Smithsonian Accessible Design
The Smithsonian is known for establishing and implementing reasonable policies and measures for disadvantaged visitors and those with disabilities. The policies and direction related to the accessibility of individuals with disabilities are highly detailed and realistic. The reason for this can be found in the background of the Smithsonian’s establishment and its philosophy. The Smithsonian shows its policies and direction related to providing accessibility to individuals with disabilities through three documents written based on its vision and mission. The three documents are the “Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design,” the “Smithsonian Publication Guidelines,” and the “Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Design (About the Accessibility Program, 2016; Smithsonian Accessibility Program, 2016).”
These three documents together provide 110 pages of detailed guidelines. The corresponding information is largely divided …show more content…
into two categories (i.e., guidelines and design tools). The Smithsonian’s policies include standards for accessibility that are applied to all exhibitions presented at all Smithsonian museums or organized by the Smithsonian Institution. Design tools signify the execution based on guidelines and indicate the possible application measures for enforcing the guidelines. The guidelines cover 11 categories.
The 11 categories included in the “Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Design” are exhibition content, exhibition items, label design and text, audiovisuals and interactives, circulation route, furniture, color, lighting, public programming spaces, emergency egress, and children’s environments Smithsonian Accessibility Program, 2016).
The main contents are as follows: An exhibition should be accessible for viewing at varying intellectual levels and should be exhibited with a minimum of two viewing channels. This refers to compositional elements such as visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, and this should be set according to the degree of disability experienced by the individual with the disability. All exhibitions should be visually approachable and satisfy the tactile and auditory senses and should not overwhelm the visitors. Furthermore, explanations essential for understanding the exhibited work should be provided in English and other languages, as well as in various methods such as Braille, large print, and auditory
means.
The section for hearing-impaired individuals presents audio and interactive information.
Captions should be provided for all audio data, and a mark is required in front of all audio data to indicate that audio is currently being presented. This is to inform hearing-impaired individuals that the audio is being presented so they can receive the information through different methods such as captions or other documents. As for interactive data, the adjustments should be easy in order to ensure access at varying ages and for individuals with disabilities. This implies considering factors such as its height when approached by an individual who is using a wheelchair, crutches, or a cane.
The subsequent content covers the circulation route with consideration to individuals with disabilities. A circulation route should be based on the exhibition facilities and onsite principles of the Smithsonian and should be accessible. This section indicates that the lighting of the route should be bright and clear, as well as easy to follow. In reference to furniture, the production and placement should consider users of wheelchairs, crutches, or canes, as well as children. Furniture should be safe, and chairs and resting places must be provided in the exhibition. The guidelines indicate that 50% of chairs should be placed at easily accessible locations. A section on emergency exits is included as an extension to circulation routes. Every emergency exit should be identifiable via color, text, and sound and located at the most easily reachable locations. Emergency exits should be accessible for everyone, and if immediate access is difficult, then easy paths to the exit should be provided.
The section concerning the exhibition itself covers factors such as color, lighting, and space. All colors for the internal facilities must be stable and safe, and clear colors should be used for decoration. Regulations regarding the floor indicate that the depth, height, and material should be identifiable through the color. Lighting should be set for every visitor to view the exhibition safely, and factors such as observation, crowd flow, safety, and the preservation of the exhibited work should be considered. If any of the items cannot be satisfied, other components such as the location and design of the exhibition must be changed to satisfy every category.
The space section includes the lecture space. The area must be accessible for visitors using a wheelchair, and the basic requirements for chairs indicate that the chairs must be a bench with a backrest/armrest.
The last section covers the environment for children. The environment for children must satisfy all requirements set by the U.S. government agency.
The detailed planning and implementation of the Smithsonian satisfies the corresponding institution’s motto “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” as well as its sincerity toward providing access for the disabled. All exhibition descriptions, facilities instructions, and booklets follow the guidelines and use a font specially designed for the museum. This is to increase readability and provide convenience for visually impaired individuals. Such sincere policy measures and implementation methods in consideration of individuals with disabilities are currently needed in South Korea art museums. Going beyond mere policies and conceptual approaches to prepare detailed application measures that are as considerate and caring as that of the Smithsonian, creating and distributing manuals for such factors, and continuously evaluating the implementation results and making the appropriate revisions is needed.
