Meijer Gardens Partnership Brings Overflowing Crowds to Butterfly Exhibition
A special showing of the Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming tropical butterfly exhibition at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park saw Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services partner with Meijer Gardens to ensure accessibility.
The event was one of three complimentary, after-hours opportunities planned by Meijer Gardens this spring, including one for visitors with autism or other sensory processing needs, one for visitors who are blind or have low vision and one for visitors who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
The partnership between Meijer Gardens and D&HHS was a huge success, those involved in the planning said afterwards.
Erica Chapin, D&HHS Community & Partnerships Manager, was elated with the way the evening unfolded.
“Nearly 200 people came and many shared that they thoroughly enjoyed the event,” she said. “People could spend as much or little time in the different areas knowing that they would have access throughout the event. It was an amazing night.”
Beth Rice-Graham, Manager of Student Engagement and Accessibility for Meijer Gardens, agreed.
“We are thrilled with the success of this event,” she said. “Everyone shared positive comments and seemed to enjoy a more relaxed time to experience the exhibition. Some of my favorite moments were watching children laugh and enjoy their visit with family and friends. Several groups of adults enjoyed connecting and chatting with each other as well which was great to see.”
Among the various accessibility features planned by D&HHS and Meijer Gardens staff were ASL interpreters, written guides and visual aids to enhance the visit. Also appreciated by attendees were two digital display boards that played brief captioned videos in ASL, including a captioned welcome message in ASL on one and on the other, three options for guests to explore with directions in ASL. Deaf and Hard of Hearing attendees were encouraged to enjoy nature and art at their own pace and to take advantage of things like the hearing loop in the Hoffman Theater (where butterfly-related short films that are also closed captioned were being shown), the quiet spaces available for breaks if needed and more.
Chapin noted that Rice-Graham and Meijer Gardens are long-time collaborators with D&HHS so when Rice-Graham reached out to the agency with plans for an inclusive night at the butterfly exhibition, it was a quick and easy decision to say yes and plan an event together.
“We are happy to have an advocate for access on the Meijer Gardens team who is thinking about how our communities can better experience their offerings,” Chapin said.
Planning included a walk-through of the space with staff from D&HHS and Meijer Gardens to discuss things such as how many interpreters would be needed, different areas where people could interact and learn and the information that would be important to provide during registration and ahead of the event so that guests had clear expectations going into the event.
Both Chapin and Rice-Graham said that walk-through was invaluable. And, Rice-Graham added, approaching D&HHS in the first place to plan a special night for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was an easy call.
“Meijer Gardens has long leaned on D&HHS for interpreter services for our events and guests,” she said. “When the decision was made last year to offer an Inclusive Night for guests who are Deaf or Hard or Hearing, we knew D&HHS would be a key partner closely connected to the Deaf Community in Grand Rapids.”
Rice-Graham noted that one of Meijer Gardens’ core values is “Welcoming: Fostering joy and an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.”
“We could not achieve that value without community partners, input from community members and being open to feedback,” she said.
Chapin echoed those remarks.
“Partnerships like these are important because they connect our communities to new services and experiences through access and inclusion,” she said. “Having these experiences opens up new opportunities and increases awareness for everyone.”