Hereward College in Coventry have an adapted darkroom that has proved
successful. if you email [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] you
should be put in touch with the right person. I'm sure that they have a
website at www.hereward.ac.uk that will give other details.
Mick Trott
In a message dated 20/11/02 12:10:29 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:
<< 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 >>
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