Amplifying Accessibility: One Museum’s Success Story with Tour Audio Systems
With over 120 cars on exhibit, from classics to racing cars, and nine automotive themed galleries, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana is “Where the World’s Finest Cars of Yesterday Live Today!”
Elyse Faulkner, the Director of Education and Advancement at the Automobile Museum, was looking for ways to increase accessibility for guided tours and special events hosted at the museum, especially for the museum’s senior guests.
In a prior position, Elyse used an audio communications system in her role as a public programs manager overseeing a main demonstration area. This is how she met Ted Tripp and was introduced to the two-way communications system. She believed a tour audio system could also provide an improved, more inclusive experience for guests, volunteers, and staff at the Automobile Museum.
Museum Sound Environment and Accessibility Needs
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum inhabits the original auto builder’s art deco style factory showroom building. The remarkable 12,000-square-foot showroom boasts ceiling friezes, ornate chandeliers, a terrazzo floor, a grand central staircase, and tall plate glass windows.
“Our showroom is very large, with a lot of empty space, huge ceilings, and big windows,” describes Elyse. This type of environment allows for sound reverberation, making it very noisy – especially with large groups.
In addition to overcoming the sound environment, a communication system was needed to make the museum’s tours more accessible for senior and hearing-assisted guests.
Elyse explains, “A large portion of our audience is older, and for many of our visitors with hearing impairment, we didn’t have any options for them.”
Many of the volunteers who work at the museum are seniors, as well, and some of them use hearing aids. It was important for the two-way communication devices to provide clear hearing in the loud showroom and be compatible with hearing aid use.
Unlocking Engagement with the Tour Audio System
The tour audio system from Tripp Communications has been beneficial in fulfilling the museum’s vision to “inspire innovation and engage diverse audiences to create personal connections that spark passion and appreciation for how art, design, mechanics, technology, and engineering affect the world and our daily lives.”
Both museum staff and guests are more engaged and connected using the communication system.
“We’ve been able to use the system for small tours. We can easily have one of our docents talk with a group, and it is really advantageous when you’re in a busy, noisy area. Groups can then hear a lot better and be a little farther away from each other.”
-Elyse Faulkner, Director of Education and Advancement
The system has also been helpful for those who use hearing aids – both guests and volunteers. Elyse says that it’s been nice to provide an option for these individuals to enhance their experience.
The system has proved easy to use for museum staff and guests, even for those who use hearing aids. Overall, it has improved the hearing and communication for docents, volunteers, and guests without a disruptive overhaul to the museum’s normal routines.
Enhanced Comfort and Inclusion for Museum Guests and Staff
A significant benefit of the museum’s tour audio system has been increased comfort for staff and visitors. Before implementing the system, a lot of people would crank up their hearing aids and it just wasn’t as comfortable for them.
Additionally, offering an enhanced hearing solution has added a sense of community at the museum. It makes guests feel more welcome. Even if they opt not to use it, they appreciate knowing that the option is available for them.
While the communication system’s intended use was to increase accessibility during museum tours, it has proved useful for other events, as well. In one instance, the museum hosted a wedding where a family member had a hearing aid and was able to use the listening device.
Working with Ted Tripp was a great experience for The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. Ted was friendly and able to talk the museum staff through choosing the right system for their tour environment and user needs. He also provided the great customer service he has become known for, frequently checking in to see how the system is working.
Elyse shares: “I remember we had a wedding coming up and I realized I don’t know how to do this. Ted was happy to jump on a call and troubleshoot it with me, which was really above and beyond. If you’re a museum interested in getting an audio system, this is the place to do it that can provide the support framework that you might want.”
Implementing the tour audio system has opened up opportunities and experiences at the museum for visitors and volunteers who otherwise may not have been able to participate due to hearing difficulties.