By John Adrian Siegel and Victoria Lee Croasdell

Designing Accessibility For Disabled Individuals & Diverse Age Groups, In The Museum Environment

Many of the elements that help to make exhibits accessible to a wide range of age groups and types of physical statures are also universally appropriate for visitors with disabilities.

Examples of this are outlined below in the basic description of the Health Demonstration Theater Exhibits.

As the illustrations have shown, the overall height of the exhibit cases are approximately 7’ 6”, which is higher than the tallest average adult visitor.

The upper portion of the cases are recessed to avoid head impacts from visitors leaning towards the control panel of the exhibits. Protrusions are added at the top for accent lighting, well out of range of impact. This factor relates well to people with visual disabilities who could easily misjudge the distance of the upper case section when using the control panel. As many people often crowd in to see an exhibit, or in an excited state cramp movements of others, such design is desirable for regular visitors as well.

The lower panels are sloped for ease of use and accessibility. Their height is kept to approximately 34 inches at the front, which relates to the height of; adults,  small children, and people in wheelchairs. The upward tilt of the control panel aids visual interpretation and presents an attractive attribute, while allowing easy reach of the controls. To increase accessibility, the bottom front of the cases are tilted inwards to accommodate foot room or wheelchair foot rests. Over time this factor will also present an added advantage in the reduction of scrapes and dings along the bottom edge.

The text and graphic panels also follow the angle of the front base plan to visually relate to the visitor.

The exhibits interlock to form a continuous run so people with low vision will not be confused by turning into a terminating corner of an exhibit. The basic design follows the walls and does not provide confusing obstacle risks,  in fact the design helps create a barrier free format. Regardless of a designer’s enthusiasm such factors are always important to consider, as confusing shapes can seem to be a maze to people with low vision.

The control panel buttons are large and illuminated. The primary start button is also in the right lower corner of each control panel section, so that people with visual disabilities, or others who can not read, can simply be told to look or feel for the start switch, which they will always find in the same location. All controls are placed in easy reach along the front of the panel.

Each exhibit also features a solid state recording device, that at the push of a button, will verbally describe the function, or purpose of the exhibit. In this case DAST integrated circuits were chosen. Care was taken to select higher resolution DAST chips that operate in the 8K sampling rate for near recording clarity. DAST chips use EEPROM storage so the recordings can be updated with ease. Updating is as easy as a push of a couple buttons and speaking into a microphone. The EEPROM storage will retain their recordings for a theoretical period of one hundred years. Such integration relates to the very young, the illiterate and the visually disabled by adding an informative human quality to exhibits. DAST chips are addressable through ten bit words, which can be generated easily. This allows the chips to give multiple messages as needed. Many other voice recording technologies are also available with varying degrees of performance so first hand testing is always advisable.

Three dimensional models that can be touched are also a part of the concept both as informational aids and to relate to visual disabilities by presenting a tactile element.

For each graphic and text the contrast is kept high.  Lettering is as large as can practically fit and vivid colors are used.

It must always be understood that visual disabilities vary and are not an absolute. Many people have partial loss and simply need more contrast or other dynamic touches to aid their vision.

Fortunately novel case angles, interesting colors, high contrast and speech capability are also greatly appealing to regular visitors. Good designs can be made truly universal, without drastic cost increases or diminished design.