Museums: Helpful Hints to Assure a Meaningful and Memorable Visit for Blind and Visually Impaired

1. First and foremost, make sure you follow American's with Disabilities Act 1990/ADA (amended) accommodation recommendations. These recommendations are essential to the safety and accessibility of one's Blind and Visually Impaired individual. Be knowledgeable about amended or updated ADA regulations.

2. Follow American's with Disabilities Act 1990/ADA guidelines for Braille signage.

3. Consider a large print bound copy of one's museum guide, pamphlets, handouts or educational materials. Large print materials may be offered as a print bound copy that is re-usable or as a "Take Away" item that may be taken as a resource or reference item. Large print is normally considered 14-16 point print or larger (16 or 18 point print could be sufficient to aid many visually impaired individuals.) Materials must be presented in a top contrast and bold simple font on plain white background. Large print materials will assist many of one's visually impaired visitors.

4. Make sure you offer good lighting on all print materials during your museum.

5. Consider offering museum guides, pamphlets, handouts or educational materials in Braille format. They may also be offered as re-usable bound Braille materials or as a "Take Away" item that may be taken as a resource or reference item. Take-Away Braille educational materials are a particularly helpful reference/ resource for the student visitor. Braille materials would want pre-preparation by way of a Braille transcriber.

6. Make sure you greet your blind and visually impaired guest and offer specific information about the layout of one's museum, specific exhibits and specialized accommodations open to them.

7. Directly address your blind guest as opposed to speaking "through" their companions. Your blind & visually impaired guest will appreciate the consideration you have made to handle their specific questions, familiarize them with your museum and help them to maximise their overall experience.

8. Museums offering school field trips/educational events for kids benefit from prior notification of any Braille or large print accessibility requirements tactile museum for the blind. Prior notification enables ample time for preparation of materials. Full participation is the goal for the visually impaired/blind student. Educational materials/handouts require pre-preparation (by a Braille transcriber) in order to have materials transcribed/embossed into Braille.

9. Children sections needs to have a minumum of one pair of crayons labeled with Braille for quick identification. Even children that slowly lose their vision or become blind early in life enjoy arts & crafts. It is important to recognize that whatever the case, blind & visually impaired children also enjoy individualized creativity and the ability to choose their own colors. Having some Braille labeled crayons on hand will surely say everything about your readiness to handle blindness accommodations.

10. Children's activities such as picture and coloring activities can be adapted to include tactile-kinesthetic components utilizing a tracing wheel (available in many sewing departments) or using tactual markings such as "Wikki Stix" or dried glue to outline pictures. Ex: Utilizing a tracing wheel to trace an insect or dinosaur picture (upside down) will result in an elevated tactual outline for a blind student to tactually explore. Use bold markers to outline pictures & coloring activities (for easier viewing) for the visually impaired child. Play Dough, clay and paper crimpers also add nice tactual components to art projects.

11. Encourage your blind & visually impaired visitors to tactually explore exhibits and encourage your visually impaired visitor to view exhibits up close.

12. Remember that your blind visitor may be utilizing a guide dog. These dogs are specially trained dogs to do a certain job and are considered "working dogs" ;.Staff should inquire with the blind individual on appropriate interaction with the dog.

13. Invest the time for you to inform your blind visitors about the different accommodations you have put in area for the blind population such as: Braille museum guide books, Braille pamphlets, Braille handouts and Braille "take away items", Braille menus, or specific machines marked or embossed in Braille such as: vending machines, soda machines or ATM's" ;.

14. Consider offering Braille format for some of one's museums most significant historical sayings, quotes, or historical documents for your blind guest to refer to when navigating during your museum.

15. Braille and large print atlas & maps are available from specialized catalogues for blind & visually impaired individuals. If your exhibit includes maps make sure you understand that Braille maps may contribute nicely for the blind visitor.

16. Many Braille storybooks are actually commercially available. So remember, when you yourself have an exhibit of a popular American, inventor or famous woman in America such as Helen Keller or Amelia Earhart, it might already be available for purchase in Braille. A Braille transcriber/embosser can also Braille up Museum short stories or specific written materials utilized by your Museum.

17. Consider offering audio description of exhibits which are fragile, or visual in nature.

18. Tactual markers such as "Maxi Marks", "Bump Dots", "Spot 'N Line" and "Hi Marks" are tactual marking tools. They may be used to recognize specific items or to mark specific interactive push button displays. They can be purchased in different sizes, shapes and textures and are commercially available at product suppliers for the visually impaired and blind. Tactual markers must be applied to a restricted basis for specific identification purposes. Make sure you inform you blind & visually impaired visitor should you incorporate any of these specific tactual marker accommodations into your exhibits.

19. Consider providing a tactile/Braille labeled map of one's museum. A tactile map can include the overall floor plan, galleries, exhibits and collection locations, dining areas, restrooms and information center. A Braille map can also include a tactile key to recognize specific areas of the museum that provides blindness accommodations and resources like audio description, Braille materials, Braille labels, Braille signage or opportunities for hands-on/tactile exploration of exhibits or models of exhibit items. A Braille map could be a valuable orientation and mobility resource for your blind and visually impaired visitors.

20. Remember that your blind visitor will spread the term as long as they experience a meaningful, informative and enjoyable visit to your museum.

21. Make sure you advertise your specialized accommodations whether large print or Braille on your website. Screen readers provide blind & visually impaired the ability to access website material and review accommodations available.

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