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Free access for all - visitors with handicaps can experience the German Emigration Center
Published on 02 July 2020
Germany
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
A museum whose aim is to teach equality, respect and tolerance in an immigration society cannot treat its visitors unequally - or their physical or mental limitations. The demographic change in our society is progressing.12 - 14% of our visitors are older than 65 years. This number will rise, which means that the number of people with physical disabilities will increase.
Disabled parking spaces are located directly in front of the museum.All areas of the museum are accessible for wheelchair users via lifts and wide corridors. The media stations and exhibits can be reached and viewed while seated, there are numerous seating facilities and disabled toilets. Audio and musical effects and touch stations enhance the atmosphere of the museum so that visually impaired visitors can also enjoy the museum. For hearing-impaired visitors we offer the information at the listening stations as slightly modified written texts, as deaf/hearing people are less able to understand complicated sentences.
Short films shown in the cinema are subtitled and the vividly designed exhibition can be experienced by all visitors regardless of age, mental or physical constitution. All our offers, which also include guided tours for visitors with hearing and visual impairments, have been developed in a special brochure for disabled people. The exhibition benefits large groups of visitors, the elderly and disabled, as well as children who can easily reach the media stations and who are not yet able to read.
Disabled parking spaces are located directly in front of the museum.All areas of the museum are accessible for wheelchair users via lifts and wide corridors. The media stations and exhibits can be reached and viewed while seated, there are numerous seating facilities and disabled toilets. Audio and musical effects and touch stations enhance the atmosphere of the museum so that visually impaired visitors can also enjoy the museum. For hearing-impaired visitors we offer the information at the listening stations as slightly modified written texts, as deaf/hearing people are less able to understand complicated sentences.
Short films shown in the cinema are subtitled and the vividly designed exhibition can be experienced by all visitors regardless of age, mental or physical constitution. All our offers, which also include guided tours for visitors with hearing and visual impairments, have been developed in a special brochure for disabled people. The exhibition benefits large groups of visitors, the elderly and disabled, as well as children who can easily reach the media stations and who are not yet able to read.
Resources needed
The day-to-day business of the practice can be covered by our permanent staff. We have one fill-time member of staff, who specialized in guided tours for visitors with visual impairment. For guided tours in sign language we have to hire a special trained guide. The cost is covered by the tour fee.
Evidence of success
The implementation “free accessibility for all” has become part of our corporate identity and we are certified by the national initiative “Travelling for All”. In terms of number, the new programmes had a positive effect: We had an increase of 4% among the most disabled people (degree of 80). Most importantly: The diversity of our visitors has changed. We reach a greater variety of people now – and thus our initial motivation to be audited for “Reisen für Alle” has been proofed to be correct.
Potential for learning or transfer
The equality of people is a sensitive and topical issue all over the world. In order to welcome visitors with physical disabilities and to give them equal access to an institution, our migration museum should be a matter of course today. We therefore take our responsibility seriously and will continue our efforts.
Giving access to visitors with physical disabilities is not only worthwhile and part of our corporate identity, but it has also opened the museum to a new group of visitors. Demographic change is a fact: the number of young people is decreasing, while the number of older people is increasing. The institutions must therefore act accordingly. We have well-established programmes for pupils of all ages and will include student programmes in our work, but we also have the facilities and the means to attract the so-called "best agers" with physical disabilities.
Giving access to visitors with physical disabilities is not only worthwhile and part of our corporate identity, but it has also opened the museum to a new group of visitors. Demographic change is a fact: the number of young people is decreasing, while the number of older people is increasing. The institutions must therefore act accordingly. We have well-established programmes for pupils of all ages and will include student programmes in our work, but we also have the facilities and the means to attract the so-called "best agers" with physical disabilities.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
German Emigration Center Bremerhaven
Germany
Bremen
Contact
Project Manager