Obstacles of accessibility

On June 3 rd 2025, as part of the Accessible Museums project of the Museums and Visitors Foundation in Our Common Values Program, a Universal Accessibility in Museums workshop was held at the Museum of Ethnography. The speakers at the workshop were experiential experts from partner organizations: Györgyi Ungvári from the Association for Independent Living for People with Disabilities (ÖNÉ) and Tünde Nemes-Nagy from the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County. The discussion was moderated by Csilla Pálfi, the project coordinator of the Museums and Visitors Foundation.

Accessibility is one of the few things that almost everyone considers important, yet its practical implementation is discouringly rare in museums. There can be numerous reasons for this, ranging from the protected status of the historical building to uncertain financial support for implementation, but most commonly, the lack of an appropriate mindset is the main obstacle.

For most people, the concept of accessibility typically means a ramp at the entrance for wheelchairs, and they can only truly understand the complexity of the issue when they – during a trial – try to sit in a wheelchair or enter somewhere blindfolded, to navigate and handle tasks. Participants of the workshop held at the Museum of Ethnography could gain similar experiences.The workshop aimed to  think collectively about how museum spaces can be made physically accessible - including the entire building and exhibitions. Participants had the opportunity to share experiences, raise questions, and collaborate in reviewing practical solutions.

First, Györgyi Ungvári spoke about universal accessibility from two perspectives: from the standpoint of all user groups - i.e. those with disabilities - and in terms of all functions and services within a particular building. Therefore, a building or institution can only be considered accessible if all structures and furnishings are accessible and usable independently (without assistance) for all individuals living with disabilities. Even a comfortable, ergonomic chair lift that only museum staff can operate upon arrival cannot be considered a complete solution. A properly sized and accessible control device is necessary for universal accessibility. Györgyi Ungvári concluded by illustrating her points with some examples of good and bad practices. 

Then Tünde Nemes-Nagy helped navigate the complexities of official definitions and interpretations, starting with the Constitution, regarding who is considered as part of the group of individuals living with disabilities. She also talked about testing websites and the methodology for correcting errors.

The most exciting part of the workshop involved splitting into two teams. One group experienced limited mobility by arriving at the museum in a wheelchair, emphasizing the importance of creating eye contact with a receptionist, discovering that there is a switch that can slow down revolving doors for stress-free entry. They learned that elevators and their interiors should not only be "wheelchair-friendly" but also designed to accommodate a possible companion, in cases where the person using the chair would not be able to reach the elevator control buttons without assistance.

The second team received blindfolds and white canes, and was entering the building through a tactile guiding track on the floor. Those brave enough could try on simulation glasses to experience conditions like having cataracts or tunnel vision. .

The workshop has ended, but the project continues as we will hold 4 university seminars for students of architecture in the autumn. The themes, debates, and discussions in these seminars aim to shape the mindset of future architects so that in their future work, they will not only consult with people with disabilities but also consider their needs even from the design phase.