Avis Foundation and Conner Prairie: Partners for Accessibility
“I truly believe Conner Prairie desires to make its experiences available to all guests, and this new Museum Experience Center is just one of the many ways Conner Prairie is inclusive in its facilities and programming.” – Marty Songer, Avis Foundation
Conner Prairie makes a concerted effort to ensure that our museum is accessible to all people of all abilities. In 2018, we adopted our Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) promise: to be a place where the doors are always open to a diversity of voices and limitless experiences.
With support from donors like the Avis Foundation, accessibility will continue to be a top priority in our new Museum Experience Center. The Avis Foundation was established in 2006 by Leland and LaRita Boren, who “embodied a spirit of generosity from the early days of their marriage.” In stewarding this legacy of philanthropy, today, the Avis Foundation empowers organizations by supporting projects in the areas of the arts, education, entrepreneurship, and autism.
Familiar with Conner Prairie, the Avis Foundation was intrigued to learn more about the museum’s accessibility planning and ideas for accessibility in our new Museum Experience Center. In 2023, when Conner Prairie approached the Avis Foundation about supporting a designated Sensory Room in our new Museum Experience Center, they were eager to support the project.
“We were inspired by Conner Prairie’s vision for the future and for their efforts to make Conner Prairie more accessible to its many visitors,” shared Marty Songer, Executive Director.
Thanks to the Avis Foundation, Conner Prairie’s new building will include a designated sensory room designed to accommodate our guests with autism and sensory needs. A museum like ours serving young children has many sights and sounds, which can be exciting for some but a challenging environment for those with sensory needs. Sensory-friendly spaces are beneficial for guests of all ages and needs.
Currently, Conner Prairie offers small “Quiet Spaces” for our guests with sensory needs, but in the new Museum Experience Center, a large, entire room will serve more guests in need of a sensory-friendly space. The space will offer various elements of light, tactile inputs, and audio accommodations to create a safe and calming space for visitors.
The Avis Foundation’s grant will also support signage outside each new exhibit area, to help families understand what they may experience before entering each exhibit and assess the needs of the guests before entering. Signage will identify sensory elements that guests can expect to encounter in each exhibit, such as loud noises, tactile opportunities, low lights, or flashing lights.
“What excites me about the Sensory Room and signage in Conner Prairie’s new Museum Experience Center is that it illustrates Conner Prairie’s commitment to removing barriers that might exclude guests with neuro and physical challenges,” shares Marty, “I truly believe Conner Prairie desires to make its experiences available to all guests, and this new Museum Experience Center is just one of the many ways Conner Prairie is inclusive in its facilities and programming.”
Learn more about Conner Prairie’s efforts in accessibility and our sensory friendly programming here.
You, too, can support these efforts with a donation to the Mission Impact Fund, which supports our daily activities, exhibits, and experiences. A gift to the Mission Impact Fund is a direct, impactful way to ensure Conner Prairie programming remains accessible to all—for generations to come.