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With their overwhelming reliance on visual arts and artefacts, art galleries and museums are often considered unapproachable spaces for people who are blind or have low vision (BLV). We present the results of an ongoing collaboration with an Australian regional gallery in their efforts to improve access by BLV people to their permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. We describe the approach taken to develop interpretive technology-mediated experiences for BLV visitors for their 2021 and 2022 flagship exhibitions, along with evaluation from the perspectives of both BLV visitors and the gallery staff. Outcomes include: broader awareness within the gallery for inclusive design practice and public engagement; better understandings of the needs of BLV visitors, in particular relating to confidence building and technology integration; understanding of gallery constraints and challenges; and a framework for the development of future inclusive gallery experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an autoethnographic study of an independent blind traveller, Kate. It recounts her preparation for a 28-day cruise and then her experience onboard the ship. Her planning notes, field notes and travel diary were analysed in terms of five main themes: information access, orientation and mobility, tools and technology, cultural and societal issues, and person-centred issues. This analysis provides a deeply personal account of the barriers–in particular information access, orientation and mobility and staff attitudes–that she faced, as well as the skills and tools that she used to overcome these. A particular focus is Kate's use of technologies to access visual information and the provision of accessible maps and models before the trip to help her build a cognitive map of the ship's layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]