Accessibility
Through our work, we are seeking ways to find, remove, and prevent barriers to our wide-reaching offerings and programming, and meet our audiences wherever they are. This means providing accessible experiences that reflect the diverse realities of the Canadian population that we serve. It means ensuring equal access and participation for all, and fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity in every aspect of our programs, exhibitions, and initiatives.
Ingenium is committed to active, continuous engagement with equity-seeking groups, and understands that our work is strengthened by listening to, learning from, and sharing diverse perspectives and experiences.
Our work
At Ingenium, we serve as a vital link between science and society, providing enriching engagement through co-created, accessible, and inclusive participatory experiences.
Our commitment to accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and belonging extends across our digital offerings and our three museums—the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum—as well as our Ingenium Centre, housing our Research Institute and Digital Innovation Lab. Across our spaces, we are continuing to seek ways to remove barriers and providing accessible environments and experiences for all visitors.
Accessibility in action
Guided by our goal to provide access for all, we have aligned with the Accessible Canada Act and the principles of disability justice. Ingenium’s accessibility plan reflects our dedication to creating a culture rooted in the ‘Nothing Without Us’ perspective. This involves ongoing collaboration, co-development, and co-creation alongside those with lived experience of disability.
The plan addresses barriers in seven key areas identified by the Accessible Canada Act: employment, the built environment, information and communication technologies, communication, procurement, program and service design and delivery, and transportation.
Programming for everyone
Our commitment to accessibility is exemplified by our comprehensive accessibility standards for exhibitions. These standards, implemented during the full renewal of the Canada Science and Technology Museum and maintained across all our sites ensure that displays consistently meet rigorous accessibility criteria. This proactive approach not only enhances the overall visitor experience but also sets a gold standard for the inclusivity of museum exhibitions.
Across our museums, we offer a range of programming to ensure all can have an enjoyable museum experience. This includes special programming that address physical, cognitive, sensory, and socio-economic accessibility.
Unlocking access
Our museums are spaces of discovery that inspire, and foster a sense of belonging and community engagement. Our collections and programs are constantly evolving to reflect a broad range of experiences and perspectives that we hope inspires all visitors.
Ingenium is proud to include its three national museums in Ottawa as part of Canoo’s incredible roster of cultural and destination experiences available through its Newcomer Equity Partner Program. Canoo members are able to enjoy free and discounted access to the Ingenium museums for 5+ years to immerse themselves in Canada’s history of science and innovation.
Accessibility across our sites
Ingenium’s spaces integrate accessibility into many aspects of their design so that visitors, staff and volunteers have opportunities to enjoy our museums. As a unique organization with four distinct locations, all require different considerations in terms of accessibility. Learn more about how our sites are working to provide better experiences, services, and processes in pursuit of access for all.
Harnessing the power of digital
As a national institution, Ingenium’s mandate reaches beyond the walls of its museums in Ottawa. Our work stretches from coast to coast to coast—leveraging online tools and programming to boost science literacy nationwide.
To improve online access to its collections of 2D artifacts, Ingenium launched an updated online module to give the public better access to its collection and digital archives. Many of our other educational online resources, virtual field trips and science experiments to try at home were also widely accessed by the public around the country.
Championing accessibility across the cultural sector
Serving as a nexus for collaboration with national and international experts, Ingenium’s Digital Innovation Lab leads the way in developing innovative digital accessibility solutions, methods, and products. This forward-looking initiative not only improves online accessibility for all Canadians but also underlines Ingenium’s pursuit in employing technology to dismantle barriers and create cultural experiences that are genuinely inclusive.
