IDEA Study, Phase 2: Accessibility Needs

The IDEA Study was a special research initiative launched in 2023 to provide arts organizations with insight as to audience attitudes about inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, as a contribution to the national discourse.

Phase 1 of the IDEA Study focused on measuring attitudes about inclusion, diversity, and equity, while Phase 2 of the Study focused on assessing accessibility needs.

Both surveys are now available to our research partners.

This survey addresses questions such as:

• What accommodations do people make in their daily lives, regardless of disability status?

• What is the relationship between disability and use of accessibility programs and services offered by arts organizations?

• What accessibility programs and services are audience members most likely to use in the areas of mobility, vision, hearing, and neurodiversity, whether or not these services are currently offered?

• What generational shifts are changing the landscape of accessibility needs?

• How satisfied are audience members with our accessibility services?

• To what extent is lack of accessibility accommodations a barrier to attendance?

We developed this survey in part because we believe there have been significant shifts in public attitudes about accessibility, and also because we hope to provide organizations more clarity on the role that accessibility plays in the sector’s efforts towards greater inclusion, diversity and equity.

As part of Phase 2, we also offered a Survey of Accessibility Practices of Performing Arts Organizations. Preliminary findings were reviewed and discussed in a Town Hall meeting, which was recorded and shared on a resource page.

In designing and implementing this study, we collaborated with, and built on, the past work and perspectives of advocates and practitioners working in the accessibility space. We are grateful for the arts professionals and inclusion advocates who consulted with us on this project and for the members of the advisory committee who guided the initial research. The Kennedy Center’s Office of Accessibility and VSA played an advisory role for the survey design, implementation, and sharing out of initial study results. 

Participants will gain access to a library of video recordings of four learning sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of accessibility, as well as a culmination session.

Results

To maximize learning, research partners agree to share their results with other participating organizations through the WolfBrown Dashboard. A selection of aggregated results may be shared with the larger field through the Audience Outlook Monitor community. 

Level of Customization

None

Questions

For more information about this survey, contact Alan Kline, Director of Audience Research Programs at WolfBrown at alan.kline@wolfbrown.com.