Hethal Solanki, Manager, Museum of Possibilities, gives a broad perspective of the Museum as a demonstration centre for assistive technologies and devices for people with disabilities that also encourages research and innovation from the local community and startups.
Could you tell us a little about the Museum of Possibilities? What does the concept entail?
The Museum of Possibilities (MoP) is a Government of Tamil Nadu initiative at the Office of The State Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently Abled and Vidya Sagar is the Managing Partner. MoP is a demonstration center for assistive technology and devices for people with disabilities. It is an evolving place for showcasing all that is new in the field. It will be a hub for users, innovators, and creators.
This facility enables awareness building on Accessible Technology, Assistive Devices, and products that cater to all users. MoP also looks forward to getting problem statements from visitors which will be shared with the researchers and innovators so that a range of products continues to be developed. Visitors can try out the accessible solutions and decide which best suits their needs. Trained professionals will be there for support.
The Museum has adopted a domain specific model focussing on – Live-Work-Play. Could you elaborate?
The MoP adopts a domain-specific model and not a Disability-specific model. It includes three main domains: Live, Work, and Play. The Museum has a range of Disability Specific devices based on the needs. These life domain models would diversify as we evolve.
- Live- The Live domain includes a model-accessible home with Universal Design elements and Assistive Devices available across the country for each part of the house - Living room, Kitchen, Dining, Bedroom, and Bathroom and a complete setup with user-friendly products in each area of the house.
- Work- The Work domain includes advances in technology in terms of Accessibility and Assistive devices with all Accessible solutions for communication, education, vocational, and customized workplace solutions. There is a special focus on AAC- Augmentative and Alternative Communication which includes low-tech to high-tech options.
- Play- The Play domain includes Accessible Gardening, sports, art, indoor accessible games, music, and other leisure activities.
What are the five common displays at the museum for healthcare?
The Museum of Possibilities has healthcare assistive devices. Some of the common displays are
- Talking BP machine: An automatic talking blood pressure monitor for the upper arm with a large, easy-to-see display. Volume is adjustable with the ability to also turn off the speech function.
- Talking weighing machine: Body weight measuring scale with both digital and auditory output.
- Tactile pill box: A set of 7 small boxes joined together, which helps to organize medicines on a weekly basis. These boxes have tactile markings on them for easy identification for people with VI
- Dhanvantri Sahayata wheelchair: A wheelchair for defecation with automatic cleansing with One press, easy collection & disposal with adjustable bidet positions for perfect cleansing.
- Hearing aid: A hearing aid for people with hearing impairment, provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- Transfer hoist: Patient transfer devices and patient hoists help in moving or transferring the person from bed, wheelchair, toilet, etc.
What assistive technology is there for children with disabilities that can help them with their mobility and independence?
The Museum has many products for mobility. We have many types of wheelchairs like manual, electronic, standing wheelchair, reclining wheelchairs, transfer wheelchair, etc.; these can be used depending on the need and the function of the child. Other products displayed are floor mobility devices, smart canes, smart vision glasses, etc.
The Museum of Possibilities has a physiotherapist who can help with the assessment and finding the right product for the person considering the need and the functionality.
Do you have devices on display to improve the home a person with dementia?
The Museum does have products that can be used by people with dementia. These products are for organization and easy communication.
- Alexa: To set reminders and notes. It can be customized to the need of the person.
- Pillbox: The weekly pill box has 7 portable trays (stacked one over the other), one tray for every day of the week and each tray consists of four compartments. A reminder to take medicine at the right time.
- Measuring spoon: To measure ingredients in the kitchen
- Avaz: A communication device on the Tab to help communicate, with the pictorial presentation of the word and auditory output.
- Communication chart: Charts with a pictorial presentation that can be used to remember names, and also communicate through it.
What are some of the best assisted technology devices for people with autism?
The Museum of Possibilities has a dedicated corner for Augmentative and Alternative Communication which focuses on various communication options ranging from low-tech to high-tech, these devices are for people with speech impairment and difficulty in communication- some examples are communication charts, Go-talk, Kathamala, Avaz. Another device that can help in interaction is Alexa.
As mentioned earlier, in the Museum’s Live-Work-Play domain, for work domain there are options showcased for vocational like the portable weaving loom, knitting machine, and making mini furniture with the Appropiate Paper Technology (APT). And many leisure- games, art, and music products have been displayed.
Do you have modified or adaptive eating utensils and cutlery? Could you give some details?
Yes, the Museum of Possibilities has adapted cutlery and utensil in the kitchen. The idea is to display what is available in the market and showcase ideas and simple DIYs to make generic products adapted. In the Museum you shall see various adapted utensils with grip handles, adapted spoons for different hand functions, adapted cutting boards and knives, adapted plates, mugs with good grip, self-stirring mugs, etc
At the Museum Cafe, we also have adapted cutleries available for any visitors when required.
