Add accessibility information to your guide

The Bloomberg Connects app was designed with accessibility in mind, so your content can be enjoyed by people of all abilities. But an accessible digital guide is just one piece of an inclusive on-site experience.

To help visitors prepare for their visit, Connects requires that guides to include information about on-site and in-guide accessibility. This article provides guidance and best practices.

Where to include accessibility information

All guides must include information about accessibility in a prominent location on the Home screen. Options include:

• An item in the Welcome section of the Home screen titled “Accessibility”
• An Accessibility section within a “Plan Your Visit” item

Points to consider

Accessibility sections should address anything that might help a visitor prepare for their visit, based on what you are able to offer on site and in your guide.

The expectation is not that every organization will be equipped with everything outlined below. We understand that historic buildings in particular may pose access challenges.

Consider the following points:

• Is there designated accessible parking for visitors nearby?
• Is the building accessible to wheelchairs with step-free access? Are all visitor areas within the building accessible to wheelchair users and people with limited mobility?
• If some spaces are not fully accessible, do you have any alternatives to offer, such as a video on your guide?
• Do you have on-site wheelchairs for visitors to borrow/hire?
• Is there seating inside the building? This includes fixed seating or portable stools visitors can carry with them.
• Do you have wheelchair accessible and/or gender neutral bathrooms?
• Do you have bathrooms with baby change facilities?
• Is the building accessible to buggies/prams/strollers?
• Do you allow service animals in the building?
• Are large-print labels or interpretation available?
• Do you offer touch tours, audio descriptions, or other ways for blind and visually impaired visitors to engage with your displays?
• Can you offer advice on lighting, quiet visiting times, or other accommodations that may help neurodivergent visitors enjoy your space?
• Is your building equipped with an induction loop system?
• Are staff available/trained to offer support to visitors with accessibility needs?

Guidelines and best practices

• If you offer a phone number or email for people to ask accessibility-related questions, make sure these are included and hyperlinked so people can call or e-mail via tapping.
• If your space has access limitations, clearly explain the limitations in order to manage expectations and, where possible, offer alternative ways of engaging with the space or content offered.
• If you have audio or video content related to accessibility (e.g., sign language videos, audio and video transcripts, captions or subtitles), include a short text summary of the key information in the top-level Accessibility item description.
  • We want to make sure visitors are aware of any content that might be helpful for them.
• If your organization already has extensive accessibility guidance elsewhere, you can include a link out (to your website, PDF, or AccessAble). But, key accessibility information should still be available directly in your guide so visitors can quickly and easily determine if their access needs will be met.

Sample text

Feel free to edit the following blurb to reflect the accessible content available on your guide:

This Bloomberg Connects digital guide offers a range of assistive technology features including screen reader support, alt text for images, linear presentation of maps, text scaling, flexible screen orientation, audio and video transcripts, and video captions and subtitles. 

Examples

Explore the guides below to see examples of thorough and clear accessibility sections:

• The Warhol Museum demonstrates how models and visual aids can be referenced consistently throughout a guide. 
• The Heckscher Museum of Art has verbal descriptions throughout.
• Gainsborough's House has a thorough accessibility section. Their sensory content was planned from the outset of the guide's development. They have audio descriptions and British Sign Language videos of their House Collection, and a Sensory Guide. 
• The Briscoe Western Art Museum has a Tactile Tour with Verbal Descriptions. These are 3D printed touch tiles paired with audio description for a multi-sensory experience.  
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a good model for featuring accessible routes prominently within an outdoor or large-scale venue guide. 
• The Jewish Museum has broad, well-integrated accessibility content that can serve a wide range of visitor needs. They also have great audio descriptions and an ASL tour. 
• The Wallace Collection is a strong model for integrating British Sign Language content throughout an entire guide rather than as a standalone add-on. 
• The MoMA has a section on Sensory Friendly Spaces with a map.