MuseumLab at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a recently completed isUD certified project that provides an inclusive place for visitors of all abilities, especially individuals with autism.
Tokyo’s Nezu Museum, with its lush gardens, is a popular destination for city dwellers and foreign visitors seeking a tranquil spot to escape the din of the capital.
The University at Buffalo’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center), a world-recognized pioneer in the field, hopes to push universal design into standard practice with a new research-backed assessment and certification program that walks users through the entire process, from planning the project, through building design, and including facility operation.
“The museum is dedicated to developing inclusive experiences for all visitors by providing accessible programming and features. We seek to enhance the visitor experience by designing tours and exhibits that embrace flexibility and meet the needs of all people.”
As we work to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility among museum audiences and in the workplace, we need to attend to the needs of neurodiverse visitors and employees.
A new generation of accessible museums is opening the door to people who may find access challenging. They are doing this by using technology in a range of innovative ways.
The Cincinnati Art Museum will begin construction on a new front entrance ramp this week. The ramp comes as an addition to the DeWitt entrance, an accessible entrance at the back of the building.
People with autism can find busy, crowded environments difficult. This means that a visit to a museum at peak time could be challenging. During these times there are lots of people and increased noise.
“The world was never made for people who are sitting down full time,” experiential designer Ben Baker says. “The world was made for people who walk. Everywhere you go, there’s going to be challenges.”
In redesigning the Gateway Arch Museum that opened in July, made it a priority to integrate Universal Design, which goes beyond ADA regulations to create buildings that can be equally accessible to people of all abilities.