The project "Un Acquario per tutti" (An Aquarium for Everyone), developed at the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa (2022–2023), aimed to make aquarium visits more accessible and inclusive, particularly for individuals with visual impairments. Sight is often the main way people experience museums, but visitors who are visually impaired may encounter barriers to fully engage with exhibits. To address this, the project designed and implemented a tactile panel featuring 3D models of fish and an accessible video with inclusive voice over and subtitles in both Italian and English.
The models, made of polyurethane resin, were created from casts of real specimens and coated with tactile textures representing the colour patterns of various species found in the tanks. Each colour was associated with a distinct material, allowing visitors to differentiate textures through touch. The project involved visually impaired individuals from UICI (Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired), who provided valuable feedback on the panel's design, suggesting improvements to layout and readability.
Results demonstrated strong emotional and cognitive engagement among participants, both young and adult, highlighting the educational, inclusive, and playful value of the initiative. The project serves as a replicable example of sensory accessibility in museums, proving that fully inclusive cultural experiences are achievable through simple, practical solutions.
