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</v:background></xml><![endif]--><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'> Aurora History Museum provides personal and Nonvisually-Accessible tour of the Nepal exhibit.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>By Peggy Chong<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>On Friday, October 18, 19 Aurora Chapter members came out in the rain to visited the Aurora History Museum for a guided and nonvisually-accessible tour of the Nepal Exhibit currently on display. The staff of the museum brought in Aurora Museum volunteers from Nepal who helped with the exhibit to show us how to correctly pronounce Nepalese words, explain items in the exhibit, describe festivals, and touch various artifacts. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The Aurora History Museum is a small museum with a minimal budget, but it tries to make each exhibit as inclusive as possible. Over the past year, Aurora Chapter members have worked with the museum on several of their projects and events. Staff at the museum asked if our chapter could take part in a tour and give feedback on how to make the museum more accessible while staying within their small budget. We gladly took them up on their offer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The 90-minute tour of just one gallery included the voices of Nepal, which was a a panel with six buttons on it. Each button represented a prominent language spoken in Nepal. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Four small metal square doors, when slid to the side, opened canasters with the scents of Nepal. Food, we learned, is important in celebrations and family meals. Through each door, we could smell the aroma of Curry, Coriander, and other spices. Staff also had containers of additional scents that were passed around.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>At the end of our visit, we shared some ideas for inexpensive ways to make the museum more inclusive for all. Dale Holden and Peggy Chong presented a check of $250 to the museum to show our support for their efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Afterwards, members went to B. J.’s Brew Pub for dinner and conversation. It was a wonderful time with tasty food for all of us to share what we liked about the tour and ideas for the museum.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>We are preparing a report on our experiences with the museum and suggestions of those who were there. Some are simple suggestions, but very important such as consistent placement of signage. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Below are a few photos from the event.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><img width=586 height=782 style='width:6.1083in;height:8.1416in' id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DB2498.0371CC20"></span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Staff Member, Scott with Peggy Chong and President Dale Holden after the $250 check was presented<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><img width=586 height=439 style='width:6.1in;height:4.575in' id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image003.jpg@01DB2498.0371CC20"></span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Several chapter members seated in rows, passing around artifacts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><img width=586 height=439 style='width:6.1in;height:4.575in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DB2498.0371CC20"></span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Chapter members Finia Kachita, Showe Trela, and daughter, sniffing the spices of Nepal. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div></body></html>