Many years ago, goaded by the law, I reluctantly began including
accessibility in my exhibit designs. The more I embraced the spirit and
letter of the law the more positive gains I saw for all visitors. It has
been my experience that  you need to go beyond thinking of your designs as
meeting ADA requirements and began thinking about making you design
accessible to everybody. Remember many people who benefit from accessible
design do not think of themselves as having special needs.

A few examples. Ramps that meet ADA requirements also allow people using
canes, with bad knees, or who have just lost the spring in their step easy
access as well. Spaces that allow wheel chairs to navigate comfortably also
allow access to strollers. Placement of computer screens that accommodate
people seated and standing work for people and children of different
statures. Removing thresholds so that wheelchairs can move smoothly from
space to space allows my father, who kinda shuffles along these days, to not
worry about tripping.

Architects call this concept universal design. In my mind it is just good
design practice to make you efforts available and accessible to as many
people as possible.

Walter Reinhardt

-----Original Message-----
From: Hammerstrom, Kirsten [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Discrimination at the Kimball



I think we all understand that ADA requirements do not apply to able-bodied
parents and their children.

However, using a stroller or wanting to use a stroller, and using the
frustrations or successes of that experience to help image maneuvering a
gallery, library or site in a wheelchair (for example) can highlight
potential ADA issues-- or, perhaps more properly, areas in which museums,
galleries, libraries, etc. may slight disabled visitors. Why not think of
these contributions as a means to begin thinking more broadly about
compliance or accommodation/inclusion?

Kirsten Hammerstrom

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