Moving Beyond Physical Accessibility
November 15, 2013
Hosted by Carol Bossert
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Museums should be places of learning for all people and many museums have designed, redesigned or rebuilt their facilities to be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Museums develop exhibits with certain disabilities in mind and also offer programs for blind, deaf and physically challenged individuals. But how far have museums come in terms of understanding the needs of emotionally or intellectually challenged populations? And what happens when the needs of one population are in conflict with another? How does a museum find balance? And is balance even the right goal? Paul Gabriel has been a pioneer in examining how museum exhibits support the needs of people with common learning disabilities and bringing this issue to the attention of the field.
The Museum Life
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Museums attract millions of visitors and employ thousands. The Museum Life, hosted by Carol Bossert, charts the growth and development of this cultural business. Museum Life showcases leaders in the field who provide perspective on current issue as well as creative thinkers who are impacting the future of museums.
Carol Bossert
Carol Bossert loves museums. She has spent her career working in and for these important cultural organizations that include traditional collection-based museums, science centers, national parks and visitor centers.
In addition to hosting Museum Life, Carol Bossert maintains an active consulting practice to help cultural institutions, government agencies and corporations engage with their communities through exhibitions and place-based experiences. Her clients include Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, Great Lakes Science Center, International Spy Museum, North Carolina Museum of Natural History, and international clients in China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Learn more at http://carolbossertservices.com/.
Carol Bossert holds a doctoral degree in biology from the University of Texas-Dallas and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Zoology from DePauw University. She is a graduate of the J. Paul Getty Museum Management Institute and has served professional organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums and National Science Foundation. She is also a member of The Museum Group, an organization of senior professionals in museum practice and Praxis Museum Exhibit Group.
She blogs about museum and civic issues http://carolbossertservices.com/blog/.
