Plenty of people who don't use wheelchairs on a day-to-day basis borrow them
at museums. Think about it, there is never enough seating, we have to stand
and walk around all of the time. Many people could benefit from using a
wheelchair: back problems, arthritis, pregnant... the list can go on.

Also, a very good exercise for museum staff is to go around the museum using
wheelchairs ourselves! Then, we can also better understand what a visit to
your museum may look like for some. Its a completely different experience
and really raises awareness about many barriers you may never thought
existed!
Leah

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David E. Haberstich [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 11:45 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Strollers
>
> In a message dated 00-09-06 22:59:27 EDT, Pamela Sezgin wrote:
>
> << Why are strollers banned at most museums, theaters, concert halls and
> other
>  public venues?    Because they present a hazard in the case of fire or
> other
>  emergencies when CROWDS have to be evacuated quickly.    The idea I guess
> is
>  that people might abandon the stroller -- just take the kid and run to
> exit,
>  leaving the stroller blocking a right-of-way and as a potential barrier
> to
>  other visitors who are panicking on their way out. >>
>
> ...and I think she is absolutely right.  I don't know why I had forgotten
> about this important factor.
>
> At this point I'd like to say a further word about wheelchairs in
> museums--how many should a museum provide?  I don't think there is a right
> answer, and I'm not sure that two is "clearly" not enough, as was
> suggested
> in a separate post.  It seems to me that the severely handicapped are
> going
> to arrive at a museum in their own wheelchairs anyway.  How many do you
> need
> for the less severely handicapped, the temporarily disabled, the infirm,
> or
> the merely tired?  I guess experience would be the guide--if you regularly
> get more requests than you can accommodate, you need more.  This reminds
> me
> of a newspaper article about museum-going from several years ago, in which
> the writer recommended the use of wheelchairs for the merely lazy when
> touring museums.  He suggested that everyone should borrow a wheelchair to
> ensure a leisurely, contemplative stroll through museum exhibits.  While
> that
> struck me as a really good idea, something about it rubbed me the wrong
> way.
> It seemed to me insensitive to use a wheelchair if I didn't really need
> it--how would I feel, enjoying my ride, when I encountered a truly needful
> person in a wheelchair?  But just as importantly, as Pamela points out,
> unnecessary vehicles in a restricted space represent a hazard in the event
> of
> an emergency.
>
> David Haberstich
>
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