University of Toronto Master of Museum Studies students Avory Capes, Miaochun Chen and Maggie Nevison partnered with the Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) to review the accessibility barriers present at Fool’s Paradise, the original home of Canadian landscape artist, writer, and educator Doris McCarthy (1910-2010), which was donated to the OHT in 1998. Their project was to develop a comprehensive report outlining these barriers and propose actionable recommendations for the OHT to implement in the future.
Fool’s Paradise, the charming house named by Doris McCarthy, was designed to accommodate the artist’s unique needs. However, its architecture inadvertently poses significant accessibility barriers to individuals with disabilities wishing to visit the site and participate in the Doris McCarthy Artist in Residency (DMAiR) program. The report not only sheds light on these barriers but also offers suggestions to make Fool’s Paradise and the DMAiR program accessible to a wider audience.
To write this report, the students conducted numerous visits to Fool’s Paradise in Scarborough, viewing its eclecticism and accessibility barriers firsthand. Collaborating closely with experts at the OHT, they also learned about the heritage aspects of the property, gaining invaluable insights into its significance. They reviewed provincial accessibility standards and relevant literature, seeking inspiration and best practices to inform their suggestions. Engaging with community members and institutions provided them with diverse perspectives and invaluable input, enriching their understanding of the issues at hand.