MCACA Funding Increases Accessibility for All Learners at Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that through funding and support provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), Steelcase and Custer, Inc., the Museum has been able to update five classrooms providing enhanced educational experiences and making the spaces more accessible for all learners.
“The Museum respects, values and honors the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are,” said Erin Koren, Director of Education at the GRPM. “We strive to prioritize both physical and cognitive accessibility in all programming, while designing experiences that are inclusive to the broadest range of people in the communities we serve. We bring this perspective to our exhibit design, K-12 educational programming, public events and to the ways we welcome visitors on a daily basis.”
Through this classroom update, the Museum collaborated with various organizations that conducted site evaluations and offered guidance on accessibility and Universal Design for learning including Disability Advocates of Kent County, Grand Valley State University Occupational Therapy Department, Hope Network and Calvin University.
Physical accessibility, teaching and learning strategies and creating an atmosphere of curiosity were the concepts that were kept in consideration to ensure that learners of all abilities are welcomed and can be successful in the classroom spaces.
To make the spaces more physically accessible and conducive to learning, the newly installed tables provide appropriate clearance between the floor and the tabletop to accommodate learners with wheelchairs and can be arranged to allow for adequate aisle space. The new furniture allows teachers to flexibly arrange the space to fit their needs, making the classroom more supportive of multiple learning formats such as whole class discussions or small group collaboration. Additionally, the new white boards and projectors will allow teachers to seamlessly apply technology-integrated instruction and best practices while at the Museum.
