Well said, Walter.

I certainly don't think of myself as "blind" but my field of acute vision is
only 5% and my night vision is long gone. You won't see me tapping my way
through your galleries with my white cane, but I sure do appreciate the
kinds of features "universal design" implies  - and, as you point out, there
are lots and lots of visitors who appreciate such thoughtfulness.

You are right on the mark - all this is nothing more nor less than good
design. Incredible, the number of bad designers around, wot?

Harry

" When Eve upon the first of Men
  The apple press'd with specious cant,
  Oh! What a thousand pities then
  That Adam was not Adamant!"

               -  Thomas Hood (1799-1842) "A Reflection"


Harry Needham, M.A., CFE, etc.
President
Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc.
Training & consulting services for heritage institutions - and others!
74 Abbeyhill Drive
Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1
Canada
email: [log in to unmask]
(Voice) +1.613.831-1068
(Fax) +1.613.831-9412
----- Original Message -----
From: Walter Reinhardt <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: Discrimination at the Kimball


> 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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