Accessibility Statement

Twelve vertical columns, each a different color, of repeating flower, pinwheel, and starburst shapes on a white background.
As the first major museum devoted to the creative work of women, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) was founded on principles of inclusion and access.

These values are ingrained throughout our work, including our approach to accessibility.

Accessibility is the practice of providing a person with a disability access to the same information and experiences as a person without a disability.

In 2021, staff members from departments across NMWA formed a Digital Accessibility Working Group. This group collaborates to build a museum-wide approach to accessibility for online visitors who use our website, social media channels, virtual programs, and digital resources. This effort was bolstered by a 2022 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as part of its nationwide initiative to support museums improving services to their communities. The IMLS grant supports NMWA’s efforts to expand online accessibility and remove barriers to engagement.

Our goal is to make the contents of our website and other digital platforms usable for all people by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA (WCAG 2.1 AA). The WCAG guidelines help make web content accessible not only to users with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users. This effort is ongoing.

NMWA’s current digital accessibility projects include:

  • Providing alternative text and image captions online
  • Professionally captioning live virtual public programs
  • Adding captions for videos on our YouTube channel
  • Transcribing a selection of the Library and Research Center’s archival collections, including letters, artist notes, and documents
  • Assessing on-site assistive technology and assistive listening requirements
  • Remediating online resources for compliance with assistive technology, including but not limited to screen readers

We are dedicated to ensuring that the museum’s facilities, services, exhibitions, and programs comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. We strive to design programs and spaces that are inclusive for all people. As you plan your visit to NMWA, check out our on-site accessibility offerings.

Contact Us

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of NMWA’s offerings as we continue to improve and learn. Please let us know about your experience. If you have specific requests, questions, or concerns about the accessibility of this website, the NMWA building, or the museum’s offerings, please contact us at accessibility@nmwa.org.

This accessibility statement was prepared in June 2023. It was last reviewed on July 10, 2023.