SEnsory Tools Project

A three-year, IMLS National Leadership Grant supported project focusing on developing a free, digital publication titled 'Sensory Tools for Interpreting Historic Sites' that will offer strategies for increasing visitor engagement through interpretation that is accessible for visitors with disabilities and achievable by historic sites of all sizes.

A man is using a sonar interactive exhibit. He is wearing headphones and facing a touch screen that says “What sound do you hear?” with icons of sea creatures. Above that screen is another screen illustrating the sound.

About

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and New York University’s Ability Project (Project Team) are embarking on a project to tackle the inherent accessibility challenges faced by museums that interpret historic sites. This three-year project will focus on developing a free, digital publication titled Sensory Tools for Interpreting Historic Sites that will offer strategies for increasing visitor engagement through interpretation that is accessible for visitors with disabilities and achievable by historic sites of all sizes. Sensory Tools will outline a series of design processes and solutions that take into consideration a range of needs related to visitor movement, vision, hearing, range of motion, cognitive comprehension and sensory experiences. Sensory Tools will lead to increased access, enjoyment, and understanding of historic sites through their spaces and collections.

Needs and Challenges That the Project Will Address

Across the United States, 45% of museums are historic sites, historical societies or historic preservation organizations. The very features that make historic sites so evocative and immersive often present accessibility challenges for people with disabilities, who comprise more than a quarter of people living in the United States—over 85 million people. This project will increase the capacity of historic sites to develop rich, sensory-based interpretive experiences that are accessible to visitors with disabilities. Historic sites vary widely in terms of their physical characteristics, size, staffing capacity and budget. Recommended solutions will range from simple, lower-cost prototypes to higher-end approaches.

A focus group participant is testing a sonar interactive at the Intrepid Museum an exhibit prototyping phase. She is seated in a scooter facing a touch screen and wearing headphones.

core working groups

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and New York University’s Ability Project (Project Team) received 54 submissions for participation in the 'Sensory Tools for Interpreting Historic Sites' project. All applications were reviewed by a panel of 8 to assemble both working groups.

Historic Sites

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, Bainbridge Island, WA

Brandywine River Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, PA

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA

Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga, NY

Fostersfields Living Historical Farm, Morris Township, NJ

Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown, NJ

Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN

Disability Advocates

Amy Gravino, A.S.C.O.T. Consulting

Cheryl Fogle-Hatch, National Federation of the Blind

Ellen Giusti, Independent Consultant

Emily Ladau, Words I Wheel By

Ruth D. Bernstein, Hearing Loss Association of America NYC Chapter

Michael Tranquilli, Adjunct Professor, New York University Steinhardt Department of Occupational Therapy

Nefertiti Matos, Assistive Technology Educator at New York Public Library

Shira Mechanic, Occupational Therapist and Founder of Fidget Club

Project Partners and Contributors

Principal Partner Organizations

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

New York University Ability Project

Project Advisers

Ashley Grady, Senior Program Manager, Smithsonian Institution

Beth Ziebarth, Director, Accessibility Program, Smithsonian Institution

Ashley Wilson, Graham Gund Architect, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Carrie Villar, Acting Vice President for Historic Sites, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Project Evaluator and Facilitator

Janet L. Rassweiler, Museum Consultant

NYU | Ability Project written in purple. On the left is an illustration of a torch in white on a purple square.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space written in navy blue with an illustration of the aircraft carrier in white on a blue background. Red and blue stripes are on each side of the image. There are three stars above the aircraft carrier.

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