COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor B. Bonner

"What measures have been included in the design of the Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage centre building and garden to ensure accessability for people with various disabilities?  Also, to what extent will the displays and exhibitions be multisensorial and accessible and therefore  usable by people with various sensorial and other disabilities?"

REPLY:

The Round Tower - Clondalkin - Accessibility Aspects – Built elements

The design has been carried out in compliance with Part ‘M’ of the building regulations and has a Disability Access Certificate. Measures which ensure the building is fully accessible throughout include, but are not limited to, the following:

• There is a level approach to the all entrances to the building.
• Minor changes in levels within the building are served by ramps.
• There is a wheelchair accessible lift to the first floor.
• There is a wheelchair accessible W.C.
• Corridors are generous and all doors have wide openings.
• Thresholds to the external doors are ‘level accesses and there are no thresholds to the internal doors.
• The main entrance doors are opened by a motion detector.
• A Portable Induction loop system will be included to assist the hard of hearing.
• The gardens are also fully accessible.
• There is a gently sloping ramp from the Café terrace which brings you through the different planted areas to the seated ‘meditation garden’ and on up to the base of the Round Tower itself.
• Planting will include an area of highly scented plants for a sensory experience.

In addition to this level of quality in the built aspects, the Interpretative experience will also facilitate access.

Exhibition at The Round Tower - Clondalkin - Accessibility Aspects

It has been a primary objective to ensure the widest possible audience can experience this new development for Clondalkin.

The exhibition at The Round Tower, Clondalkin is being developed by Tandem, a specialist interpretive design agency who have many years of experience in creating visitor-focused exhibitions with accessibility considerations at the forefront of their design ethos and methodology. The exhibition features many interactive and multimedia elements, designed with the aim of creating a quality experience that will engage all visitors with the history and heritage of Clondalkin.

The exhibition design features the elements detailed below to demonstrate that exhibition space is physically and intellectually accessible to the widest possible audience.

Spatial design:

The exhibition has been designed to allow physical access to the exhibits for everyone, especially visitors with mobility difficulties and wheelchair users, including users of most types of large electric wheelchairs. Consideration of turning circles and head height are a primary consideration for this visitor segment.

Exhibition text and graphic design:

The exhibition text is highly engaging and will appeal to all visitors, and has been written appeal to and enable children and adults with reading difficulties. The use of text has been minimised wherever possible, and all text is supported by the use of visually appealing imagery and colourful illustrations. All text will be located at a height which is easily read by everyone, including young children and wheelchair users.

Audio-visual elements:

‘Soundscapes’ will play in certain areas of the exhibition, helping to create an atmosphere for all visitors, but will especially appeal to visitors with visual impairment, by painting an auditory backdrop for the exhibition narrative, in the same way that the graphic design provides visual support.

The main audio visual film communicates through sound and vision. It will feature an artful, animated film over multiple screens, and be accompanied by a dramatic voiceover and soundtrack.

A local induction loop will be fitted to the central screen. The film script will be made available in written form for visitors who would prefer to read the script, including visitors who are deaf and hard of hearing. The exhibition includes one listening post, where audio is provided by a single cup headphone, which will be compatible with hearing aids. Printed scripts could also be supplied for other audio elements in the centre.

Tactile elements:

The exhibition will feature multiple tactile elements, including samples of material and enlarged reconstructions of archaeological finds and other models, which will appeal to all visitors, including visitors with visual impairments or intellectual disabilities.

A key element of the exhibition design is the use of oversize free-standing 2D figures, which feature colourful and characterful illustrations of people, animals and buildings from the past.  These are designed to capture the imagination of all visitors from a visual perspective, and especially visitors with visitors who need help with reading comprehension (as they help to set the scene), but visitors with visual impairment can also discern their form and texture through touch.

There are numerous elements that allow and encourage visitors to physically interact with the exhibition. This includes games and puzzles that encourage experimental play, drawing activities and opportunities to dress up. These activities are designed to create opportunities for all visitors to learn through engagement and entertainment, and will also especially appeal to young visitors or visitors with intellectual disabilities. The functionality of the games are being design to maximise accessibility, e.g. by ensuring parts are large enough to be handled by young children and people with some manual disabilities. Dressing up clothes are ‘one piece’ garments that are easy to put on, but are detailed enough to give an authentic visual and tactile experience to those with sensory disabilities.

Touch screens:

Touch screens are being designed to the following guidelines, to maximise accessibility for all visitors:

• Use of high contrast between the text and background
• Use of large text point size
• All text of more than two lines is left aligned
• Use a clear sans-serif typeface, lower case preferred over upper case
• Screen height and position to allow access for visitors of different heights, including wheelchair users
• Use of intuitive and logical interfaces, with clear pathways, supported by clear instructions via local text

The ongoing needs of all visitors will be monitored through customer feedback and communication between the centre management and Council staff.