Noguchi Museum: Deep Accessibility

In Queens the other week and my oldest arranged a tour of the Noguchi Museum for us and my nephews. A wonderful guide, deeply knowledgeable, gave us all plastic gloves and we explored four pieces over an hour+. Remarkable, intimate, and personal, it was a master class in accessibility and inclusive design. What made it work?

Preparation: They knew their topic, inside and out -history, context, site - and were not hesitant to identify and share their own perspective.

Including everyone: Though it was my disability, the whole quartet was invited in. We all did it together.

Providing tools: The gloves, instructions, points to look at. More than enough.

Digging deep: Time to explore, question, and really appreciate each piece. Four sculptures felt so full, complete. We all felt like we didn't need more.

Checking understanding: 'Anything else?' 'Did I miss anything?' 'What do you notice?' Many opportunities to check in, ask questions, find another entry point, and offer our own thoughts.