Open Forum

Colleagues,

I would like to learn more about policies and practices around the use of motorized wheelchairs in museums, particularly art museums.  I would be grateful for your thoughts on any/all of the following:

1) If any museums prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, I would be interested to know more about the concerns behind the policy.

2) Do any museums provide motorized wheelchairs for visitors to use?

3) Do you know of any guidelines you can share on motorized wheelchairs in art museums?

 At the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville Florida, motorized and manual (self-propoelled) wheelchairs are used by visitors, volunteers and staff members. We offer two manual wheelchairs for visitor use. We do not currently offer a motorized wheelchair.  Immediate concerns about offering a motorized wheelchair have to do with the safety of art when visitors pilot an unfamiliar, powered vehicle in the galleries (we have heard numerous anecdotes about incidents in grocery stores).   I look forward to learning more from each of you. 

Please see the ADA requirements for mobility devices at the following link:

https://www.ada.gov/opdmd.htm

Colleagues,

I would like to learn more about policies and practices around the use of motorized wheelchairs in museums, particularly art museums.  I would be grateful for your thoughts on any/all of the following:

1) If any museums prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, I would be interested to know more about the concerns behind the policy.

2) Do any museums provide motorized wheelchairs for visitors to use?

3) Do you know of any guidelines you can share on motorized wheelchairs in art museums?

 At the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville Florida, motorized and manual (self-propoelled) wheelchairs are used by visitors, volunteers and staff members. We offer two manual wheelchairs for visitor use. We do not currently offer a motorized wheelchair.  Immediate concerns about offering a motorized wheelchair have to do with the safety of art when visitors pilot an unfamiliar, powered vehicle in the galleries (we have heard numerous anecdotes about incidents in grocery stores).   I look forward to learning more from each of you. 

Colleagues,

I would like to learn more about policies and practices around the use of motorized wheelchairs in museums, particularly art museums.  I would be grateful for your thoughts on any/all of the following:

1) If any museums prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, I would be interested to know more about the concerns behind the policy.

2) Do any museums provide motorized wheelchairs for visitors to use?

3) Do you know of any guidelines you can share on motorized wheelchairs in art museums?

 At the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville Florida, motorized and manual (self-propoelled) wheelchairs are used by visitors, volunteers and staff members. We offer two manual wheelchairs for visitor use. We do not currently offer a motorized wheelchair.  Immediate concerns about offering a motorized wheelchair have to do with the safety of art when visitors pilot an unfamiliar, powered vehicle in the galleries (we have heard numerous anecdotes about incidents in grocery stores).   I look forward to learning more from each of you. 

As required by ADA, our museum allows entry to all mobility assistance devices.  We do not provide motorized wheelchairs for visitor use.  We do have three push type wheel chairs available, but they are for persons who become fatigued, injured and its safe to move them via wheelchair, elderly, users of crutches etc.  But our wheelchairs are not used to replace a personal one.  You will also have to be concerned with Segway type devices.  Under ADA, they are in the same class of mobility assistance devices as wheelchairs.  But you can limit any mobility assistance device user to travelling no faster than walking speed.  

Colleagues,

I would like to learn more about policies and practices around the use of motorized wheelchairs in museums, particularly art museums.  I would be grateful for your thoughts on any/all of the following:

1) If any museums prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, I would be interested to know more about the concerns behind the policy.

2) Do any museums provide motorized wheelchairs for visitors to use?

3) Do you know of any guidelines you can share on motorized wheelchairs in art museums?

 At the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville Florida, motorized and manual (self-propoelled) wheelchairs are used by visitors, volunteers and staff members. We offer two manual wheelchairs for visitor use. We do not currently offer a motorized wheelchair.  Immediate concerns about offering a motorized wheelchair have to do with the safety of art when visitors pilot an unfamiliar, powered vehicle in the galleries (we have heard numerous anecdotes about incidents in grocery stores).   I look forward to learning more from each of you. 

Colleagues,

I would like to learn more about policies and practices around the use of motorized wheelchairs in museums, particularly art museums.  I would be grateful for your thoughts on any/all of the following:

1) If any museums prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, I would be interested to know more about the concerns behind the policy.

2) Do any museums provide motorized wheelchairs for visitors to use?

3) Do you know of any guidelines you can share on motorized wheelchairs in art museums?

 At the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville Florida, motorized and manual (self-propoelled) wheelchairs are used by visitors, volunteers and staff members. We offer two manual wheelchairs for visitor use. We do not currently offer a motorized wheelchair.  Immediate concerns about offering a motorized wheelchair have to do with the safety of art when visitors pilot an unfamiliar, powered vehicle in the galleries (we have heard numerous anecdotes about incidents in grocery stores).   I look forward to learning more from each of you.