Well, Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (1939 to 1991) also had many accessibility challenges, as it was built at a time most disabilities were not considered in building design [although the Planetarium Theater did include the first sound system for those with hearing impairments--both air-conduction and bone-conduction headsets were available to the public in 1939]. We also had one wheelchair for loan, while visiting the building.

Maps given to visitors showed the locations of staircases, public ramp, and the public elevator. The ramp, elevator, and handicapped restrooms and water fountain were installed in 1982, from a Federal grant for accessibility. At that time, the second floor (offices and Library) and third floor(Observatory) remained inaccessible to wheelchair patrons, as the freight elevator, which was converted to a passenger elevator, never went to the second and third floors. However, a chair lift (the 
wheelchair had to be carried down the steps separately) was installed to allow the handicapped to access our lowest exhibit gallery (which, again, was not served by the elevator).

Although, in the case of the Observatory, we took extra steps to accomodate wheelchair patrons during the rare apparition of Halley's Comet (1985-1986). For the few wheelchair patrons, several strong staff members simply carried them, wheelchair and all, to the Observatory so they could view Halley's Comet. I am not sure what the insurance company would have said, had they known about this; but there were no incidents.

Here are two examples of the building maps given to visitors:

1987:
< http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/BuhlExplorer1.JPG >

1989:
< http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/BuhlExplorer50th-1.JPG >

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://incline.pghfree.net >
* Public Transit:
  < http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >


--- On Fri, 3/6/09, Dean Krimmel <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Dean Krimmel <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Visitor Map for people with strollers or in wheelchairs
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 4:25 PM
> Hello All,
> 
> While talking to a colleague who works in a large museum
> with many
> accessibility challenges we began kicking around the idea
> of a visitor map
> that showed or described stroller or wheelchair
> "routes." Or something that
> provided a new type of orientation to those folks. (The
> museum does have
> elevators.) Kind of crazy, yes, and maybe a backwards
> approach considering
> how visitors ordinarily make choices about where to go. But
> I figured, what
> the heck.might as well ask the list.
> 
>  
> 
> We'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has created
> such a map, or come up
> with other clever and effective ways to serve these
> audiences. Thanks. 
> 
>  
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Dean
> 
>  
> 
> Dean Krimmel, Creative Museum Services/Qm2
> 
> Helping Museums and Cultural Nonprofits
> 
> 423 Range Road  Baltimore, MD 21204
> 
>  <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask];
> 410-746-8350
> 
>  <http://www.qm2.org/> http://www.qm2.org
> 
>  
> 
> From: Museum discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Perian Sully
> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 12:57 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Web tech guy vs. angry staff member
> 
>  
> 
> As someone who has been on both sides of this coin, and who
> has completely
> jumped the shark to the web side of things, this animation
> about the
> traditional concerns many museum staff have about releasing
> content online
> struck very, very close to home. Thankfully, my institution
> has made it a
> priority to embrace digital collection accessibility, web
> culture, and
> non-traditional research methods, so we don't have to
> deal with this much,
> but it's certainly still present!
> 
>  
> 
> http://usingdata.typepad.com/usingdata/2009/03/web.html
> 
>  
> 
> Enjoy!
> 
>  
> 
> Perian Sully
> 
> Collections Information Manager
> 
> Web Programs Strategist
> 
> The Magnes
> 
> 2911 Russell St.
> 
> Berkeley, CA 94705
> 
> Work: 510-549-6950 x 357
> 
> Fax: 510-849-3673
> 
> http://www.magnes.org
> 
> http://www.musematic.org
> 
> http://www.mediaandtechnology.org


      

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