MoZAICS Project: State of the Field Study. Overview of Study Findings Article Swipe
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· 2024
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1170
· OA: W4391163638
This report summarizes findings from three surveys (n=76) and focus groups (n=30) administered as part of the Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS) for Autistic Individuals project. This study was designed to look across the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) field to understand what inclusive practices zoos and aquariums are currently using to support autistic individuals across the full zoo/aquarium experience (e.g., general visit, programs, events, design of learning experiences, volunteering, internships and employment). Surveys asked zoo and aquarium employees to respond to open- and closed-ended prompts about their organization’s current practices for inclusion of autistic individuals across four areas: the general visit; spaces for exhibiting, learning or working; human resources; and leadership. Additional questions asked about each site’s partnerships with autism-related communities (e.g., autistic self-advocates, community-based advocacy groups). Focus group discussions more deeply probed the specific practices used by different zoo/aquarium facilities as well as how these practices are informed and evaluated.
