This is a total aside.I have seen the inventor Dean Kamen interviewed in a number of venues about the segway, including live at my current site. He has been asked publicly about the use of the Segway as a device to assist the disabled both permanent and temporary. He is quite intentionally cagey on the topic and very much the show man. He knows, and states openly, that were he to make such a claim or agree with anyone else who makes the claim, he would immediately be under the regulation of the proper FDA branch that approves these devices. He hints, he nods, he winks, but never makes the claim, nor does his company. Another poster noted the company explicitly disavows the claim.This would tell me that the Segway has no such approval as an assistive device and the makers have no intention of submitting themselves to the rigor and delay of seeking such approval.I am absolutely no expert on this type of law, and I would absolutely insist that you consult someone who is, but it seems to me to be illogical to claim that we are under any requirement to allow someone to use a Segway in a manner we deem unsafe for the purposes of assisting a disabled person when the Segway is not legally recognized as such a device.What would you do if someone on a Segway hurt another visitor? Who would be liable?I also do not think that we are obligated to make our sites accessible to anyone completely and solely on their terms whether disabled or not. Having a safe and approved wheelchair available for them to change to would be the same as airlines making wheelchair users check their chairs or scooters and use the ones designed for airplane aisles.Like I said I am no expert. I would be happy to send this to our accessibility officer for her thoughts.
Matthew WhiteDirector, Hands On Science CenterSmithsonian InstitutionNational Museum of American History202/633-3698
On Jul 19, 2007, at 12:20 PM, Cindy Boyer wrote:
I'm curious to see the responses to this.Are there people for whom a Segway increases accessibility? I wouldthink that the skills and strengths needed to stand upright and direct aSegway are the same as those needed to walk (core strength, flexibility,etc) In other words - a wheelchair is an accessibility tool, a Segway isa - what?I think there is a huge difference between a Segway and a motorizedwheel chair. Wheelchairs don't usually tip over and dump out theirpassengers. And - although this would be hard to qualify - mostmotorized wheel chair users are very experienced in operating theirvehicles - they have to be, they use them all the time for their basictransportation needs. My impression of Segway users is that of aleisure user.Will the site be required to allow those motorized Razor scooters in thehouse museum?Cindy BoyerDirector of Museums and EducationThe Landmark Society of Western New YorkRochester, NY(585) 546-7029 x12www.landmarksociety.orgThe Landmark Society of Western New York1937-2007 - Serving for 70 years!Our mission is to discover, protect, and revitalizethe architectural and related cultural heritageof the Rochester region, and to educate andinform our community about that heritage.-----Original Message-----From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] OnBehalf Of Kristin HerronSent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:01 AMSubject: [MUSEUM-L] Segways in historic house museumsI am posting this on behalf of a National Park Service historic site,which includes a historic house museum.They are being required to develop policy on the use of a Segway withinthe historic house. The argument is apparently that it is no differentthan a motorized wheel chair. Does anyone have experience with requeststo use a Segway during a historic house museum tour, or has developedpolicy on this topic?Thanks.Kristin Herron____________________________________________________________________________________Got a little couch potato?Check out fun summer activities for kids.ds&cs=bz=========================================================Important Subscriber Information:The Museum-L FAQ file is located athttp://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailedinformation about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mailmessage to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message shouldread "help" (without the quotes).If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail messageto [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read"Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).=========================================================Important Subscriber Information:The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
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