In September 1957, the Seattle Parks Department opened the Handicapped Center, a cooperative program in the Mount Baker area that provided adults and children with arts, crafts, and social activities. The Center was supported by city funds and outside donors. Nearly 1,300 people attended 37 events in its first four months.

Florence Brown, wife of City Parks Superintendent Paul Brown, took a particular interest in teaching weaving at the Center. Here, she helps Ed Garner with his work on an inkle loom. Due to a stroke, Garner can only use his right hand. The loom sits on a handwoven rug, and a straplike sample of inkle weaving sits near the base of the loom. Additional weaving samples hang on the wall behind the couple.

Caption information source: “’Indoor Sports’ Find Out How To Get In Happy Day”, by Eleanor Bell, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 29, 1958, page 8.
Caption information source: “Implementing the ADA in Seattle”, Seattle Municipal Archives, https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/exhibits-and-education/digital-document-libraries/implementing-the-ada-in-seattle. Retrieved March 20, 2026.