FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jenni Tetzlaff, Director of Integrated Marketing
414-278-2784, Tetzlaff@mpm.edu
MPM Unveils New Accessibility Accommodation,
a Sensory Room for Visitors
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (Oct. 11, 2019)—The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) opened its new sensory room this week. Sponsored by The Ziemann Foundation, the room offers visitors a calm place to retreat from MPM’s sensory-rich exhibits which can be overwhelming for some visitors.
The nature-themed therapeutic room has been designed for visitors with various abilities and needs. It features different lighting, textures and stimulants including bubble tubes, adjustable lights, nature soundscapes, books, fidget toys and more. The painting for the sensory room was done and provided by PPG Industries.
“We are thrilled to be opening up the sensory room,” said Dawn Koceja, Accessibility Coordinator for the Milwaukee Public Museum. “MPM is committed to making our exhibits as accessible as possible for all members of our community. The sensory room will allow visitors who may be put off by the loud noises in the Rainforest exhibit or the darkness in Third Planet the opportunity to enjoy MPM on their terms.”
The sensory room is a new addition to MPM’s accessibility program, which features accommodations like explorer kits featuring 3D objects and braille books, noise-reducing headphones for both adults and children and the MPM All In visit-planning mobile app. For more information on the Museum’s accessibility initiatives, go to www.mpm.edu/access. Photos of the sensory room can be downloaded at bit.ly/mpmsensory.
About the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Milwaukee Public Museum is Wisconsin’s Natural History Museum, welcoming more than half a million visitors annually. Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Museum was chartered in 1882, opened to the public in 1884, and currently houses more than 4 million objects in its collections. MPM has three floors of exhibits that encompass life-size dioramas, walk-through villages, world cultures, dinosaurs, a rainforest, and a live butterfly garden, as well as the Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater & Planetarium.
MPM is operated by Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc., a private, non-profit company, and its facilities and collections are held in trust and supported by Milwaukee County for the benefit of the public.
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