[Colorado-Talk] Fwd: Art exhibits accessibility for the blind?

[Gary Van Dorn]

I am forwarding the below email from Bonnie Barlow.  I’ve been to one accessible exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and found it wanting.  That experience was several years ago.

Gary

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bonnie Barlow <bonniejbarlow at gmail.com<mailto:bonniejbarlow at gmail.com>>
Subject: Art exhibits accessibility for the blind?
Date: 13 August 2021 at 16:05:59 MDT
To: coloradopray at juno.com<mailto:coloradopray at juno.com>, elisabeth.axel at artbeyondsight.org<mailto:elisabeth.axel at artbeyondsight.org>, labarretravel at msn.com<mailto:labarretravel at msn.com>, nancy.feldman at comcast.net<mailto:nancy.feldman at comcast.net>, Aakash <agandhi3000 at gmail.com<mailto:agandhi3000 at gmail.com>>, Alice George <ageorge8221 at gmail.com<mailto:ageorge8221 at gmail.com>>, Amy Weiner <amy.m.weiner at gmail.com<mailto:amy.m.weiner at gmail.com>>, "anaya at atlantiscommunity.org<mailto:anaya at atlantiscommunity.org>" <anaya at atlantiscommunity.org<mailto:anaya at atlantiscommunity.org>>, Andre Van Hall <andre at andrevanhall.com<mailto:andre at andrevanhall.com>>, "anevin at ccdconline.org<mailto:anevin at ccdconline.org>" <anevin at ccdconline.org<mailto:anevin at ccdconline.org>>, Ann Davis <anndavis001 at gmail.com<mailto:anndavis001 at gmail.com>>, "bgalgano at cherrycreekschools.org<mailto:bgalgano at cherrycreekschools.org>" <bgalgano at cherrycreekschools.org<mailto:bgalgano at cherrycreekschools.org>>, Bill Estrada <william at teameei.org<mailto:william at teameei.org>>, Brenda Carney <brenda at teameei.org<mailto:brenda at teameei.org>>, "brentbel at aol.com<mailto:brentbel at aol.com>" <brentbel at aol.com<mailto:brentbel at aol.com>>, "Buresh, Shane" <shane.buresh at nebraska.gov<mailto:shane.buresh at nebraska.gov>>, Carmen Swick <carmens222 at gmail.com<mailto:carmens222 at gmail.com>>, Chip Johnson <cjohnson at cocenter.org<mailto:cjohnson at cocenter.org>>, "chong.curtis at gmail.com<mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>" <chong.curtis at gmail.com<mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>>, "chressamcfarland at q.com<mailto:chressamcfarland at q.com>" <chressamcfarland at q.com<mailto:chressamcfarland at q.com>>, Christine Donnellan <christinedonnellan at artbeyondsight.org<mailto:christinedonnellan at artbeyondsight.org>>, Christine McGroarty <cmcg216 at gmail.com<mailto:cmcg216 at gmail.com>>, "codyjbair at yahoo.com<mailto:codyjbair at yahoo.com>" <codyjbair at yahoo.com<mailto:codyjbair at yahoo.com>>, "darylkinton at hotmail.com<mailto:darylkinton at hotmail.com>" <darylkinton at hotmail.com<mailto:darylkinton at hotmail.com>>, David Dunphy <ddunphy02211980 at gmail.com<mailto:ddunphy02211980 at gmail.com>>, Diane Bomar <bomonkee at me.com<mailto:bomonkee at me.com>>, "donnaragland at gmail.com<mailto:donnaragland at gmail.com>" <donnaragland at gmail.com<mailto:donnaragland at gmail.com>>, Doris Willoughby <dmwauthor at forethought.net<mailto:dmwauthor at forethought.net>>, "earl at hoyafoundation.org<mailto:earl at hoyafoundation.org>" <earl at hoyafoundation.org<mailto:earl at hoyafoundation.org>>, Elizabeth <tanielizabeth21 at yahoo.com<mailto:tanielizabeth21 at yahoo.com>>, Elizabeth Mullner <ineed2feed at gmail.com<mailto:ineed2feed at gmail.com>>, Elizabeth Ostrowski <elo.quince at verizon.net<mailto:elo.quince at verizon.net>>, Emily Herrin <emily.herrin at 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gmail.com<mailto:karenkarsh4 at gmail.com>>, Karen Norton <colonorton at gmail.com<mailto:colonorton at gmail.com>>, Karen Samuelsen <K18bb95g at gmail.com<mailto:K18bb95g at gmail.com>>, Kari Faulhaber <karijo at futuristicfilms.com<mailto:karijo at futuristicfilms.com>>, Kari Jensen-Beck <kajbeck at yahoo.com<mailto:kajbeck at yahoo.com>>, Kathryn <kathryn.hanks2005 at gmail.com<mailto:kathryn.hanks2005 at gmail.com>>, "kyle.bradell at gmail.com<mailto:kyle.bradell at gmail.com>" <kyle.bradell at gmail.com<mailto:kyle.bradell at gmail.com>>, "lamersjg at gmail.com<mailto:lamersjg at gmail.com>" <lamersjg at gmail.com<mailto:lamersjg at gmail.com>>, "LaRiviere, Loretta/DEN" <Loretta.LaRiviere at jacobs.com<mailto:Loretta.LaRiviere at jacobs.com>>, "lee.earl1 at gmail.com<mailto:lee.earl1 at gmail.com>" <lee.earl1 at gmail.com<mailto:lee.earl1 at gmail.com>>, Lynn Replinger <lynn at replinger.com<mailto:lynn at replinger.com>>, "lynnedmonds1 at comcast.net<mailto:lynnedmonds1 at comcast.net>" <lynnedmonds1 at comcast.net<mailto:lynnedmonds1 at comcast.net>>, Maryann Migliorelli <maryannmigs at gmail.com<mailto:maryannmigs at gmail.com>>, "mdwest44 at msn.com<mailto:mdwest44 at msn.com>" <mdwest44 at msn.com<mailto:mdwest44 at msn.com>>, "Melissa.Mejia at denvergov.org<mailto:Melissa.Mejia at denvergov.org>" <Melissa.Mejia at denvergov.org<mailto:Melissa.Mejia at denvergov.org>>, Mike Hess <mike at blindinstituteoftechnology.org<mailto:mike at blindinstituteoftechnology.org>>, "mike at westcorridor.org<mailto:mike at westcorridor.org>" <mike at westcorridor.org<mailto:mike at westcorridor.org>>, "Pbisceglia at advocacydenver.org<mailto:Pbisceglia at advocacydenver.org>" <Pbisceglia at advocacydenver.org<mailto:Pbisceglia at advocacydenver.org>>, Penn Street <icyimi at gmail.com<mailto:icyimi at gmail.com>>, "reneewalbert at gmail.com<mailto:reneewalbert at gmail.com>" <reneewalbert at gmail.com<mailto:reneewalbert at gmail.com>>, Rhys Lloyd <rhys at descriptivevideoworks.com<mailto:rhys at descriptivevideoworks.com>>, Richard Faubion <rfaubion at blindness.org<mailto:rfaubion at blindness.org>>, "rishikakartik at gmail.com<mailto:rishikakartik at gmail.com>" <rishikakartik at gmail.com<mailto:rishikakartik at gmail.com>>, Rita Howells <ritahowells at att.net<mailto:ritahowells at att.net>>, "Robbie at atlantiscommunity.org<mailto:Robbie at atlantiscommunity.org>" <Robbie at atlantiscommunity.org<mailto:Robbie at atlantiscommunity.org>>, Scott LaBarre <slabarre at nfbco.org<mailto:slabarre at nfbco.org>>, Serina Gilbert <serina0800 at gmail.com<mailto:serina0800 at gmail.com>>, "shannonc619 at gmail.com<mailto:shannonc619 at gmail.com>" <shannonc619 at gmail.com<mailto:shannonc619 at gmail.com>>, SHARON BUCHAN <sbuchan16 at gmail.com<mailto:sbuchan16 at gmail.com>>, "Silver.Gutierrez at denvergov.org<mailto:Silver.Gutierrez at denvergov.org>" <Silver.Gutierrez at denvergov.org<mailto:Silver.Gutierrez at denvergov.org>>, Skylar Williams <skyler at touchthetop.com<mailto:skyler at touchthetop.com>>, Steve <cookcafe at sc.rr.com<mailto:cookcafe at sc.rr.com>>, "stewarttuckerlundy at gmail.com<mailto:stewarttuckerlundy at gmail.com>" <stewarttuckerlundy at gmail.com<mailto:stewarttuckerlundy at gmail.com>>, Thomas Logan <thomas at equalentry.com<mailto:thomas at equalentry.com>>, Tom <Tom at tomdheere.com<mailto:Tom at tomdheere.com>>, "vecrenshaw at gmail.com<mailto:vecrenshaw at gmail.com>" <vecrenshaw at gmail.com<mailto:vecrenshaw at gmail.com>>, Victoria Sayler <victoriasayler45 at icloud.com<mailto:victoriasayler45 at icloud.com>>, "william.flowers2 at denvergov.org<mailto:william.flowers2 at denvergov.org>" <william.flowers2 at denvergov.org<mailto:william.flowers2 at denvergov.org>>

