Defining The Dot Experience: Everything You Need to Know

Geoff Cook

Defining The Dot Experience: Everything You Need to Know

Get ready to experience a museum like no other! The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is launching "The Dot Experience" in 2026. This reimagined, five times larger museum champions inclusive design, making it the most accessible museum globally.

"The Dot Experience" honors the six-dot braille system, weaving it throughout exhibits to promote literacy. Expect to see historic treasures, cutting-edge innovations, and hear powerful first-person accounts from people who are blind or low vision. Explore Helen Keller's collection, delve into the history of education for the visually impaired, and take an inside look at APH's working facility.

Discover how people in the blind and low vision community live, learn, and navigate. Understand the barriers they face and how you can contribute to a more accessible community for everyone. The museum will feature APH products for hands-on learning, displaying objects from the nation's largest collection of historical materials on blindness.

Located at 1839 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY, "The Dot Experience" welcomes all ages. Every detail, from signage with alt text and braille to wide hallways and accessible interactives, ensures an independent exploration for every visitor.

By highlighting the lived experiences of the blind and low vision community, "The Dot Experience" expands equality and opportunity.

For more details, check out the original article: Defining The Dot Experience: Everything You Need to Know

How do you think inclusive design can transform other public spaces?

Sarah Tuberty

ooOoOo!! This looks really awesome!

It reminds me of a little video that had such a profound influence on me- as it was my introduction to the Social Model of Disability- and it was where I finally realized that my limb difference is not my fault. It may not feel that powerful to everyone who has already learned this- but just such a great reminder!

I love that the majority population are people who use wheelchairs, and their world is built with tables, and doorways designed for this population- and those who do not use wheelchairs hit their heads on the lower doorways, and they don't have chairs to sit on at tables.

So it gets me thinking- about various ways of inclusive design, I would love for interaction elements to not require the use of both upper extremities- eh, actually I think I would really love just more museum work/ exhibits that showcase our lives- in more of a celebration and honoring of our lives vs an exploitative/voyeur type experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s3NZaLhcc4

Geoff Cook

This video is gold. Sarah, you bring up an interesting point. At what age were you roughly when you discovered that you were different from your peers and friends? For me, it was approximately six because I had my first surgery when I was four and turned five in the hospital, so I was around people who were dealing with similar things, even if they were different medically.