Translating gardens into accessible multisensory tours for blind and partially sighted visitors: an exploratory case study

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents an exploratory case study which illustrates the first stage of our multi-stage methodology for translating gardens into a multisensory and accessible tour for blind and partially sighted (BPS) visitors and gathering feedback to be used in a future project on producing a smart audio descriptive guide to assist BPS visitors to appreciate gardens in a multisensory way. The key research questions are: how can the multisensory potential of gardens be translated into an accessible experience for BPS visitors? and to what extent can a smart audio descriptive guide enable access to gardens and provide multisensory visitor experiences primarily for BPS visitors? Our multi-stage methodology begins with an exploratory case study in which a group of BPS visitors were led by a human guide on a tour of the historic Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. The first stage involved the tour guide and accessibility expert working closely together to plan the multisensory garden tour. Then the actual tour of the gardens was carried out with a small group of BPS visitors. In-tour questions for the BPS visitors stimulated reflection and feedback, and interviews were carried out at the end of the tour. The paper presents some of the more significant observations which emerged from the tour, and draws conclusions about the extent to which a smart audio descriptive guide could provide many of the benefits of a human guide, and its advantages and inherent limitations. Some of these findings are relevant to those planning similar visits in other garden venues, including for broadening the application for universal access.