Seventeenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Research on fair, equitable, and inclusive experience design in tourism is increasing. However, the debate on people with disabilities’ unequal access to and inclusion within cultural institutions still largely disregards sensory experiences and prioritises sight. The paper enters the debate by adopting a multi-disciplinary approach and defining a novel Supramodal Experience Framework that considers individuals’ diverse abilities, senses, and perceptions. The highly regarded Tactile Museo Omero in Ancona, Italy, was chosen to investigate the interpretative capacity of the framework. The Supramodal Experience Framework demonstrates that a well-designed strategy can give people who have unique characteristics and abilities the opportunity to shape and customise escapist experiences, individually or socially. The effective management of critical touchpoints between museum management, exhibits, and visitors throughout the visit journey is key to transforming the framework into a dashboard for managing accessibility and inclusion in museums.