Disability Research • In 1980s - emerging field of disability studies started to critically analyse the way that research was undertaken with disabled people • Paul Hunt, Colin Barnes and Mike Oliver and argued that the process of research had, historically, excluded disabled people • Hunt described the experience of being a `victim of research’

5. Emancipatory Research • Argued that researcher is in control of the agenda and outcomes • Treated disabled people as ‘research subjects’ • At the centre of this type of research is a power inequality

6. Emancipatory Research • Emancipatory research aims to remove disabling barriers from the research process • Not a new set of research methods • Creates a set of underlying principles that shape the way that the research is planned, implemented, analysed and disseminated • Place disabled people’s voices as the centre of the process

7. Emancipatory Principles • Research should be used as a tool for empowering and improving the lives of disabled people • Greater opportunities for disabled people to be researchers or involved in the research • Research should challenge notions of who hold the expertise on disability-related issues • A non-hierarchical reciprocal relationship • Researchers should be accountable to disabled people • Disabled people should be in control of the research agenda

8. The Holocaust Centre

9. Memorial Rose Gardens

10. Memorial Sculptures

11. The Holocaust Exhibition

12. Education Programme

13. Access Issues

14. Images and Labels

15. Light and Shadow

16. Physical Access

17. New Exhibition – The Journey

18. Holocaust Centre • Split between core values and operational practices • Disabled people had a difficult and separate experience on-site • I was regularly treated as the ‘Access Police’ • Employed me to tell them about ramp gradients • My role focused on new exhibition – not a holistic vision for disabled people’s experiences on-site

19. Pioneers Group • It all started with a letter of complaint…

20. Pioneers Group • Young people’s group: 20 disabled young people aged 13 – 21 years old • Out of school group – supports with the transition to adulthood • 7 of the group decided to get involved in the research project • 4 disabled youth workers supporting • Aim to support young people to challenge service providers to improve access

21. Pioneers Group • Met with them every 3 weeks – initially at their base • 8 month process of them getting to know the options, museums, understand issues related to the Holocaust, museum access issues • Discussed what they wanted to focus on and get out of the project

22. Pioneers Group • The process was not without it’s challenges… • 4 sessions in only 2 young people turned up for the session • There was a turn-over of young people (15 in total 8 core members) • One of the young people was selectively mute • They had a range of impairments • They didn’t always get on as a group • They didn’t know how to gauge me at start of process – as I didn’t impose anything on them or act like an authority figure

23. Pioneers Group • In first 8 months – supported them to make informed decisions • They were in charge of agenda • Supported them to develop advocacy skills so they could advocate for change • Gained momentum once they started deciding on what they wanted to acheive

25. Decisions • Support access changes to site and new exhibition • Create a sculpture for the gardens as a memorial to the disabled people who were killed during the Holocaust

27. But… • The Holocaust Centre initially weren’t ready to listen to the Pioneers

28. Twin Track Process • Access auditing • Developing access guidelines with staff – marketing materials, signage etc. • Walking staff round site • Presentations to senior management • Part of working groups • Staff training • Introducing staff to Pioneers

29. Audiences Advocate • Initially I took plans to Pioneers • Took their comments back to staff • Longer term aim was to support Pioneers to speak for themselves • Advocate for change with the Director

30. Hall of Survivors

31. German Home

37. Outcomes for Pioneers • Increased conceptual understanding of disability prejudice • Deepening of advocacy skills • Increased capacity to work in teams • Development of life and employment skills • Increased sense of self-esteem and pride • Making a difference: increased sense of personal agency

38. Outcomes for the Holocaust Centre • Centre had become more accessible • But – it wasn’t fully accessible… • The staff had a greater understanding of access issues • But across staff – differing commitment to access and knowledge

42. Factors • Time • Part-time post and Pioneers meetings • Budget • Compromises between key audiences – primary children, Holocaust survivors, disabled visitors

43. Organisational Journey… • From Access Police to the majority of staff being on-board with the importance of disability access

44. Implications for Museum Practice • Genuine change takes a long time • It needs tackling from multiple angles on an organisational level • Needs to be led from the top • Disability access needs to be approached holistically • Needs commitment to hear ‘uncomfortable truths’ • Move beyond ‘empowerment-lite’

45. Implications for Museum Practice • ‘Nothing with about us – without us’ • If change is to genuinely occur for people whose voice have been marginalised then a different approach is needed with consultation – time committment • Empowerment, reciprocity and gain for disabled people • Disabled people need to be supported to gain access to power and decision-making