Vatican Museum provides extended services to sight and hearing impaired visitors

ROME - Dec. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- In these days of increased technological advances many museums are turning to interactive displays in order to maintain and attract new visitors however it’s not always true to say that thought is given to the needs of all disabled visitors.

The Vatican Museum has long been working on improving access for all with the introduction of wheelchair friendly facilities and free entry to many disabled people accompanied by one other person with no queuing required as part of its ongoing commitment to being all-inclusive.

Following consultation with access specialist Alan Broadbent of Disabled Accessible Travel the Museum embarked on a program of services to the hearing and sight impaired that is now available to some visitors.

Presently available in Italian only but with plans well advanced to roll out services in English the Vatican Museum has introduced tours using sign language with guides who themselves are hearing impaired. A major stumbling block for the Museum in introducing English tours is the lack of qualified BSL signers in Rome.

Additionally the Vatican Museum has special services for the sight impaired with interactive facilities which enable visitors who are visually impaired to explore a selection of original sculptures on display in the Gregorian Profane Museum, a new multisensory itinerary has been developed, enabling the blind and visually impaired to explore a selection of works in the Vatican Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery). The tour permits visitors to touch thermoformed panels and scale reproduction bas-reliefs, equipped which Braille legends and black print descriptions.

During the tour, the visitors' idea of the work of art is stimulated through other senses, so as to facilitate the re-elaboration of the artistic message. Multidisciplinary didactic communication systems are used, such as literary and musical stimuli as well as multisensory systems using analytic and synaesthetic references

Manager of the Office for Public Relations and Services  Luciano Gagliano commented ……. “Within the architectural and environmental constraints of adapting historical Vatican buildings the Vatican Museum continually strives to improve services to all visitors and we are pleased that this project for the hearing and sight impaired visitor is now available to enhance the experience of visiting the Museum.”