[NFBofSC] State Museum

[Steve Cook]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: David Dickson (803) 898-4948 or
<mailto:david.dickson at scmuseum.org> david.dickson at scmuseum.org

 

 

State Museum to Provide Free Visual Interpretation for Blind and Low Vision
Guests

The museum is the first attraction in the Southeast to offer unlimited
access to certified visual interpreters through Aira, a downloadable app
available on iOS and Android. 

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 9, 2024) - The South Carolina State Museum is proud to
now offer free, unlimited access to certified visual interpreters for its
blind and low vision guests through a service called Aira. The first museum
in the Southeast to become an Aira Access Partner, the State Museum joins
hundreds of other organizations, including Starbucks, Target, airports and
universities, who pay for their customers, guests and employees to have
free, on-demand access to Aira Visual Interpreters. 

 

This live, human-to-human visual interpreting service uses a downloadable
app, available on iOS and Android, in which individuals connect with a
professionally trained agent who will visually interpret what is in their
smartphone camera's view or on screen. 

 

"As a blind person, Aira will give me the ability to appreciate the
exhibitions at the South Carolina State Museum independently in a way not
possible before," says Steve Cook, the Statewide Service Lead for SC
Commission for the Blind. "The Aira agent can read printed material featured
at the exhibition and describe the display.  I feel empowered to know that
the State Museum is thinking of innovative ways to include the disabled
community that allows us to participate independently!"

 

For those who require it, Aira is available as soon as they step onto the
State Museum's grounds and can be used, for free, during the entirety of
their visit. From describing to reading, explaining to navigating - Aira's
visual interpretation enhances independence, efficiency and autonomy for
people who are blind or have low vision. 

 

"We believe every South Carolinian deserves to have access to visually
explore the rich history, art, culture scientific achievements and natural
wonders presented in their State Museum," says Amy Bartow-Melia, State
Museum Executive Director. "This visual interpretation service is an
important step forward in our ongoing efforts towards greater accessibility
at the museum."

 

Aira is just one of the many accessibility-focused resources offered by the
museum, with sensory bags, noise-cancelling headphones, assistive listening
devices and more available by request. A full list of resources and
services, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, can be
found at scmuseum.org. 

 

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About the South Carolina State Museum: Over the past 35 years, the South
Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and
showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation
of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1
million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays
housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum
provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the
lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For
more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org

 

 

Steve Cook

You are invited to join us on the 1st and 2nd Friday of each month at 8:00
PM Eastern for audio described movies using the below Zoom platform! 

 <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09>
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8032543777?pwd=QTVQd2RzN3l6QnNmZ0FmSnp6NG8vQT09

Meeting ID: 803 254 3777

Passcode: 124578

 

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