When Portland Art Museum was founded 130 years ago, accessibility and inclusion were not priorities. We acknowledge that much of our institutional structure has led to inaccessibility and the marginalization of Disabled and Deaf visitors, artists, staff, docents, volunteers, and community members.
Much has changed in our society and the museum since. This month we celebrate those changes and acknowledge many are still needed. Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed on July 26, 1990.
We celebrate our Deaf and Disabled visitors, artists, community members, staff, docents, and volunteers, and we want to introduce the principles which are currently guiding our journey to becoming inclusive.
To my fellow members in the Disabled and Deaf Communities, especially the PAM Accessibility Advisory Committee and the artists who have been faithful partners, thank you for your support, encouragement, and the powerful ways you hold the museum accountable on our journey. We appreciate you greatly.
To all our accomplices, thank you for your ongoing support. To those new to Disability Justice, we welcome you to join us on this journey. We will be sharing more updates in the coming months.
—Becky Emmert, Head of Accessibility
For information on our current accessibility, please visit our website https://portlandartmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/accessibility/.
If you have questions or feedback please feel free to reach out to us.
Email: access@pam.org
Message Phone: 503-276-4284
Message Videophone for Deaf Visitors: 503-420-3169
Resources for Learning:
Principles of Disability Justice:
1. Intersectionality
2. Leadership of Those Most Impacted
3. Anti-Capitalist Politics
4. Cross-Movement Solidarity
5. Recognizing Wholeness
6. Sustainability
7. Commitment to Cross-Disability Solidarity
8. Interdependence
9. Collective Access
10. Collective Liberation
Access is Love: Resources on how you can help make the spaces you are in accessible.
Introduction to the Social Model of Disability:
[Top Image Description: A variety of museum visitors walk through a gallery with a large orange wall reading “Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…” Eight long blue flags with white stars hang from the ceiling and descend nearly to the ground. A visitor with long red hair wearing a gray long-sleeve shirt and red fanny pack is guided through a tactile exploration of the flag while holding the leash of the yellow lab guide dog who watches.]