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The National Gallery will be the first museum included in a new 'See it Right' Accessible Website initiative run by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and supported by Standard Life, to be launched on 20 February. This scheme aims to improve website accessibility for people with disabilities, including blind and partially sighted people. RNIB experts will audit the site, identify accessibility issues and help to make the National Gallery website fully accessible.
Once audited, the website will work with different sorts of access technology, allowing users with non-standard browsers, for example, text or speech browsers, and specialised hardware to access a wide range of information on the National Gallery website. The National Gallery hopes to be the first museum or gallery to display the RNIB 'See it Right' logo.
A new Access leaflet (available as a booklet and audio version), with details of how to get to the Gallery, and the facilities and services available for all visitors is now available from the Gallery.
Services available at the Gallery:
- National Gallery online news, a free monthly subscription email newsletter. Subscribe at: http:www.nationalgallery.org.uk/what/news/subscribe.htm.
- Art through Words, these lively free sessions for blind and partially-sighted visitors take place on the last Saturday of the month. Each session begins with a description of the painting and ends with a visit to the galleries.
- A Sense of Art, available from the Sainsbury Wing information desk for visually-impaired visitors, It comprises three tours, with a specially written, descriptive audio-guide and large print text, used in conjunction with raised-line diagrams.
- Free British Sign Language interpreted talks take place at 11.30am and 2.30pm on the first Saturday of the month.
- Gallery Guide Soundtrack, a portable CD-ROM audioguide with random-access commentaries on over 1,000 paintings. The numbered push-buttons have Braille numbers and equipment can be used with a hearing aid.
- Large Print Labels of picture labels (black on white) are available for the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
- Wheelchairs, are available for use in the Gallery from the Sainsbury Wing cloakroom.
For further press information please contact the Press Office Tel: 020 7747 2865
National Gallery Education department Tel: 020 7747 2424
Please quote General Information number for public enquiries Tel: 020 7747 2885
February 2002
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