In a first for the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Access Keys will soon be available for would-be visitors to Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and Rosebud Library. These are the first of many Access Keys the Shire plans to roll out in the next 12-24 months to make visiting our facilities more accessible and inclusive.
What are Access Keys?
Access Keys are visual and text-based guides that provide convenient information about accessing a particular experience, event, facility, or program. They are professionally prepared by Access Ability Australia and designed with universal design principles in mind. This means they are suitable for a wide range of people, including those with disability.
Access Keys are a great tool for encouraging independence and participation as they provide accurate information that helps visitors to:
- understand what to expect from a venue, event, or program ahead of time
- determine the suitability of a venue, event, or program
- interpret circumstances or conditions while attending the venue, event, or program.
For instance, if a room is likely to have to loud sounds (e.g., from announcements or people) or there’s a change in ground surface or smells (e.g., from hand sanitiser), Access Key users will know what to expect in advance and can decide whether to participate.
Access Keys often include information such as navigational instructions on getting to a chosen venue or event, parking, layout, access in and around a venue or event, reception/ticketing locations and services, identification of staff by uniform, toilets (including specifications), food and beverage services, programming, experiences, and accessible offerings, plus much more.
Some Access Keys will also include, or accompany, a communication board. This is a resource that displays contextualised symbols to help people with communication challenges express themselves. The user can gesture, point to, or blink at symbols express their needs, interact with others, and build and maintain relationships with staff. Importantly, communication boards also help visitors to be active and involved in making choices for the products and services on offer.
When will the new Access Keys be ready?
In welcome news for art lovers, Access Keys for the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery will be available from 15 September 2023 onwards. This date was chosen to coincide with the opening of the Archibald Prize 2023 Regional Tour exhibition, running 15 September to 5 November 2023. Access Keys for Rosebud Library will be available in late 2023.
Once available, you will be able to download your free Access Keys at accessabilityaustralia.com/access-keys
Printed copies will be available on request at both venues. A3-sized communication boards will be available on request at MPRG.
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Steve Holland
Access Keys empower individuals to be independent and to engage in social, economic and community life by giving them as much accessibility information as possible, up front. We still have a long way to go, but it’s just one of the ways we’re trying to make the Mornington Peninsula an inclusive and accessible place for residents and visitors alike.
Quote attributable to Disability Advisory Committee representative, Councillor Susan Bissinger
This could be a game changer! Access Keys are PDF guides that contain information on how to access a particular venue or event, regardless of an individual’s abilities. Access Keys can be printed, but can also be downloaded and accessed on any mobile device, enabling those of us who are living with disabilities to be more independent and comfortable in unfamiliar situations.
