At the risk of running this conversation beyond readers' patience, I'd like
to add one last comment.  Equal rights are not special rights.
Accessibility expands museums' diverse audience and staff by making it
possible for people with disabilities to experience museums' collections,
programs, and work opportunities, but does not give extra privileges.
Accessibility just tries to level the playing field.  Without accessible
parking and accessible restrooms (in the States, the latter are for
everyone's use, not just people with disabilities), people with mobility
disabilities would not be able to visit; with refusal to modify policies,
people who might need sugar or service animals would not be able to safely
visit.  People who are blind or have low vision get very little from solely
visual exhibitions, but can have equal opportunity to the experience with
tactile access and audio description.

The last example, particularly, makes a strong argument for Universal
Design of programs (which also applies to facilities, sites, and
learning).  Most people with disabilities don't want special, segregated
treatment.  For the most part, it accentuates difference and results in
misunderstanding.  If all docent programs included some meaningful tactile
experiences and audio description, everyone in the group would benefit.
When I have trained docents, many admit during the sessions that by
describing a painting or object in greater detail, they noticed features
that they never saw  before.  So will other visitors.  And developing one
program that fits most rather than various segregated programs is more
efficient and cost-effective.  http://humancentereddesign.org/

Thanks,
Jan

Jan Majewski
Advisor, Inclusive Culture and Development
Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD)

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