Author: Eoin O’Herlihy
Most people when they think about accessible heritage buildings or sites think about access to the physical environment and the barriers faced by people with reduced mobility. Then the next thing they think about is the challenges faced in order to make the built environment accessible and balance between accessibility, conservation and sustainability.
This can sometimes be daunting for people and be a barrier for them to start making improvements at their heritage sites. The good news is there are many ways to make improvements and many strategies we can adopt to make the experience for everyone accessible and user friendly.
First though, we need to start thinking differently in order to address accessibility in heritage buildings and Heritage site. For example, it’s much more than just physical accessibility. We need to start thinking about:
Rethinking Accessibility in Heritage Buildings and Sites
First though, we need to start thinking differently in order to address accessibility in heritage buildings and Heritage site. For example, it’s much more than just physical accessibility. We need to start thinking about:
- Welcoming customer services and enhanced visitor experience.
- Allowing people to plan their journey and providing information in advance on accessibility to make it easier for everyone to learn what the accessibility features of the site are and to learn about what accessible supports are in place.
- Considering the role that technology can play to address accessibility enhance the overall user experience (e.g. Audio Guides; Interactive displays; Wayfinding)
- The provision of assistance and support to ensure a more inclusive experience for all.
- How all the services being provided at the site are accessible to all.
- How we design the exhibition areas and how we organise events.
The good news is that there are simple and easy ways to make Heritage sites and heritage buildings accessible to meet the needs of people disabilities. This could include everything from:
1. Disability Awareness Training for Staff, Security, and Volunteers
Ensuring all staff, security and volunteers receive disability awareness training to understand different access needs, communication techniques, and how to offer respectful assistance. This creates a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all visitors.
2. Providing Clear and Multiple Formats of Information
For example, provide maps, guides, signage, and interpretation materials in accessible formats – such as large print, Plain English, Braille, easy-to-read, audio, and digital formats. Ensure sensory-friendly options are provided for neurodivergent visitors and don’t forget to provide pre visitor information on your website to allow people plan their visits.
3. Offering Personal Assistance and Guided Support
Ensuring staff or volunteers are available to provide personal assistance, guided tours, or orientation support on request. Make it clear how to request this support in advance or on arrival and ensure staff are easily identifiable.
4. Implementing Accessible Feedback and Complaints Processes
Implementing a simple and accessible feedback and complaints process – online and on-site. Offer formats such as forms, email, phone, or video message options, and make sure responses are timely and respectful.
5. Improving Physical Access to Buildings and Sites
Addressing accessibility to the building and around the site: Even small changes can make a big difference: For example, provide accessible signage and wayfinding around the site to indicate step-free routes; Ensure mixed seating is available along routes and within the building, provide accessible toilets. Where you can’t make areas within the building fully accessible for all, consider ways of providing information by an alternative means and provide reasonable accommodations (e.g. offer virtual tours or 3D models as alternatives).
6. Organising Accessible and Inclusive Events
Plan events with accessible seating, sign language interpreters, captioning, hearing loops, and quiet spaces where needed. Consider event times, ticketing systems, and transport links to make attendance easier for all. Develop in-house checklists to manage the process.
7. Designing Inclusive and Accessible Exhibition Spaces
Ensuring exhibition spaces have wide, step-free pathways, displays at multiple heights, good lighting with minimal glare, and tactile or audio interpretation options. Avoid obstacles that block navigation and include rest points throughout. When designing exhibition stands, posters or graphics for events then you need to make sure that your graphic designer is fully aware of how to make your exhibitions accessible. This could be everything from the type of font that you use, the colours that you use to ensure adequate visual contrast for people with visual impairments, the use of technology.
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