This is a #MuseumsAreNotNeutral thread: 

Four months ago, @DesignMuseum reached out to me informing me that a project of mine had been shortlisted for their #BeazleyDesignsoftheYear.
I responded asking about accessibility as well as what disabled experts they were consulting. The remainder of the conversation did not go well.
My last email to them was "Question for you. How would you respond to this email if you were on the receiving end of it?"
Their response? "It is clear that we have a lot of learning and reflecting to do. Once we are further along this process, our ambition is that you would be willing to work with us."
I never heard from them again. The exhibit goes live tomorrow, though I discovered my biggest fear on their website this morning.
When they informed me that they would be featuring Lego Braille Bricks, I sent them a CriticalAxis review that describes how Lego stole the concept from the blind community and then turned the product into charity. criticalaxis.org/critique/lego-…
They thanked me for sending it, though it appears they never read it, because Lego Braille Bricks are now featured on #BeazleyDesignsoftheYear designmuseum.org/exhibitions/be…
If we are to discuss Accessibility measures though, the Accessibility Policy does not include any digital access measures, and this is an electronic exhibition: 
Their first Tweet about the #BeazleyDesignsoftheYear included an image that did not contain alt text. I commented, and they reposted the image, adding alt text. But it didn't describe the image, they described a link in the Tweet. 
Back to our exchange: In my first email to them I wrote "I am a disabled person who has struggled deeply with disability representation in design museums." I sent them links to educate them about what a #DisabilityDongle is.
I sent them explainers of harms caused by museums that taut disability innovation for non-disabled audiences hyperallergic.com/530652/designs…
And yet they persisted. It does not seem they consulted any disabled people. I am too upset at the moment to look through any other designs in this exhibit. I know there's so much more and urge my disabled peers to scroll through the categories:  designmuseum.org/exhibitions/be…
To summarize my frustration, this was a response I had to write to the curator, Emily King during our exchange: "Thanks for your response. Despite the fact that your brief summary has absolutely nothing to do with what my talk was about, I appreciate your effort."
@DesignMuseum needs to use its platform to demand Lego pay restitution to tack-tiles.com
One last thought. A flattened image of braille without any sort of description goes beyond appropriation. Touting a braille product in a digital exhibit without any sort of digital access policy is utterly galling.

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More from @elizejackson

7 Sep 19
It wasn’t just Epstein’s reputation that made him Voldemort. It was what they were working toward. I wish someone would hear me out on this. There’s so much public facing evidence. #MITEugenicsLab
If you search MIT Media Lab for 'Disability' you get headlines such as 'Machines to Banish Disability' and 'Defeating Disability'. MIT Media Lab was doing with Tech what Hitler was doing with Medicine during WWII.
I first noticed it when Pioneer in NYC gave Hugh Herr of MIT Media Lab a platform to amplify his aim to 'eradicate disability'
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30 Apr 18
I never write threads. And so I hope my disabled friends and my supporters will take a moment to read this, as I am beginning to fall apart over things that keep happening. Advice and retweets would be much supported.
It started a year ago when @cooperhewitt asked me to consult on their Access + Ability exhibit. I jumped in without pause, as Disability Design is my passion.
In an early email I sought to "find incredible ways to incorporate the disability community, perhaps even create something the disability community can feel like they had a voice in."
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