Exhibit Design Relating to Low Vision and Blindness: What Visitors with Vision Loss Want Museums and Parks to Know about Effective Communication

Technology and preferred sources of information

Participants like the availability of downloadable information on websites like podcasts. They acknowledged that not all people with vision loss have access to technology and museums and parks should be prepared to loan devices to play audio information. For the people who do have assistive technology, being able to download files to their personal devices is optimal. In addition to audio tours, they would like wayfinding information they can use on their own devices, perhaps utilizing GPS.

In general, the participants found they could navigate museum websites fairly easily with their assistive technologies and find basic information. What the websites don’t usually have is specific information on what is accessible for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Most participants look for a contact so they inquire about accessibility. Having an accessibility page that describes a visitor’s options would be welcomed.

Participants were clear on their preferred sources of information. “If I want to know about anything blindness related, I will talk to other blind people. Network. I won't even necessarily go to one of the blindness organizations. I will talk to my blind friends.”

Some participants find accommodations information available through disability organizations valuable. Everyone uses the Internet and websites specific to vision loss for information.