Excursions of three branches of the „Aušros" museum are adapted for persons with disabilities

Šiauliai History Museum, Photography Museum and Venclauskiai House-Museum - the texts of the exhibitions "Šiauliai History", "Freedom for Photography!" and "Venclauskiai Family and Interwar Šiauliai" were adapted for video guides in sign language and audio guides in easy-to-understand language. So far, there is no practice in Lithuanian museums to prepare guides in an easy-to-understand language, so it is hoped that other museums will follow the example of the "Aušross" museum.

Responding to the need of persons with disabilities to find information about the services provided to them in an easy and comprehensible way, the "Aušros" museum's website was adapted for simple and convenient use by installing an accessibility control. An icon has appeared on the side of the website pages, which, when clicked, opens a menu of changes to the appearance and functionality of the website with various options, for example, changing the contrast of the colors of the website, the function of increasing or decreasing the size of the text, etc. i.e. Control with the "Tab" key has also appeared, as well as icons indicating that when pressed, content can be accessed in an easily understood language or sign language.

The project also included training for museum employees, including disability etiquette (what is important to know when communicating with disabled people) and service adaptation (what is important to know when providing services to disabled people). On May 28 of this year. The employees of the "Aušros" museum in Šiauliai gained experience in the "Accessibility for people with different disabilities" training of the "Forum of Lithuanian Disability Organizations". During the visit to the Audiosensory Library of Lithuania, the employees learned how disability is understood in modern society, what principles are used to regulate the rights of people with disabilities. Representatives of different disabilities presented what stereotypes prevent equal contact with non-disabled people and what obstacles they face in order to become full participants in society. The staff of the "Aušros" museum also took part in an excursion to the Lithuanian Audiosensory Library, learned more about it and what alternatives there are for those who cannot read normally. Solutions that help all visitors to move and orient themselves in the building, regardless of their age or health status, were inspected and evaluated: signs, tactile floor plans, guiding surfaces, marking of glass partitions, use of Braille in the interior.


The new services of audio guides and video guides will make visiting the museum easier for visitors with special needs, allow them to independently familiarize themselves with the museum contents, view the expositions at an acceptable pace, and develop their creativity and imagination. In this way, the employment of persons with disabilities will be increased, and social exclusion will be reduced. Equal opportunities will be provided to find and understand information, learn about history, culture and art.