Danielle Schulz

This article first appeared in the journal Exhibition (Fall 2025) Vol. 44 No. 2 and is reproduced with permission. Alma Thomas (1891–1978) was an American artist, educator, and community organizer who developed her distinct form of abstract painting, and was her most prolific, in her later years.

It has been a year since we launched Designing for Accessibility, a community-centered project that aims to transform the museum into a more welcoming and accessible place for all visitors. Over the course of the project, the museum will serve as a living laboratory for innovation—fostering meaningful connections between the disability community, museum staff, designers, and the public.

July 17, 2023 Catharine McCord is a Lifelong Learning and Accessibility Fellow at the DAM. Danielle Schulz is Associate Director, Lifelong Learning and Accessibility. As visitors explore the garden, they will find solace, relaxation, and a deeper connection to nature through engaging their senses of touch, smell, sound, and sight. The Sensory Garden features three beds inspired by water, wood, and sky.