The accessibility program continuously ensures that individuals with disabilities do not face difficulties in using the programs, exhibitions, and facilities of the Smithsonian’s museums. This is the reason for preparing and implementing the policies, enforcement measures, and procedures for individuals with disabilities; checking the designs regarding the basic structures of all exhibitions and facilities; and providing full support to the requirements. Communities for individuals with disabilities and connected programs are planned in order to achieve this, and the employees are trained for seamless communication and effective education for individuals with disabilities.
These three documents together provide 110 pages of detailed guidelines. The corresponding information is largely divided …show more content…
into two categories (i.e., guidelines and design tools). The Smithsonian’s policies include standards for accessibility that are applied to all exhibitions presented at all Smithsonian museums or organized by the Smithsonian Institution. Design tools signify the execution based on guidelines and indicate the possible application measures for enforcing the guidelines. The guidelines cover 11 categories.
The 11 categories included in the “Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Design” are exhibition content, exhibition items, label design and text, audiovisuals and interactives, circulation route, furniture, color, lighting, public programming spaces, emergency egress, and children’s environments Smithsonian Accessibility Program, 2016).
The main contents are as follows: An exhibition should be accessible for viewing at varying intellectual levels and should be exhibited with a minimum of two viewing channels. This refers to compositional elements such as visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, and this should be set according to the degree of disability experienced by the individual with the disability. All exhibitions should be visually approachable and satisfy the tactile and auditory senses and should not overwhelm the visitors. Furthermore, explanations essential for understanding the exhibited work should be provided in English and other languages, as well as in various methods such as Braille, large print, and auditory
means.
The section for hearing-impaired individuals presents audio and interactive information.
Captions should be provided for all audio data, and a mark is required in front of all audio data to indicate that audio is currently being presented. This is to inform hearing-impaired individuals that the audio is being presented so they can receive the information through different methods such as captions or other documents. As for interactive data, the adjustments should be easy in order to ensure access at varying ages and for individuals with disabilities. This implies considering factors such as its height when approached by an individual who is using a wheelchair, crutches, or a cane.
The subsequent content covers the circulation route with consideration to individuals with disabilities. A circulation route should be based on the exhibition facilities and onsite principles of the Smithsonian and should be accessible. This section indicates that the lighting of the route should be bright and clear, as well as easy to follow. In reference to furniture, the production and placement should consider users of wheelchairs, crutches, or canes, as well as children. Furniture should be safe, and chairs and resting places must be provided in the exhibition. The guidelines indicate that 50% of chairs should be placed at easily accessible locations. A section on emergency exits is included as an extension to circulation routes. Every emergency exit should be identifiable via color, text, and sound and located at the most easily reachable locations. Emergency exits should be accessible for everyone, and if immediate access is difficult, then easy paths to the exit should be provided.
The section concerning the exhibition itself covers factors such as color, lighting, and space. All colors for the internal facilities must be stable and safe, and clear colors should be used for decoration. Regulations regarding the floor indicate that the depth, height, and material should be identifiable through the color. Lighting should be set for every visitor to view the exhibition safely, and factors such as observation, crowd flow, safety, and the preservation of the exhibited work should be considered. If any of the items cannot be satisfied, other components such as the location and design of the exhibition must be changed to satisfy every category.
The space section includes the lecture space. The area must be accessible for visitors using a wheelchair, and the basic requirements for chairs indicate that the chairs must be a bench with a backrest/armrest.
The last section covers the environment for children. The environment for children must satisfy all requirements set by the U.S. government agency.
The detailed planning and implementation of the Smithsonian satisfies the corresponding institution’s motto “the increase and diffusion of knowledge,” as well as its sincerity toward providing access for the disabled. All exhibition descriptions, facilities instructions, and booklets follow the guidelines and use a font specially designed for the museum. This is to increase readability and provide convenience for visually impaired individuals. Such sincere policy measures and implementation methods in consideration of individuals with disabilities are currently needed in South Korea art museums. Going beyond mere policies and conceptual approaches to prepare detailed application measures that are as considerate and caring as that of the Smithsonian, creating and distributing manuals for such factors, and continuously evaluating the implementation results and making the appropriate revisions is needed.
The accessibility program continuously ensures that individuals with disabilities do not face difficulties in using the programs, exhibitions, and facilities of the Smithsonian’s museums. This is the reason for preparing and implementing the policies, enforcement measures, and procedures for individuals with disabilities; checking the designs regarding the basic structures of all exhibitions and facilities; and providing full support to the requirements. Communities for individuals with disabilities and connected programs are planned in order to achieve this, and the employees are trained for seamless communication and effective education for individuals with disabilities.