Accessibility and inclusivity are a real passion of ours. We regularly produce British Sign Language (BSL) and subtitled tours for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.

Just as BSL tours cater to the D/deaf community, Audio Descriptive (AD) tours cater to visitors who are blind or visually impaired. These tours use handheld audio guides to provide narrated descriptions of exhibits, enabling individuals to visualise and appreciate the visual elements of the displays. We provide specialist consultancy, scriptwriting and production to create an engaging mix of audible wayfinding and object descriptions using words to paint a visual picture.

Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Ely Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral stand out as pioneers in offering exceptional AD tours. The grandeur of these historic landmarks is brought to life through vivid audio descriptions, ensuring that blind visitors can explore the opulence and history of these iconic British sites. By extending the richness of the visual experience through carefully crafted audio narratives, these institutions demonstrate a commitment to making their cultural treasures accessible to all.

We firmly believe that everyone should be able to experience the rich history and engage with the exciting stories our heritage sites and visitor attractions have to offer and we can provide practical advice on how to get started, whatever your budget.

We’ve put together a video to share best practice from across the sector on how to improve accessibility for those with sight impairments. Take a look here.

The provision of Audio Descriptive tours on handheld audio guides is a significant step towards creating truly inclusive cultural spaces. As museums and attractions continue to prioritise inclusivity, they not only enrich the experiences of individual visitors but also contribute to building a more accessible society.

Even small venues with limited resources can take meaningful steps towards becoming more accessible and inclusive. We discuss low-cost solutions in our article Breaking Barriers on a Budget.

Great storytelling (and a flair for the creative!) is at the heart of what we do and the expert teams at ATS can advise on the best way to bring your story to life. So get in touch for a chat!

For more information we recommend:

UK: https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/make-your-business-accessible-and-inclusive

Ireland: https://supports.failteireland.ie/courses/accessible-tourism/