How to use this list
This is a working accessibility checklist, meant to be taken into the gallery and used against a real installation. It is not a legal standard. Requirements vary by country and venue, so treat the items as common good practice and check them against the published accessibility guidelines and building rules that apply to you. Where a number is needed, use the figure from those documents rather than a rule of thumb from an article.
For each item, mark yes, no or unsure. Unsure usually means it needs testing with people.
1. Approach and physical space
- Is there a clear, level route to the exhibit that is wide enough for a wheelchair or walker to approach and turn?
- Is there clear floor space in front of the screen, so a wheelchair user can pull up close and a companion can stand alongside?
- Is the exhibit free of cables, plinths and bins that narrow the route or create trip hazards?
- Is seating available nearby for people who cannot stand for long?
- Is there room for a person with a guide dog or a support person?
2. Reach and height
- Is the screen and its controls within comfortable reach for both standing and seated users? Consult the reach ranges in applicable guidelines.
- Is there knee space under a table or counter where a seated user would expect to approach?
- Can a child or shorter adult see and touch the main controls, even if the screen is large?
- Is the screen angled or adjustable to reduce reflection and neck strain?
- Are essential controls kept away from the extreme top and bottom edges of the display?
3. Display, contrast and text
- Is body text large enough to read at arm’s length, in a plain typeface, with generous line spacing?
- Does text have strong color contrast against its background, including over photos and video?
- Is color never the only way of showing a state, such as selected, error or required?
- Is there a way for visitors to enlarge text or switch to a high-contrast view?
- Is the screen free of bright reflections from windows and lights? Check at different times of day, since screen glare changes.
- Is any moving or flashing content avoided, or kept well below levels that could trigger discomfort or seizures?
4. Touch and controls
- Are buttons large and spaced so that a shaky or imprecise touch is unlikely to hit the wrong thing?
- Do controls respond once, reliably, without needing a hard press or a precise swipe?
- Can every action be done with one finger, one hand and a simple tap, without pinching, holding or multi-finger gestures?
- Is there a visible, consistent way to go back, restart or get help?
- Is there a physical alternative, such as a large button or a handset, for people who cannot use a touchscreen?
- Does the screen avoid timing out while someone is still reading, and warn before resetting?
5. Sound, captions and audio description
- Do all videos and spoken pieces have accurate, synchronized captions, using the approach in writing exhibit captions?
- Is a transcript available for longer audio or video?
- Where meaning is carried by images alone, is there audio description for blind and low vision visitors?
- Is there a sign language version for key content where appropriate, or at least a clear text equivalent?
- Can visitors control volume, and is there a headphone socket or a way to listen privately?
- Is sound kept from bleeding between neighboring exhibits, and is a hearing loop or similar assistive listening available where audio is central?
6. Language and understanding
- Is the text written in plain language, with short sentences and little jargon?
- Is the start of the experience obvious without instructions, with a clear first action?
- Is the language choice easy to find, and is content available in the languages your visitors use?
- Does each screen carry one main idea, with a limited number of choices?
- Are icons paired with words, and do labels say what will happen?
7. Screen readers and assistive technology
- If the experience runs in a browser or app, does it work with screen readers, keyboard navigation and visitors’ own assistive devices?
- Are images given useful text descriptions, and are buttons properly labeled?
- Is the reading order logical?
- Is there a non-visual route through the content on site, if the touchscreen cannot be made fully non-visual?
8. Alternatives for visual experiences
- Is there a tactile alternative, such as a raised drawing or touchable model, for key objects?
- Is there a printed or large-print version of key text?
- Is the alternative of similar quality, rather than a shortened substitute?
9. Comfort and sensory load
- Is there a quiet option, such as lowered volume or a no-sound mode?
- Are sudden loud sounds and flashing lights avoided?
- Is the room not overwhelming for a visitor who needs a break, with a calmer space nearby?
10. Hygiene, reliability and upkeep
- Are shared touch surfaces cleanable, and does the cleaning routine follow a schedule?
- Is the screen calibrated so it responds where the visitor touches?
- Are staff trained to switch on assistive features, reset the exhibit and help visitors?
- Is there a way for visitors to report problems, and is someone responsible for responding?
Testing the checklist with people
A checklist finds many issues, but it cannot tell you whether the exhibit is pleasant to use. Plan time for prototype testing with disabled and non-disabled visitors, and observe people at the actual installation. Staff who work on the gallery floor often know where visitors struggle and are a valuable source of early warnings.
Fixing the gaps in order
Not every item can be resolved at once. A sensible order is to deal first with anything that blocks access entirely, such as an unreachable screen or video with no captions, then with things that cause frustration, and finally with polish. Record what you could not fix and why, and set a date to review it. A documented plan to improve is far better than a silent gap.