Background:
Millions of Americans spend time with family and friends visiting museums, visitor centers, zoos and aquariums. These sites are referred to as “Informal Learning Environments” because they provide opportunities for people to learn about history, art and/or nature in a relaxed and socially interactive way. Traditionally, these sites offer little to the blind or low vision audience. This project is an attempt to address this issue.

The blind or low vision (B/LV) population in America is generally considered to be between 10 and 11 million persons. While this is a small portion of the population, it is a growing one. Of this number about half are over the age of 65. This number will increase significantly during the next decades as the “baby boomer” population ages. This presents a significant challenge to such places as museums and aquariums.

Museum and aquarium visitors with disabilities must have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from services, programs, and activities offered to others. Museums must also reasonably modify their policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination as well as provide effective communication. Since the passage of the ADA or American Disabilities Act, major strides have been made in the area of physical accessibility to public spaces. However these regulations have not produced a significant change the core area of exhibit design and access to exhibit content. As a result, important informal learning opportunities that are available to the general public are not available to the blind or low vision audience.

We are taking on the challenge of studying how Universal Design best practice strategies for the design of exhibits at aquariums are used to provide interpretive information in a multi-sensory format. The aim is to make an aquarium exhibit that will be accessible to all visitors, including the blind or low vision audience, by utilizing an integrated tactile and audio technology to present vital aspects of the exhibit content.

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