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We worked with Perkins School for the Blind to produce our Braille materials.  We had each text panel Brailled into comb-bound books that visitors could ask for when they arrive.  We also arranged for each text panel title to be Brailled onto a scotch tape-style label which is affixed to the top left of our rail panels and side left shoulder height of our freestanding panels (the location was determined by the librarian at Perkins, as a standard location for how and where folks generally look for them.)  People feel the panel, read the panel title, and find the associated full text in the book.

However, having said that, Braille is being used less and less as new audio another technologies advance.  FYI, check out the Callahan Museum in Louisville for a wonderful exhibit on the history of interpretive devices for visually-challenged folks.

Beryl

On Dec 7, 2011, at 10:15 AM, Ellen Giusti wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> Interesting discussion. When I worked at AMNH non-English language labels
> were provided when the exhibition content concerned another culture--Spanish
> for an exhibition about Cuban biodiversity research and early human fossils
> from a site in Spain; Vietnamese handout labels for an exhibition on
> Vietnamese culture, etc.
> 
> The one language that nobody has mentioned in this context is Braille. Many
> of us have been trying for years to convince people who are blind that there
> really is something in museums for them. I have talked to members of that
> community who say they are so happy to find *anything* written in Braille
> that they read it, even a menu!
> 
> It is true that not many people who are blind or have low vision can read
> Braille, but it is something to worth considering--even for handouts
> accompanying an exhibition, as Terri suggests.
> 
> People with disabilities do not want to be singled out for special
> treatment, e.g., Making a reservation for a touchable tour. They want to be
> treated like other visitors, able to access information about exhibits.
> Audio tours are not always appropriate because they lack description of the
> displays and instructions for how to use interactives. Touch screen
> interactives are not accessible if you cannot see where to touch.
> 
> Just thought I would add another layer to the discussion!
> 
> Ellen Giusti
> 
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Beryl Rosenthal, PhD
Executive Director, Waterworks Museum
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www.waterworksmuseum.org
2450 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02467
617.277.0065

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