What are the disability friendly bathroom features?
The bathroom area showcases accessible solutions which include fixed and portable options. The entire Live area of the Museum followed the guidelines of the Harmonized guidelines to ensure accessibility, eg. the height of the washbasin, the height, and length of the mirror, the width of the door, the placement of the door handle, etc.
The bathroom has products like adapted towel, adapted scrubbers, foot scrubber, grab bars, portable grab bars, portable toilet frame, shower chair, low-cost toilet chair, panic alarm button, toothpaste dispenser, adapted handle for toothbrush, portable bidet, etc. The aim is to ensure easy access to activities for daily living and provide solutions according to the need.
What kinds of visitors have been frequenting the museum?
The Museum of Possibilities is 9 months old now, and we have had a range of visitors. Includes people with disabilities, various disability group associations, NGO workers, college students, students from special schools, rehab professionals, special educators, architects/ designers, Government officials, the general public, media influencers, and tourists too.
The response from the visitors has been positive and welcoming. The Museum has created awareness, and we hope the impact will be seen in the coming years, to make the community inclusive.
Could you give two or three individual instances of people with disability and what they found useful at the museum?
We have a person with spinal cord injury, who often visits the Museum of Possibilities, and he picks up new products after trying them here with us. One of the products was the mug with a double handle, he realized how easy it was for his hand movement.
As mentioned earlier, we have a Physiotherapist, conducted multiple assessments for the stakeholders, and have also helped a couple of stakeholders in buying the right wheelchair.
The Museum of Possibilities also has a Speech therapist, so far under her guidance many have explored various computer access features like adapted keyboards and mouse, and helped families to procure them online.
Does the museum also provide professional private consultation to make accessible homes? What are most common needs and requirements? Could you give us examples?
TARA (Team for Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation) is the core team behind curating the Museum. The TARA team works towards making the home and personal spaces accessible for people with disabilities and provides access solutions.
The most common need for accessibility by visitors is how to make the kitchen and existing bathroom accessible, in terms of the products that can be procured. The Museum of Possibilities has the vendor details for each product, this database is shared with the visitors when required.
One success story of a professional consultant for bathroom accessibility: One family from Thirverkadu (western suburb of Chennai) approached TARA for bathroom modification, the consultation was done at the Museum where the different features of the bathroom were tried by the stakeholder. The bathroom modification was completed this Feb 2023.
What devices or appliances does the Museum provide for recreational and leisure activities?
Play is one of the 3 domains the Museum focuses on. This domain consists of various products for games, art activity, music, gardening.
In the Museum, you will find many adapted board games, like chess, ludo, etc, adapted art corner, which has adapted crayons, adapted brushes, block printing material, etc, adapted musical instruments for easy grip, and adapted gardening tools along with sensory garden.
What are some of the basic practices of accessibility?
The Museum encourages Universal Design, both in terms of products and physical space, such that it is accessible and usable by anyone and everyone.
The Museum followed the harmonized guidelines to make the space accessible this includes ramps with right gradient, tactiles for navigation, tactile map, visible signages, width of the doors, height of the switch box, height of the wash basin, counter, etc.
What challenges did you face in setting up the museum?
There were many challenges faced by the team while setting it up. It was a tiring process. Firstly, it took longer than expected to set up the Museum from designing and confirming the design, building the physical structure, procuring the products, curating the space, networking with various start-ups and organizations; and inaugurating it.
The ideation of the Museum involved many people and entities, coming to one decision was a challenge most of the times. Many ideas was either dropped or changed from the ideation phase.
The end result is something everyone is proud of. I believe the wait was worth it.
The Museum of Possibilities also encourages local innovations and hosts events on disability, assistive technology and accessibility. What has been the response of people?
The response from local startups has been positive, we have many products at the Museum which are from local startups who had been supportive enough to give a demo product to the Museum and conduct orientation program of their products to the MoP team.
We had Aaryan, a 9-year-old boy, demonstrating his product “Obstacle Detector” which he invented for his grandmother, as she lost her vision in an accident. Museum of Possibilities also looks at the space as a community hub and encourage research and innovation in the field of assistive technology.
The Museum of Possibilities is open to host events, workshops/ seminars on disability, accessibility, inclusion, and assistive technology. The Museum have hosted multiple workshops and events for general public, people with disabilities, students, etc, and it is always encouraging that the response is positive and people look forward to have an event hosted at the MoP.
I do hope and believe this shall scale up in future, and in true essence we shall have such community hubs everywhere.
(Museum of Possibilites, 5 Kamarajar Road, State Commissionerate for Differently Abled, Lady Willingdon Campus, Marina Beach Road, behind Avvaiyar Statue, Triplicane, Chennai. Phone: 044 2844 7297)
