Tour guide of the museum guides her colleague, who has a blindfold on her eyes

How to Prepare a Tour / Lesson for Visually Impaired Visitors

31 July 2020

As a part of the “Touch the Memory” project, we continue to publish a series of materials on how each cultural institution can make its space more accessible.

This material is devoted to how to prepare the excursions and educational classes for the visually impaired visitors.

  • It is better to develop tactile routes and tactile models of the building inside and outside.
  • Excursions / educational sessions should have a fixed schedule so that the target audience can plan the visit in advance.
  • Make sure there are staff who can help to guide the visitors.
  • All important visual elements of the exhibition must be accompanied by tactile materials (typhlography, copies, 3D printing, etc.)
  • Accompanying texts must be printed in Braille or have audio comments (they can be added to existing audio guides or made available using a QR code)
  • Use contrasting stickers or markers, but do not use acidic colours.
  • Mark the navigation signs with contrasting colors or sign them in an enlarged font
  • Distribute information on your information resources that anyone who needs support can contact the curator and submit a request via the feedback form.

Excursion / educational class should last up to 60 minutes.

Purpose of sightseeing tours / educational classes for the visually impaired in memory museums are:

  • Socialization
  • Experience
  • Interaction
  • Informing
  • Involvement in the culture of memory