In article <[log in to unmask]>, John Martinson
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Question:  Those involved with pioneer, historical homes or
>structures, what means do you take in changing the structures
>to allow access to the physcial disabled?
>
>If you add ramps, change the orginal building structure, you
>no longer have an authentic "pioneer settlement" the public
>wants to see.  The entire pioneer, orginal look of the village is lost with
>ramps and appeal of days' gone by.
>Are films proper for those who cannot get around, specail guided
>tours, etc. that tell the story for those who cannot access the building(s)
>is that enough?
There are other things you can do.  If you have reconstructed as well as
preserved, you can make the materials and finishes used in the
reconstruction available.  These will enable someone who can't get
upstairs to 'see' the bedroom curtains much more effectively than a
video or photograph of them alone (although the photo or film is also
needed, to get a sense of how they hang, the space of the room and so
on).  The National Trust started doing this in Britain, and found the
books were very popular with non-disabled visitors, too, and cut down on
the wear caused by visitors unable to resist the desire to feel the
fabrics.

You could make a handling collection available: as well as the kettle
collected to sit on the stove, collect one so that the visitors who
can't get into the kitchen can feel how heavy they were.  Again, non-
disabled visitors would benefit from such a collection.

'Special tours' are fine, but consider the bulk of your visitors, who
won't turn up in pre-arranged groups, but would, or would like, to come
on a whim.

Is there a US equivalent of the British MAGDA (Museums and Galleries
Disability Association) - which is a great source of information and
support for those working to remove barriers to access.
--
Pat Reynolds
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