News & Events

Report: Accessibility at the FDR Memorial

  • May - 21 - 2021

Accessibility is NOT Optional  

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee released a report on the lack of accessibility at the FDR Memorial. The report, completed by Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch, founder of MuseumSenses, outlines the deficiencies ranging from the inaccurate Braille that has been a topic of conversation since 1997 (as seen in this Washington Post article) to the safety concerns with removable stanchions around the once beautiful fountains.

The FDR Committee is dedicated to the full inclusion at the Memorial and press for long-overdue accessibility improvements. And we strive to ensure that the Memorial itself is preserved for future generations.

As stated perfectly by Gordon Gund, Cofounder and Chairman Emeritus, Foundation Fighting Blindness, “Cultural sites like the FDR Memorial do not reach their intended goals unless they are accessible to everyone. Accessibility is required by law. And those laws are in place thanks to long-fought battles by the disability community.”

Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch approaching FDR Memorial fountain where stanchions are knocked down. She is approximately 3 feet from falling into water.

To access the full report, please click HERE.

For a large print version of the report in Word format, please click HERE. The Word document is password protected. Please use the password FDR_Report.