Basic Information
What
Sensory Guide identifies sensory stimuli that visitors are expected to experience during their visit, such as the level of sound/light/smell/touch/etc and the presence of sudden noises/flashing lights in each exhibition at the museum.
Why
Sensory Guide is important for informing visitors what sensory challenges they may face while visiting an unfamiliar location. This will allow viewers to plan for an enjoyable visit.
Who
A Sensory Guide is most commonly used by visitors with cognitive and sensory processing disorder, according to Children’s Museum Indianapolis. It also serves a wide range of people such as school group visits, independent family visits, specified routes or programs with guide, general visits, and their companions, depending on who your museum makes sensory guide for and in which situation. (from Museum Arts Culture Access Consortium)
When
Visitors can check the Sensory Guide online before they visit the museums and historic sites or they can find it at the Information Desk once they arrive.
Where
Sensory guide should be on the museum’s website and also located at the information desk at the Museum or historic site.
How
Visitors can access the sensory guide by visiting the museum’s website and printing the sensory guide themselves, or get the printed version at the museum or historic sites.
How To Make Sensory Guide
Template
This is the template to create a Sensory Guide easily and efficiently.
- Sensory Guide Template (GoogleSlide)
- sensory guide template (PowerPoint after 2003, pptx)
- sensory guide template (PowerPoint old version, ppt)
How to measure each categories (Sound, Light)
Sound
- Measuring equipment
- Sound level meter
- Smartphone application
- Sound level reference
Light
- Measuring equipment
- Photometer
- Smartphone application
- Light level reference
Examples of Other Museums
Below are examples of sensory guides from other museums.
- Historical Sites
- Science Museum
