Museum of the American Revolution Announces New Audio Descriptive Tour, Tactile Map Developed in Conjunction with Members of the Blind and Low-Vision Community

New Resources to Elevate Accessibility of Gallery Experience for All Visitors

The Museum of the American Revolution today announces the release of two new resources designed to make the Museum’s gallery experience more engaging and accessible to blind or low-vision guests. These include an Audio Descriptive Tour of the Museum’s core galleries, which expands on current audio tour offerings and features historical content, evocative descriptions of objects and environments, and navigational directions to help people move around the Museum. The tour is accompanied by a new Tactile Map featuring braille and raised, touchable guides of the Museum’s public spaces that guests can check out from our front desk.

These resources were developed over several years in collaboration with the blind and low-vision community, including partners from Philly Touch Tours and Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired based in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as audio describer Nicole Sardella.

The goal of these new resources is to offer increased access to in-depth, unfacilitated experiences in our galleries for all guests. The Audio Descriptive Tour and the Tactile Map also work in tandem to provide the blind and low-vision community with adapted content and more streamlined physical access to our space so that all visitors can fully immerse themselves in the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked the ongoing American Revolution.

In a study conducted by French blog Evelity in 2021, more than 8 out of 10 visually impaired people with vision loss who were surveyed said they would go to museums more often if the place and contents were more accessible, and 7 in 10 reported that they had never considered themselves autonomous in a museum. The Museum of the American Revolution aims to counteract these trends with these new resources.

“Just as our galleries showcase how the American Revolution was sparked and furthered by a diverse group of people who were not very different from us today, we want to make sure that everyone who visits has access to a Museum experience that is accessible to them and meets their needs,” said Meg Bowersox, Manager of Gallery Interpretation for the Museum. “We are unveiling these new offerings with that in mind, and after years of deeply collaborative work with members of the blind and low-vision community. We are grateful to our partners on this project and for the future feedback we hope to receive from visitors as we continue to refine and build upon our existing resources.”

Leaders with Philly Touch Tours – an organization that engages members of the blind and low-vision community to co-present disability sensitivity trainings, as well as advise and co-design tours and workshops like the Museum’s Audio Descriptive Tour – said that the Museum’s commitment to being a welcoming and engaging space for all visitors is both unusual and authentic. Though there are other Museums that host programming and tours, Trish Maunder, Creative Director of Philly Touch Tours, said in the United States, they are unfortunately few and far between.

“These new resources give blind and low-vision guests individual agency, and offer the freedom to be autonomous,” said Katherine Allen, Program Director for Philly Touch Tours. “Providing these opportunities takes commitment from our partner organizations, and the Museum has demonstrated this commitment since its opening in 2017 as it still does today.”

Samuel Foulkes, Director of Braille Production & Accessible Innovation for Clovernook Center, which is the world’s highest-volume producer of braille, said the Museum is one of Clovernook’s longest-standing partners under its Arts & Accessibility Initiative that aims to improve accessible materials and experiences in museums and public spaces. Through the Museum’s partnership with Clovernook Center on the Tactile Map as well as previous tactile features for special exhibitions such as Liberty and Witness to Revolution, the Museum has showcased its desire to remove barriers and create meaningful connections with all visitors.

“There are many people in the BVI community who feel that cultural spaces, such as museums, aren't made for them," Foulkes said. "The Museum of the American Revolution is one of few museums around the country that actively incorporates tactile pieces into exhibits that blind and visually impaired visitors can touch instead of only offering them upon request. This makes it easier for all guests to engage with and enjoy the exhibits."

An Audio Descriptive Tour of the core galleries is available for visitors for free at the Museum’s front desk and is also available online. The Tactile Map is available for visitors to check out at the front desk for free.

Other accessibility offerings for guests who are blind or low-vision include guided Touch Tours that can be scheduled both before the Museum opens to the public as well as during regular Museum operating hours. These tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance by completing our Accessibility Accommodation Request form. The Museum’s visitor engagement staff also receives rigorous accessibility training and use replica objects, touchable graphics, and more daily as part of tours and informal engagement in our galleries.

About Philly Touch Tours LLC

Philly Touch Tours is dedicated to creating accessible and inclusive experiences for the blind and low vision community through partnerships and programs with museums and cultural institutions in and around the Philadelphia area. PTT offers Accessibility Consulting for museums, cultural institutions, medical professionals and businesses. They also offer full and half-day Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Trainings and custom designed touch tours with verbal description  and related handling workshops.  For more information visit: www.phillytouchtours.com

About Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired:

Since 1903, Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired has been providing life-enriching opportunities and empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and full participants in their communities. Clovernook Center’s Braille Printing House is the largest volume printer of braille in the world. Clovernook prints books, magazines and other materials for the National Library Services and braille patrons worldwide. Additionally, Clovernook provides Pediatric Low Vision Clinics, adaptive sports and social activities, as well as employment opportunities for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit www.clovernook.org.

About Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.