[NFB-Talk] Museum Access

[Tina Hansen]

Is there anyone on this list with whom I can network to discuss museum
access in my area?

 

My state, Oregon, seems to rank low in terms of museum accessibility. I am
partly motivated to do something about this because a good friend of mine
went to a museum in my area 20 years ago. Everything was behind glass, and
her companions needed to read out the labels for her to get anything out of
the visit. I know that if I were there, I'd be wondering, "Where's Michael
Dorn when you need him?" If Mr. Dorn had been there, it would have not
changed the fact that everything was behind glass, but it would have
relieved the relative from having to read all those labels.

 

Even with the new technology we have, I still can't believe horror stories
are out there.

 

But here's my point. I want to see museum access improve. In an ideal world,
accessibility options would be available on demand, so even if you plan your
trip, accessibility is there, and you don't need to call for it ahead. You'd
also be able to use your own equipment, especially if you had the right app
on your smart phone.

 

I do know a lot of older museums don't have good wi-fi, which makes it more
difficult to use AIRA or Be My Eyes. But if we don't want to deal with
friends or family, especially if they're not good readers, what options are
there? You can't pair every blind/low vision person with a live guide, and
group tours have the potential to introduce other problems, such as everyone
crowding around an exhibit all at once, time limitations, and other
concerns.

 

So how can we address these problems? Who can I network with to start to
address some or all of these issues? I know in my state, I feel very alone,
like a voice in the desert. Any thoughts? Who can I contact? Thanks.

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