Accessibility of Cultural Heritage Sites for People with Disabilities: A Case Study on Krakow Museums

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the accessibility of flagship cultural attractions—that is, museums located in Krakow, a city with a rich historical heritage included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List and distinguished by being a recipient of the Access City Award—for people with disabilities. This research shows the degree to which these museums have been adapted to receive visitors with disabilities. Assessments were also conducted with regard to access to the museums’ websites and the possibility for virtual tours of their collections. Out of a total of 50 museums, 31 were selected for this study, both leading museums in terms of attendance, such as Wawel Royal Castle, the National Museum, the Museum of Krakow, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and smaller ones such as the Aviation Museum. The research results indicate that Krakow museums are well-prepared for receiving people with physical disabilities and seniors but are less well adapted to receiving visually impaired and blind people and hearing-impaired and deaf people. Analysis of the museums’ websites showed that they are well-prepared in terms of compatibility and comprehensibility but that they received worse assessment scores with regard to their perceivability and functionality. Visitors to the museums are principally adults, adolescents, and seniors. People with disabilities make up 10% of all visitors.

Museums for Older Adults and Mobility-Impaired People: Applying Inclusive Design Principles and Digital Storytelling Guidelines—A Review

“…This requires increasing their engagement levels in the public domain, and accessible tourism, including inclusive museums, is on the rise. A growing number of hotels, restaurants, museums, and attractions are announcing their accessibility to individuals with disabilities [33,34].…”

“…Furthermore, according to Kruczek et al [33], the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the potential of mobile phone technologies to enhance the accessibility of tourist destinations, particularly museums, for individuals with sensory impairments. Technology has been used in various ways to enhance accessibility, including the provision of online communication tools, smartphones equipped with audio guides, and the capability to directly translate text into sign language [66,67].…”

“…Certain museums have initiated the provision of VR tours, enabling individuals with mobility limitations or older adults to experience exhibits from the convenience of their residences or a designated seating area within the museum. VR is suitable for all generations because of its user-friendly nature and ability to transport individuals to remote historical or modern locations [1,33,74].…”

“…People with mobility limitations or older adults could experience exhibits at their convenience [1,24,33,74].…”

The Urgency of Digitizing Ancient Indonesian Manuscripts in Libraries: A Literature Review

“…A civilization is not detached from its historical past, which contains many valuable relics that identify the level of its development (Kruczek et al, 2024;Zenucchini et al, 2024). These relics include inscriptions (Rodway, 2020), ancient manuscripts (Suryana et al, 2024),, and other artefacts that should not be overlooked (Savino & Tonazzini, 2024;Utomo & Anindyarini, 2023).…”