Small Steps to Museum Accessibility: Part 2
Part 2: Sensory Sensitive Tools
This is part of a series addressing small steps museums can take to make their space more accessible. This post focuses on sensory sensitive tools. Other topics are covered at the links below:
Accessibility is a huge topic and includes all kinds of people, not just those who are typically included in ADA guidelines. If you have thoughts or ideas, you would like to add feel free to reach out to me or comment.
Often accessibility is presented as something that can only be achieved with big updates and projects. Those projects are great and often necessary (if people can’t physically get into your building or use the bathroom it is hard to add other accommodations). However, often you are stuck in a building that you can’t change, or you don’t have the resources to do a huge renovation now, but you want to make your museum more accessible now. Accessibility is an ongoing process that is not an all or nothing proposition, so from this guide take what is useful and leave what is not. This guide is designed to provide suggestions of what can be added/changed with small updates to what you currently have and is not addressing exhibit elements or content.
I would also always encourage a museum to involve their local disabled community to listen to their needs and evaluate programs. The VSA Network is a great resource and low-cost to join. They host the LEAD® Conference every year.
Low-sensory reading area for early learners at Children's Museum of Richmond.
Sensory-Sensitive Tools
With increasing awareness of autism and sensory-processing disorders, sensory sensitivity has been a huge topic in the museum world, and a huge number of museums have already implemented low-sensory times or chill out spaces. Sensory sensitivity affects a wide variety of people including those with migraines triggers, a history of head injuries, autism, or epilepsy.
Example of a sensory map
A sensory sign at Indianapolis Children's Museum
Sensory Maps and Signage: Sensory maps are graphic layouts of a museum identifying areas containing sensory elements visitors may want to avoid like loud noises and areas that will provide resources or low-sensory experiences. They allow visitors to select what areas of the museum they might want to avoid or where they can go if they need a rest from sensory stimulation. Maps should be available on signs at entry, as paper handouts, and in a digital form whether that is a QR code, museum app, or website link. Matching signage should also be added to the entrance of each area. Sensory Friendly Solutions has a great guide to making sensory maps here. Some examples of sensory maps from other museums for reference:
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Liberty Science Center, International Spy Museum, Museum of the American Revolution, and Cincinnati Art Museum
One note: as you are making these graphics, use both symbols and colors to indicate areas, which is more legible to those with low vision and/or color blindness.
Some elements that should be marked on a sensory map:
High Noise
Quiet Area
Flashing lights
Bright lights
Low light
Contains smells
High activity area
Crowded area
Tactile experiences
Area to get information or resources
Bathrooms
Exits
Sensory Kits: Many museums have created bags available at their front desks for visitors with sensory sensitivity, mostly because it is a fairly low-cost addition. There is some staff work in making sure they are organized, stocked, and cleaned. However, some kits are more successful than others. On an episode on the 99 Percent Invisible podcast, they highlighted the issue when they recieved a sensory kit from a museum in Mesa, Arizona which was only a couple of cheap, plastic toys. Many sensory kits are designed more like entertaining toy bags for children than useful tools for a diverse audience. They ignore that the sensory-sensitive and neurodivergent population includes adults. There is absolutely a place for sensory bags made for children, especially they are the museum’s target audience, but adults should also have accommodations. Museums can have separate kits for adults and children or have a kit that is created to be appropriate for both. What should be in a sensory kit? They can include:
Sensory map (ideally laminated)
Ear muffs for noise reduction. These come in child and adult sizes along with adjustable versions.
Sunglasses for light-sensitivity
Weighted lap pad or shoulder wrap can provide calming and sensory regulation. They should be made out of a material that can be wiped clean.
Tactile items are objects that can be handled by visitors to experience different textures. What is relaxing for one person can be unpleasant for others so it is important to provide both hard bumpy or ridged items like massage balls and soft/squishy items like gel-filled or foam items. For cleanliness, most museums avoid things that are slimy or sticky.
Fidget items are useful tools for visitors to self-regulate their sensory input. These should be quiet items to not add additional sensory distractions to other visitors.
Communication cards are an important tool for those who struggle with verbal communication for any reason. For those who become overwhelmed by sensory inputs, cards can provide a way for them to indicate to staff if they would like help, or if they would like to be left alone. Outside of sensory bags, communication cards are also useful to have at the front desk or with facilitators to help those who need assistance (I’ve also seen communication cards used for deaf visitors or with common phrases in multiple languages). There are durable pre-made versions through TalkyTags (they also have custom and blank options), but versions can be made in-house with laminated cards on key rings. Useful cards include:
I need help
I want to leave
Where is the restroom?
It is too loud
It is too bright
I need space
I am lost
Please leave me alone
Yes
No
Thank you
I need a ticket
Emergency
Sound Baffling: I have been to many museums, particularly children’s and science museums, which have an overwhelming amount of sound and can be exhausting to spend any extended amount of time in. Lowering the sound level can provide a more relaxing visit for everyone. If we are discussing large spaces or an entire building, sound baffling really can’t be considered a small project. However, adding baffling elements to smaller areas can be a manageable goal. Especially if your museum already has set aside quiet areas or reading rooms, those spaces can benefit from adding foam acoustic panels. There are almost infinite panel options on the market. These panels come in lots of colors and can be added high on walls in a color matching the existing wall color for a subtle addition or can be added as a colorful design element in a geometric pattern. Depending on your space, there are also ceiling options (like this or this) that can add some baffling to large spaces. If there are areas with audio elements, adding heavy curtains over the doorway or on walls, can help a lot with isolating sound. Spaces that are easier to add baffling to are staff areas. It is important to note that accessibility includes staff. Having office or break spaces that can be restful and quiet for staff members who get sensory overwhelm, is important to staff success. This can be achieved with soft surfaces like rugs, acoustic panels, headphone policies, and separate meeting/call rooms.
Touch/Don’t Touch: One way of ensuring visitors understand how to interact with exhibits is clear, consistent labels with symbols throughout the museum indicating what can and can not be touched. It may seem to regular museum visitors or staff what obviously should or should not be touched or interacted with, but it is not always as clear to new or neurodivergent museum visitors. A well-designed exhibit should indicate how it should be interacted with, but it does not hurt to be explicit with your expectations.
Hand Dryers: A sensory stressor that is often overlooked is the volume of hand dryers in bathrooms and water areas. Modern hand dryers can create noise up to 100 dBA (source). For reference, sounds above 85 dBA can damage hearing with prolonged exposure. This noise can be extremely disturbing to those who are sensitive to loud noises. There are quieter hand dryers on the market (some linked here and here) and there is always the option of paper hand towels. There is a drawback since louder hand dryers generally dry hands faster than the quieter options, paper hand towels create more trash and need to be restocked, and replacing hand dryers could be considered a large project.