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Beverley - I am disability officer for Coventry University library (not an expert - more someone to shout at!) - but I use a 9 foot high De Vere enlarger in my garage at home. That is floor mounted and you can lower the actual work surface almost to the ground - and unless you are doing very big enlargements you can lower the head pro rata - which would make it more accessible (although it is quite a long reach to the controls so I'm not sure if such a bit of kit would be of use to you.)As far as I know De Vere went bust some years ago, although their products are still advertised 2nd hand. We have in the library several adjustable height tables - if you are using a smaller enlarger there may be some mileage in suggesting such a table could be used to carry the enlarger, trays, etc. At its lowest the table surface is roughly 600 mm above the ground. It is fairly rigid - but it could be a bit marginal for your purposes. I don't have the supplier details to hand - but if no one else can provide them I'm sure I can dig them out. Something I don't know about but I think I'm right in saying you can get sticky tape which glows in the dark but not enough compromise darkness for photographic work - you could consider it (if I'm right) to help people see your chair. If you haven't come across them, there is the Disabled Photographers Society at PO Box 130, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey TW10 6XQ., tel 01256 351990, website http://dps-uk.org.uk - sounds as if they would be worth contacting. There is also an outfit called REMAP - a loose association of engineers, parents, handymen (and I suspect it is mostly men) They undertake to design and make equipment for disabled people where commercial solutions aren't available. As I like playing with lathes and milling machines (and am not really interested in steam engines) - I'm involved with them myself, although no designer. Find their web site at http://www.remap.org.uk - they may be able to help with modifications to enlarger controls, etc - if your college would wear it. I can possibly come up with some other contacts or suggestions if you want - get back to me if you like. regards Arthur Owens Lanchester Library Coventry University Beverley Gull wrote: > Has anybody had any experience in making a darkroom and enlarger work > stations wheelchair accessible? > > I am studying photography at evening classes, this is my second year. > Last year we were introduced to black and white photography and the > darkroom, this year more than half of our course is studying black and > white and in order to pass we must print our own black and white prints. > > Last year I highlighted several problems to my course tutor in the > darkroom but two in particular: the room is small, other students fell > over my wheelchair, and to gain access to the enlarger I had to transfer > form my wheelchair to a high breakfast stall. Transferring from > wheelchair to stall is not only dangerous but in my case caused lots of > swelling and pain in my elbows. The course tutor promised to have an > enlarger work station lowered for this year, but this never happened. > > I have suggested to the disability adviser that reasonable adjustments > might be: to lower a workstation and to have access to the darkroom when > other students were not around with the support of a technician. I > would need the support of a technician or course tutor for advice on my > work, and offer solutions when it all goes wrong and for safety! > > The Disability Advisers response was - can't make a workstation lower > and if they could it may interfere with other students, I could use the > darkroom when nobody else was about (did I have a friend) and more > annoying she went on to say why did I join the course if the enlargers > were not accessible and how was she suppose to know that I was in a > wheelchair and needed help. Of course I mentioned my disability on each > enrolment form, exam form, my course tutor was very aware of my > disability and the Head of Art was also aware, in addition I have left > her loads of messages, and have emailed her numerous times to seek > advice on the above problems. > > I would like to offer the college possible solutions - any ideas! > > > Beverley Gull > >