ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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And you're correct, Chuck, I misspoke. ADA compliance is compulsory,
even if it is sometimes interpretative.
I just poked through the thick and splendid adaportal.org site,
looking for examples of museums and ADA-related lawsuits in addition
to the Spy Museum case. There is a reference to the Fort Lauderdale
Museum of Art recently being sued for not making a King Tut
exhibition accessible to the blind. Strange case, actually. And
there are a number of municipal museums that have received
recommedations for better compliance from the Department of Justice.
I stopped diggin after an hour of that.
This is an important topic, and I'm the wrong person to monopolize
dialog without callling my lawyer! So, on that note,
: J
On Jan 3, 2011, at 10:23 PM, jason jay stevens wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> That's an interesting case! Frightening, even.
> Spy Museum is for-profit, and the case was settled out of court.
> Are there analogies amongst non-profits?
>
> A non-profit near and dear to my heart is closing this year, in
> fact, ascribing significant lost federal funding to ADA noncompliance.
> But I was taught to love and not to fear ADA guidelines. To let
> them be the designer's friend.
> Alas! Love is no protection from deligent lawyers and government
> grant allocators!
>
> : Jason
>
>
> On Jan 3, 2011, at 9:36 PM, Chuck Howarth wrote:
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions.
>> *********************************************************************
>> ********
>>
>> Good points, Jason, except that ADA compliance is not limited to
>> architecture and is NOT voluntary. The Spy Museum in Washington
>> got sued over ADA compliance issues with their programs and
>> exhibits, and ended up settling with the Justice Department. The
>> lawsuit claimed that, "The Museum’s exhibits and programs were
>> inaccessible to visitors who are blind or who have low vision. For
>> example, the Museum did not have guides or docents trained in
>> providing accessible tours or computers equipped with speech
>> outputs. The Museum did not provide printed materials, such as
>> exhibit brochures or program handouts in alternate formats, such
>> as Braille, large print or audio recording." The settlement
>> agreement also included this: "Under title III, the Museum must
>> ensure that no individual with a disability is discriminated
>> against on the basis of a disability in the full and equal
>> enjoyment of the Museum’s goods, services and facilities."
>>
>>>
>>> Lisa--
>>>
>>> My understanding is that, outside architecture, ADA obligations
>>> are met by museums on a voluntary basis. Unless they're applying
>>> for government grants.
>>>
>>
>> Chuck Howarth, Vice President
>> ____________________________________
>>
>> G Y R O S C O P E I N C
>> 283 Fourth Street, Suite 201
>> Oakland, CA 94607
>>
>> tele: 510.986.0111
>> web: www.gyroscopeinc.com
>> blog: http://museums-now.blogspot.com
>> ____________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *********************************************************************
>> **
>> For information about the Association of Science-Technology
>> Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit
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> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
> www.exhibitfiles.org.
>
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Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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