Exhibit Design Relating to Low Vision and Blindness: Tactile Mapping for Cultural and Entertainment Venues

Conclusion

In 2008, after an action by the US Justice Department, the Spy Museum in Washington, DC, began offering tactile maps of their exhibit space as part of a settlement over the museum’s failure to live up to the spirit (if not the letter) of the ADA³ . Disability rights advocates hope that The Spy Museum case will serve as an example of the government’s commitment to enforcement of existing laws, and will spur cultural and entertainment providers everywhere to begin offering way-finding accommodations for print-disabled visitors. While it’s impossible to say for certain, the museum world appears to be strongly behind this the inclusive approach, motivated both by concerns about possible exposure to penalties, and a desire to deal equitably with all visitors. The examples of tactile cartography discussed in this white paper capitalize on underappreciated aspects of our sensorium. We perceive the world, in part, through pressure and movement of materials and surfaces against our skin, and we sense the instantaneous positions of our limbs as we move through, and take the measure of our surroundings. These overlooked information channels can be exploited by designers as they plan facilities, and by museum professionals as they orchestrate visitor experiences. This approach to Universal Design deepens interactive experiences for mainstream audiences, while reducing barriers to access; it promotes an ethic of inclusivity, and feels welcoming to visitors who might not otherwise venture into museums. And, it appears to be (slowly) catching on. 

³ See settlement agreement between the US and the International Spy Museum. Online at http://www.ada.gov/spymuseum.htm.