Social media, social inclusion, and museum disability access

ABSTRACT

For many people, social media is an integral part of everyday life that can lead to a greater sense of social inclusion. This article examines social media’s impact on social inclusion regarding art museum disability access. This qualitative study explores ways people with disabilities interact socially and culturally using social media and how it impacts their perception of being socially included. Data were collected from individuals with varying types of disabilities regarding their use of social media. Results show that social media can have a positive effect on people with disabilities regarding social inclusion. This research also discusses how art museums can use social media to better connect and socially include people with disabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Social inclusion
• disability access
• social media
• museum studies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Rebecca McMillen is the art program director at Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. She also teaches courses in Art History and Museum Studies. Rebecca has been an educator in higher education for 12 years and is also a PhD candidate through the University of New England, in Armidale, NSW, Australia. Her current research focus involves Disability Access in Art Museums.

Frances Alter is a senior lecturer in Visual Arts Education at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia. Her area of research focus is in Visual Arts Education in elementary and secondary schooling; children’s art; the artistic process and its role in human development and learning; studies in visual literacy and visual culture studies.