Accessible Past

Heather Pressman is an educator with a passion for accessibility and inclusion. Her background includes work in education, development, and communications. She currently serves as the Director of Learning & Engagement for the Molly Brown House Museum, one of the leading historic houses in terms of accessible programming.Ms. Pressman has previously presented on museum accessibility at regional and national museum conferences, including AAM. She currently serves as a member of the organizing committee for the Art of Access Alliance in Denver, a consortium working to make Denver’s arts and cultural attractions accessible to all. In this role, she helps plan and organize workshops and symposia for staff and volunteers of Denver area cultural organizations. Prior to moving to Denver, Ms. Pressman was selected as a member of the Accessibility Learning Collaborative, established by the California Networks for Collaboration, a statewide project launched by the California Association of Museums.She holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. There, her studies focused on education, accessibility, and developing online communities. She recently co-authored The Art of Access: A Practical Guide for Museum Accessibility (2021), published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Accessibility and inclusion have long been issues in museums, particularly historical sites, which often face unique challenges. An Accessible Past offers indispensable information for how organizations can meet legal compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide enriching, equitable experiences for people with different abilities and backgrounds. Part 1 addresses what access is and why it is important, and gives a brief history of disability laws, especially he implications of ADA for historical sites. It closes with steps for making historical sites more accessible. Part 2 examines 12novel case studies across a spectrum of museum sites—from an 18th-century house to senior living facilities—to illuminate museum sites' unique challenges. Each case study illustrates how creative programming and physical accessibility solution scan create greater access and inclusion and demonstrates the compatibility of accessibility and historical integrity. Part 3 and appendix A provide practical, concrete suggestions to practitioners of historical and heritage preservation for actively engaging and resolving any barriers that may limit accessibility and inclusion at institutions. The work is a must read for anyone considering how to increase accessibility at their institution. Highly recommended. Undergraduates through faculty and especially practitioners.