The project Bridge is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Servicio Espanol para la Internacionalizacion de la Educacion (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor the National Agency SEPIE can be held responsible for them. -- Number: 2025-1-ES01-KA220-HED-000359236 --
The BRIDGE Digital Museum brings together good practices, educational proposals and images that inspire reflection and action
Social Challenges
Analyse social challenges to intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and democratic cohesion
Good Practices
Discover experiences that generate social impact
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Access teaching guides, activities and materials for the classroom
Documentary Photography
Explore the social challenges in a visual, reflective and educational way
BRIDGE Main Challenge: A.3. Educational gaps throughout educational trajectories, including higher education
Museums are cultural environments with a multidimensional educational and social role. People with sensory disabilities (vision and hearing impairments), however, continue to encounter significant barriers in accessing museums and sites of cultural heritage. These barriers include not only physical and informational restrictions, but also a lack of appropriate training and resources for museum staff, and limited opportunities for participation in group and independent visits.
The project ToMiMEUs – Towards a Multisensory and Inclusive Museum for Individuals with Sensory Disabilities treats cultural participation as a fundamental right for all people. Thus, it challenges current limitations to access and engagement of people with sensory disabilities in museums by responding to the need for museum staff to adapt to technological, social, and legislative changes.
ToMiMEUs is an Erasmus+ project that seeks to raise awareness about the accessibility and engagement barriers of people with sensory disabilities in museums and other cultural sites and develop the capacity of the museum staff to use appropriate techniques and emerging technologies to improve accessibility and inclusion.
Individuals with sensory disabilities constitute a heterogeneous target group; each person experiences unique barriers when accessing a museum due to the structure of museums and the unavailability of appropriate facilitations, methods and means, activities and events. The ways that museums address visitors with sensory disabilities as independent visitors as well as within groups with mixed abilities and needs is a challenge which reflects the social reality and the overall discrimination exercised against people with impairments.
The project treats museum accessibility not simply as a question of physical access, but as a right to participate in cultural heritage and learning. The implemented workshops provided learning, cultural and social opportunities for people with sensory disabilities while encouraging interaction between visitors with and without disabilities.
ToMiMEUs contributes to A3 challenge by responding to a cross-cutting accessibility gap that can affect learning at different ages and in both formal and educational settings. In particular, the project extends learning opportunities beyond formal education and removes accessibility barriers to museums, considering them as non-formal learning environments.
ToMiMEUs has designed a training programme for museum professionals, based on the principles of Universal Design and Universal Design of Learning, multisensory education and a socio-anthropological perspective of disability, reflecting the values of inclusive education. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and a participatory approach, the project introduces a more inclusive model for museums and other cultural sites, adapted accordingly to enhance accessibility by people with sensory impairments.
Scoping
Digital publication
A literature review, a collection of best practices and a needs’ assessment analysis for the museum staff in the participating countries, regarding the access and inclusion of individuals with sensory impairments to museums
Professionals
https://tomimeus.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IO1-Scoping-ToMIMEUs-EN.pdf
Training Material
Online training
A set of training material, articulated in 7 modules, for museum staff, covering accessibility and disability awareness as a crucial parameter of a museum accessibility policy .
Professionals
https://tomimeus.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IO3-Training-Material-ToMIMEUs-EN.pdf
Guide of Best Practices
Book
A presentation and analysis of participants' engagement into project activities focusing on increased accessibility in museums for people with sensory disabilities. The document placed an emphasis on beneficiaries' interaction and communication, their emotions, and the challenges encountered throughout their participation.
Professionals
https://tomimeus.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IO6-Guide-Best-Practices-ToMIMEUs-EN.pdf