Children’s center looks to step up its wow factor

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology is embracing universal-design principles in its new facility at 11 W. Federal St. with a significant investment by The Hine Memorial Fund of The Youngstown Foundation.

Universal design is a framework for the design of places, things, information and communication to be used by the widest range of people without special or separate design, according to the website for the Institute for Human Centered Design.

An example would be curb cuts in sidewalks, which are essential for those in wheelchairs but are used by everyone.

The Hine Memorial Fund has awarded OH WOW! two grants totaling $200,000 to promote universal-design concepts throughout the center during the million-dollar renovation of its new space and the design, construction and installation of the center’s new $500,000 permanent-exhibit collection.

The universal-design principles being embraced at the center will establish it as a model for others to consider, said Suzanne Barbati, executive director.

“The financial support of Hine and The Youngstown Foundation gives us the opportunity to provide access to the greatest number of people possible, supporting a wide range of individual preferences and abilities,” Barbati said. “As a result, visitors will be comfortable in our facility, have a better quality of life because of their visits and provide the center with a consistent revenue stream, a critical consideration for our future operations as a nonprofit organization.”

Barbati indicated that the start of construction has yet to be scheduled, though the exhibit collection has been selected and ordered.

Tours are available by contacting Barbati at 330-744-5914 or director@ohwowkids.org. All contributions are tax-deductible.

The mission of OH WOW! is to foster independent thinking and enrich the lives of all children by creating a welcoming environment where they can develop learning skills and knowledge through the exploration of hands-on interactive exhibits and educational programs which are rooted in science, technology, engineering and math, Barbati added.

A universal-design symposium scheduled for Sept. 23 at The Youngstown Club is being sponsored by The Youngstown Foundation. A registration form is available at www.youngstownfoundation.org