I am curious as to what the Denver Art Museum offers in the way of access for the visually impaired nowadays.  They have online access  guides,  but I'm not sure how a blind patron learns about those  being available and how accessible they really are on the computer. When I go search on there I have to drill down through "plan a visit" then "accessibility" then "access advisory group" then info for getting to the museum for the mobility impaired, then info for the deaf, then for the neurodiverse (low sensory shows) and finally visually impaired people.  Then, you get directed to those access guides which don't have actual descriptions.  I wonder what happens when you contact someone ahead of time and say you want to visit and be accommodated, or what happens when you arrive at the museum.  Do they know what you're asking for?  Do they have something for you right away or are you referred to special events on special days?  Do they actually describe the visuals of the contents of exhibits or do they talk about the process and ideas instead? In small print at the bottom they say that verbal description tours and tactile tables were provided by some sponsors, but I don't see any other info about those items.

I am also wanting to know what the new opening Meow Wolf immersive art experience means by their accessibility info on their website that reads, "blind and low vision: Our experiences can be enjoyed through a variety of senses. All participants, regardless of sight, are encouraged to touch, hold, and play with countless objects in our exhibition.  ‍‍If you would like to talk with a staff member about any concerns or the best way to explore, please visit  the Information Desk when you arrive for  your adventure. The Information Desk is located on the first floor of the building and in front of you, on the right hand side after entering the main doors. Additionally, every 2 minutes you will hear an audio chime from the desk that says: “Here at the Information Desk…” to assist you in locating it." End quote.  I don't know what they may have planned at that point or if they're just going to "wing it."  I tried to work with them about two years ago and hoped to establish a unique immersive experience for blind patrons that would be really inclusive.  But that fell apart, mostly due to covid and also they had a hard time understanding how a self-guided audio tour with wayfinding info could be used for the blind patrons, which is what I wanted to create.  Would any of you be willing to call or e-mail those places and ask them what they have in the way of access for you, as a visually impaired patron?  And let me know?  The main number for the Denver Art Museum is: 720-865-5000.  Meow wolf is 720-792-1200.

Bonniejbarlow at gmail.com<mailto:Bonniejbarlow at gmail.com>
720-440-3893

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