The Imperative of Art Accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired
In a world dominated by visual stimuli, art, whether it be photography, sculpture, painting, video, or printmaking is a powerful means of expression that transcends language and culture. Art is a gateway to emotions, thoughts, and ideas, making it a universal language. Yet, for the blind and visually impaired, this gateway has been historically locked because visual art inherently lacks accessibility, depriving those who lack vision the profound experiences that art can offer. In recent years, however, a quiet revolution has been taking place, one that seeks to dismantle these barriers and make art accessible to everyone, regardless of their visual abilities. This transformation of thought toward accessibility of visual art focuses on inclusivity, but also opens up a whole new market for artists willing to embrace accessibility. This is our mission, to advocate for art that can be enjoyed by everyone, and explore the avenues through which this is achieved.
Artists who embrace accessibility in their work are contributing to a more inclusive society and positioning themselves to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving artistic landscape. These artists are breaking down barriers and demonstrating their commitment to equality and diversity. In this journey, we envision a world where artists are not confined by traditional boundaries and where the beauty of art is not limited by the sense of sight. This transformation is not just a social imperative; it’s an artistic evolution.
Understanding the implementation of accessible features in art can feel like a daunting and confusing process. This is the reason we have created this website, to serve as a source for inspiration and lend some helpful guidelines to create work that can be enjoyed by everyone. Feel free to explore our tutorials and educational pages to learn more about ways to make your art more accessible to all, but don’t stop there – create new ways to share your work with those who have no sight.
Accessibility Advocacy
Disabled Art is owned and operated by blind photographer Ted Tahquechi.
After a car accident caused him to lose his sight in 1999, Ted returned to school to complete degrees in Studio Art and Photography. Along the way, realizing that the world of visual art is woefully inaccessible to those without sight.
Ted’s work has been exhibited all over the world and he regularly speaks about his vision loss, his art and the importance of accessibility in the visual arts.
Social Media
Everyone uses social media, learn how to add descriptions and alternate text to your posts to make them more accessible for screen readers and voice over technology.
Audio Descriptions
As an artist, you want your work to be experienced by as wide an audience as possible. By offering audio descriptions the next time your work is shown you can not only allow your creations to be enjoyed by all. but audio descriptions can present an opportunity for you to talk about your work in your own words to your viewers.
Tactile Art
With the advent of lower cost 3d printers, creating touchable versions of your 2d art is a viable option. If you are a sculptor, consider creating a smaller version of your piece which is intended to be touched.
Questions?
Do you have questions about making your art more accessible? feel free to drop me a line on the contact page and let’s talk.