Appendix B: Museum Accessibility Survey

Definitions: What is Accessibility?

1. Please describe in a sentence or two what accessibility means to you.

2. Please indicate below your familiarity with the following accessibility standards and guidelines. (choices: not at all, somewhat, reasonably, very)

a) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1 or 2)
b) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
c) Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) UK
d) Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 78

3. Have you personally experienced the web via a screen reader like JAWS or WindowEyes? (choices: yes, no)

4. I am aware that our institution has a formal accessibility policy describing requirements for: (choices: yes, no, don’t know)

a) physical museum facilities for persons with disabilities.
b) Section 508-compliant HTML web content.
c) Developing and/or commissioning accessible multimedia beyond standard HTML (including video, audio, Flash and/or Director applications and animations).

5. I am willing to provide a copy of our accessibility policy upon request.

a) Yes
b) No
c) We don’t have a policy)

6. Does your museum have an accessibility statement posted online?

a) Yes
b) No
c) Not sure

Multimedia Authoring

7. We currently employ the following development technologies to deliver online content:

(Please check all that apply)
a) Javascript/Dynamic HTML/AJAX
b) Macromedia Flash
c) Macromedia Director
d) Quicktime Video
e) Real Video
f) Podcasts
g) Virtual reality and/or 3d environments
h) Other:

8. We have used the following programs to caption videos:

(Please check all that apply)
a) QuickTime Pro
b) MagPie
c) HiCaption
d) Captionate
e) We don’t caption videos
f) Other:

9. For projects containing video, we provide: (choices: never, sometimes, usually, always, N/A)

a) Video descriptions for blind visitors
b) Audio descriptions for deaf visitors
c) Transcripts
d) Synchronized captioning

10. For podcasts or audio only media, we provide: (choices: never, sometimes, usually, always, N/A)

a) Transcripts
b) Audio descriptions
c) Synchronized captioning

Accessibility and Usability Testing

11. To my knowledge, our institution typically performs testing: (choices: never, sometimes, usually, always)

a) For web usability
b) For web accessibility
c) With disabled persons
d) Using automated programs (such as Bobby/WebXACT)
e) Through an accessibility consulting/testing service

12. In your experience, who is usually responsible for ensuring accessibility testing of multimedia is done?

a) Our internal development staff
b) The developers of the multimedia (if not done internally)
c) A contracted specialist
d) No one, it simply isn’t done
e) Other (please specify)

13. Who within your institution is responsible for accessibility? (choices: yes, no, sometimes)

a) We have someone on staff that is responsible for the accessibility of our multimedia products and they are typically involved early in the design process
b) We typically hire an accessibility or usability consultant to advise us on specific projects prior to and/or throughout the development process
c) We have an accessibility committee that review projects and specifications.

14. What are the key factors that prevent your institution from delivering accessible multimedia projects? (choices: never, sometimes, usually, always)

a) There is never enough time to adequately test
b) Lack of knowledge in accessibility
c) Authoring tools (software) lack of support for accessibility
d) We don’t have access to assistive technologies for testing (ie, screen readers)
e) We do not have budgets to pay for accessibility
f) Our developers do not have the expertise required

15. Do you have examples of accessible rich media projects online?

a) No
b) Yes
URL:

16. If you have worked with a multimedia developer and/or consultant that you would describe particularly aware of accessibility issues in multimedia design, please share their name(s) and contact info.

About Your Museum

17. Location of your museum (drop down menu: Listing of participating countries; listing of US states)

18. Please select the type that best describes your institution:

a) anthropology
b) aquarium
c) art
d) botanical
e) childrens
f) historical site
g) history
h) natural history
i) science
j) other

19. Please select the option that best describes the size of you institution:

a) small – annual operating budget under $500,000
b) medium – annual operating budget $500,000 - $3,000,000
c) large – annual operating budget over $3,000,000

20. Does your institution receive federal funding for the development of online multimedia content?

a) Yes
b) No

21. How many multimedia projects do you produce/commission per year?

a) None
b) 1-5
c) 6-20
d) More than 20

22. Please select the option that best describes your role/position within your institution:

a) IT director/manager
b) multimedia designer/developer
c) web site developer/webmaster
d) project manager/producer
e) media assistant/intern
f) education specialist
g) accessibility consultant
h) other (please specify)

23. If you would like to receive an analysis of the results of this survey and/or an executive summary of the research, please provide your email address.

24. Feel free to share any comments about web accessibility challenges at your museum.

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