Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers
Science museums and exhibitions play a crucial role in formal and non-formal education and in the communication of science. However, access to online science exhibitions is still limited. This exploratory study aims to map and analyze the accessibility of online exhibitions provided by Brazilian sci...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1542430/full |
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| author | Jessica Norberto Rocha Jessica Norberto Rocha Letícia Marinho Letícia Marinho Gabriela Heck Gabriela Heck Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Willian Vieira de Abreu Willian Vieira de Abreu |
| author_facet | Jessica Norberto Rocha Jessica Norberto Rocha Letícia Marinho Letícia Marinho Gabriela Heck Gabriela Heck Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Willian Vieira de Abreu Willian Vieira de Abreu |
| author_sort | Jessica Norberto Rocha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Science museums and exhibitions play a crucial role in formal and non-formal education and in the communication of science. However, access to online science exhibitions is still limited. This exploratory study aims to map and analyze the accessibility of online exhibitions provided by Brazilian science museums and centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation was based on the 69 Brazilian museums mapped in the Guide to Accessible Science Centers and Museums of Latin America and the Caribbean. By combining navigation and keyword searches on these institutions’ online communication channels, 101 online exhibitions were identified. We divided the analysis into two phases, descriptive and analytical, for identifying the provision of accessibility strategies and assistive technology resources. Out of the 101, 94 exhibitions, presented at 25 museums, provided at least one accessibility resource. The analysis revealed that 87 exhibitions featured keyboard compatibility, 29 included narration, 13 offered video captions, six provided Brazilian sign language interpretation, five had audio description resources, and two contained alternative text for images. The online exhibitions shared their content through various types of media, which necessitate different assistive resources and accessibility options. When examining the relationship between media and accessibility strategies, we can emphasize that exhibitions featuring a variety of media and assistive resources offer greater potential for accessibility. However, this occurs in a very limited number of exhibitions. This gap in accessibility can affect the opportunities for people with disabilities to access non-formal education, science communication, and culture. While we identified accessible online exhibitions covering various themes and areas of knowledge, as well as a few good practices for inclusion, there is still significant progress to be made. There is a demand for increased accessibility in online exhibitions and for a greater number of museums to offer them. We recognize that this task is challenging, as it requires a multidisciplinary and multi-professional effort. We propose that accessibility and inclusion be made integral to the planning and execution of new online exhibitions from the outset, as the involvement of professionals and visitors with disabilities in this process will foster a more equitable and inclusive education. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e88ef3abc01b4b4cb42e53a51d9b5c1c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-e88ef3abc01b4b4cb42e53a51d9b5c1c2025-08-20T02:31:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-06-011010.3389/feduc.2025.15424301542430Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriersJessica Norberto Rocha0Jessica Norberto Rocha1Letícia Marinho2Letícia Marinho3Gabriela Heck4Gabriela Heck5Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo6Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo7Willian Vieira de Abreu8Willian Vieira de Abreu9CECIERJ Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilResearch Group Accessible Science Museums and Centers (Grupo MCCAC), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilResearch Group Accessible Science Museums and Centers (Grupo MCCAC), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilGraduate Program in Biosciences and Health Education, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilResearch Group Accessible Science Museums and Centers (Grupo MCCAC), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilNational Professional Masters in Physics Teaching, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Tramandaí, BrazilResearch Group Accessible Science Museums and Centers (Grupo MCCAC), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilGraduate Program in Education, Communication and Management in Biosciences, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilResearch Group Accessible Science Museums and Centers (Grupo MCCAC), Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilScience museums and exhibitions play a crucial role in formal and non-formal education and in the communication of science. However, access to online science exhibitions is still limited. This exploratory study aims to map and analyze the accessibility of online exhibitions provided by Brazilian science museums and centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation was based on the 69 Brazilian museums mapped in the Guide to Accessible Science Centers and Museums of Latin America and the Caribbean. By combining navigation and keyword searches on these institutions’ online communication channels, 101 online exhibitions were identified. We divided the analysis into two phases, descriptive and analytical, for identifying the provision of accessibility strategies and assistive technology resources. Out of the 101, 94 exhibitions, presented at 25 museums, provided at least one accessibility resource. The analysis revealed that 87 exhibitions featured keyboard compatibility, 29 included narration, 13 offered video captions, six provided Brazilian sign language interpretation, five had audio description resources, and two contained alternative text for images. The online exhibitions shared their content through various types of media, which necessitate different assistive resources and accessibility options. When examining the relationship between media and accessibility strategies, we can emphasize that exhibitions featuring a variety of media and assistive resources offer greater potential for accessibility. However, this occurs in a very limited number of exhibitions. This gap in accessibility can affect the opportunities for people with disabilities to access non-formal education, science communication, and culture. While we identified accessible online exhibitions covering various themes and areas of knowledge, as well as a few good practices for inclusion, there is still significant progress to be made. There is a demand for increased accessibility in online exhibitions and for a greater number of museums to offer them. We recognize that this task is challenging, as it requires a multidisciplinary and multi-professional effort. We propose that accessibility and inclusion be made integral to the planning and execution of new online exhibitions from the outset, as the involvement of professionals and visitors with disabilities in this process will foster a more equitable and inclusive education.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1542430/fullaccessibility in museumsonline exhibitionsassistive technologyaccessibility resourcesnon-formal educationscience communication |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Norberto Rocha Jessica Norberto Rocha Letícia Marinho Letícia Marinho Gabriela Heck Gabriela Heck Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Marcelle Pita de Sousa Carmo Willian Vieira de Abreu Willian Vieira de Abreu Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers Frontiers in Education accessibility in museums online exhibitions assistive technology accessibility resources non-formal education science communication |
| title | Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers |
| title_full | Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers |
| title_fullStr | Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers |
| title_short | Accessibility in online exhibitions of Brazilian science museums and centers: identifying strategies and barriers |
| title_sort | accessibility in online exhibitions of brazilian science museums and centers identifying strategies and barriers |
| topic | accessibility in museums online exhibitions assistive technology accessibility resources non-formal education science communication |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1542430/full |
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