The Accessible Museum: Model Programs of Accessibility for Disabled and Older People

GENERAL

Research Abstract
The Accessible Museum: Model Programs of Accessibility for Disabled and Older People

Museums across the country are working to make their collections more available to older adults and people who have various kinds of disabilities. Federal and state laws, including Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, have accelerated the timetable for the transition in national attitudes and actions. The focus is inclusion: to open up existing programs and services and to reach out to underserved communities in ways that promote human dignity.

Museum professionals are now realizing that fully accessible facilities and exhibitions are making museums safer, more comfortable, and more meaningful for everyone. Ramps and elevators reduce accidents, accommodate baby carriages and carts, and are preferred by many who do not have disabilities. Large-print labeling with good contrast is meant to accommodate everyone. Captioned film and video heighten reading skills for children and foreign visitors; and exhibits presented at a height accessible to those who use wheelchairs are appreciated by adults of short stature and children as well.

This publication is designed to encourage and assist you in making your facilities and programs available to older Americans and individuals with disabilities whether they be staff, volunteers, creators or audiences. The diverse museums profiled in this book are opening doors in ways that promote independence and dignity, and develop new and larger audiences. Each program confirms how close communication with disabled and older constituents increases accessibility in the most economical, efficient and expedient manner. The selected bibliography provides resources to assist this process. Most important, this book demonstrates full inclusion of older adults and individuals with disabilities, not only in the featured profiles, but in the production of the book as panelists, writers and photographers.

The creation of this unique book grew out of an agreement between the Institute of Museum Services (IMS) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). In September 1986, the agencies agreed to work together to advance the Federal agencies' common goal - to encourage and assist museums in making their collections and activities available to disabled people as mandated by Federal law.

Initially, the Endowment's Special Constituencies Office worked with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art (NMAA) to organize a nine-member advisory committee composed of consumers with disabilities, accessibility experts, and staff to assist the NMAA in composing its National Survey of Accessibility in Museums that was funded by the Smithsonian Institution. This detailed survey was sent to 2,000 museums throughout the country, and 40 percent responded. This research, which was published in May 1989 uncovered a broad spectrum of exciting projects and resources. It not only provided the initial research for this book, but reinforced the need for such a publication. Subsequently, the Arts Endowment developed cooperative agreements with NMAA to compose the selected bibliography and the American Association of Museums to produce The Accessible Museum, which were jointly funded by NEA and IMS. AAM worked with the two agencies to convene a nine-member panel on November 29, 1990, which recommended the models documented in this publication out of a pool of 61 museums.

CONTENTS
Foreword. Preface. Introduction. Unique outreach programs: Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL. The Children's Museum, Boston, Massachusetts. The John Marlor Arts Center, Allied Arts, Milledgeville, Georiga. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California. Spertus Museum of Judaica, Chicago, IL. Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Innovative Solutions: The Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Washington. Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina. Jim Buck Ross Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry/National Agricultural Aviation Museum, Jackson, MS. The Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, Winterthur, Delaware.
Broad-based programs: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA.
Training programs: The Fine Arts museums of San Francisco, CA. Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA. Museum of Science, Boston, MA. University Museum/Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
Bibliography. Index.

Museums across the country are working to make their collections more available to older adults and people who have various kinds of disabilities. Federal and state laws, including Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, have accelerated the timetable for the transition in national attitudes and actions. The focus is inclusion: to open up existing programs and services and to reach out to underserved communities in ways that promote human dignity.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Book
American Association of Museums
0-931201-16-0
184 p.
December, 1991
PUBLISHER DETAILS

The American Alliance of Museums (formerly American Association of Museums)
1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington
DC, 20005
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