How Do We Produce a Sensory Map for Potential Visitors?

What is this advice about?

This advice is for anyone who wants to make their heritage site more accessible and attractive to a wide range of visitors, some of whom may have sensory differences.

It explains the features of a sensory map and how to create one, following the 2022 Heritage Access report and its inclusion of sensory maps as a best-practice example of accessibility in museums and heritage sites.

What are the key points?

What is a sensory map?

Some autistic people find processing sensory information (sight, taste, touch, hearing, smell, balance, and body awareness) difficult. This is because any of their senses can be over or under-sensitive, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and possibly physical pain. It is important to be aware that this can also affect people who have not been diagnosed with autism. Sensory differences can also affect neurodivergent people, those with hearing loss, sight loss, and anxiety or other mental health conditions.

A sensory map is a document that tells someone what sensory experience they can anticipate when visiting somewhere. Sensory maps can include where they will find bright or low lighting, strong smells, crowded areas, changes in temperature and other sensory elements.

Everyone can use sensory maps to prepare for their visit and navigate your site in the best way for them. Many visitors to heritage sites, attractions and museums, including disabled people, neurodivergent people, and those with mental health conditions, might need sensory maps for reasons related to their conditions.

For example, if an area has flickering lighting, then someone with photosensitive epilepsy would benefit from knowing about this potential seizure trigger in advance so they can make their own choices about their visit. Similarly, someone whose autism means that crowded places create a sensory overload leading to a meltdown or shutdown response can navigate your site differently by using the sensory map. A visitor who doesn't have a disability but learns through hands-on engagement might want to find where the tactile exhibits are located.

Sensory maps can also be an engagement tool, helping to highlight elements of your site that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as specific scented plants or your heritage site's interactive, tactile, and immersive parts.

What information should a sensory map include?

There are a few simple things all sensory maps should have:

• A graphic illustration of your site map that is clear and accurate
• A legend with clear icons that simply and effectively communicate different types of areas on your map
• A written introduction to your map that tells users what it is and how to use it
• A guide on how to give feedback on the map

It is important to keep your sensory map up to date, considering changes in temporary exhibitions and changes to your site. An out-of-date sensory map with incorrect information could be disruptive and even dangerous to someone’s visit.

How do I create a sensory map?

Start with a clear, simple and accurate site map showing the areas and entry and exit points visitors need to see. You don’t need to include a level of detail that would only be relevant to a security guard or facilities manager, just enough to make navigation easy for visitors.

Then, you need to identify:

• Areas that are quiet or noisy – remember to consider noises such as coffee machines, hand dryers as well as any machinery or vehicles
• Areas that are daylit, unlit, have low, bright, flashing, flickering or changing lights
• Areas that are crowded by other people
• Areas that are cold and drafty, or hot and stuffy, or where there are sudden changes in temperature
• Where the bathrooms are, and what type of bathrooms are available
• Where food and drink are available
• Where strong smells might be
• Where tactile exhibits are
• Where accessibility help can be found

Plot the relevant icons on the map. You might choose to use high-contrasting colours to denote where these areas begin and end.

The maps should follow other accessibility guidelines so they are usable by anyone who needs to access them. This includes large print text and images, good formatting and design, clear colour contrast, and colour-blind readability. It should be available in other languages, including braille, and digital versions must be compatible with screen readers.

To ensure your map is effective, reach out to people who have not visited your site before and have lived experience of sensory difference to test it. This could be local organisations led by and representing disabled, d/Deaf, or neurodivergent people.

How should we make our sensory map available?

Sensory maps are often provided online so someone can understand what they might find ahead of their visit, and as hard copy on site. They should be downloadable and printable. It should be easy for your visitors to find a sensory map, and all personnel on site should know what they are and how to provide them. Offering the sensory map as standard to all visitors embeds inclusion into your visitor offer.

When used alongside a visual story, sensory maps can provide visitors with much-needed reassurance and confidence to experience your heritage site and to ask for what they need.

If your site is promoted through accessibility listing forum sites such as AccessAble, which uses a survey format, or Euan’s Guide, which lists disabled people’s reviews, then be sure to include what kind of sensory map you provide.

Examples of sensory maps

• Sensory Map (wallacecollection.org): a simple sensory map from national museum The Wallace Collection
• Lion Salt Works | AccessAble: this heritage attraction in the north west completed AccessAble’s survey, so their visual and sensory map information is listed, and they link to their page on their own website. There are limitations to the information provided due to the survey format, but going through the survey process is a great start to supporting visitors with sensory differences, and other access requirements
• Imperial War Museum North with Disabled Access - Euan's Guide (euansguide.com): Euan’s Guide is a site with reviews from disabled visitors, and some entries such as this one for Imperial War Museum North mention the sensory packs available at this site
• Accessibility IWM North | Imperial War Museums: Imperial War Museum North’s website tells visitors what to expect from their sensory packs available to visitors. This is an example of a heritage site going a step further than a sensory map by providing equipment such as ear defenders and fidget toys in anticipation of what visitors might need
• Creating a Sensory Map for the Museum - Wiltshire Museum: Wiltshire Museum’s sensory map guide note only shows the map they use, but beneficially takes the reader through how they put it together
• Making Your Location Sensory Friendly (sensoryfriendly.net): Sensory Friendly Solutions is a training company that has lots of free advice on their website, including this guide to creating a sensory map