Need your help to make astronomy accessible

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Planetarium

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Hello. I am new to this site. I am not deaf or hearing impaired. I am an astronomy educator who wants to make astronomy and space science more accessible to everyone.

I am writing a book about accessible astronomy and I do not want to leave out the deaf community. I need your help.

I would like to know if anyone here has attended an evening session at an observatory (viewing the night sky with a telescope) or attended a planetarium show. I am interested in your suggestions on how to make observatories and planetariums more accessible to people who do not hear.

Most of the people who run public observatories and planetariums are hearing and do not know ASL, but would like to know what else they can do. I would like to share with them, your suggestions so that they can make their programming better for everyone.

Sincerely,
Noreen
 
:welcome: to AllDeaf forum. I had gone to the observatory for planetarium shows few times and I love them very much. I really liked the viewing with the arrows to show where the planets, and stars. It would be great to name the planets and stars even in the deep space next to the arrows. Viewing up in the observatory is really like magic and I felt relaxed enjoying the sights. I don't think the ASL will do any good, not like everything is moving slowly and making us travelling through the space seeing the planets and stars and everything. Just only arrows and names are enough. I am glad you brought that up. :thumb:

I hope you also can enjoy reading and posting all the threads here, getting to know us about our deafness, Deaf Culture and ASL. See you around here. :wave:
 
Wow! I really wish I had something to offer here, as I just love planetariums (live "near" Adler in Chicago), astronomy, etc., but I'm not Deaf. Have you tried locating an Interpreter and bringing your programs to the attention of the local Deaf/ASL community?

I'm in my third semester of ASL, and my experience with the needs of the community is still fairly limited, so I can't say with any degree of accuracy what would be most useful. Hopefully more people will offer their thoughts.
 
PatsCats said:
Wow! I really wish I had something to offer here, as I just love planetariums (live "near" Adler in Chicago), astronomy, etc., but I'm not Deaf. Have you tried locating an Interpreter and bringing your programs to the attention of the local Deaf/ASL community?

I'm in my third semester of ASL, and my experience with the needs of the community is still fairly limited, so I can't say with any degree of accuracy what would be most useful. Hopefully more people will offer their thoughts.
Click to expand...

The only thing is getting distracted with an ASL interpreter with the showing the stars and planets in the Planetarium show, but if we are observing through the telescope (observatory), then we can have an ASL interpreter to explain what we are looking at. That would help but not in the planetarium show. That is my opinion. Beside it is kind of dark in the planetarium to see ASL interpreter, right? :hmm:
 
:welcome: to AllDeaf forum! :)


A month ago, I told my 12 years old nephew that I am planning to take him there since I have two tixs for the two of us to see the planetarium show here in Boston next month. He's so excited.
 
Hi Noreen...the Air and Space Museum have captioning on their videos, but I still wish they wouldnt have those speaker boxes on some of the exhibits.

How about setting up tours with ASL interpretors or captioning for those who do not know sign language?
 
Bebonang said:
The only thing is getting distracted with an ASL interpreter with the showing the stars and planets in the Planetarium show, but if we are observing through the telescope (observatory), then we can have an ASL interpreter to explain what we are looking at. That would help but not in the planetarium show. That is my opinion. Beside it is kind of dark in the planetarium to see ASL interpreter, right? :hmm:
Click to expand...

I'm still learning about the Deaf community, that's why I said I wasn't sure how useful my input would be. :)
 
how about observatory visits?

Thank you so much for your feedback. It's great to see how popular planetarium shows are! I worked in a planetarium for 26 years!

I'm also trying to find out about people who have gone to an observatory (which might not have a planetarium) to view the stars in a telescope.
How did you communicate with the astronomer at the telescope? Did you request that the person show you a particular object with the telescope?
Did you write any questions for the astronomer with paper and pen?

I'm asking because many (hearing) people feel nervous when someone approaches who can't communicate with them in the same way. I want to list any suggestions you have for reducing anxiety between the astronomer and visitor who has come as part of a public open night, to look through a telescope at the night sky.

I want to make astronomy fun and welcoming for everyone! Please keep your feedback coming!!

Sincerely,

Noreen
 
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