For the first time, visitors will be able to explore the arts festival using sensory-friendly and tactile maps. In this edition of “Accessibility in Action,” you’ll learn how these maps work, who they’re for, and how they came to life for this year’s event.

You can find both maps at the Information Center, located near the public entrance on Waterfront Place.

The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is the kind of event that buzzes with activity from start to finish. If you're a festivalgoer, you know what that energy feels like.

While the bustling environment is exciting for many visitors, it can also present barriers for people who experience sensory overload. And for those with low vision or blindness, the action-packed footprint can be difficult to navigate without some direction.

With these challenges in mind, the Cultural Trust's Accessibility team decided to create two new tools for this year’s festival: a sensory-friendly map and a tactile map.

“Since no one map can provide every option, the goal is to provide as many options as we can,” explains Karoline Smith, Accessibility Manager at the Cultural Trust. “We want patrons to enjoy their time at the festival and that starts with independent navigation.”

The team also knew that an effective map needed a thoughtful, user-focused design. That’s why they partnered with Jonathan Daybear, Senior Designer at the Cultural Trust.

“When Vanessa and Karoline approached me about this idea, I was very excited,” Jonathan says. “These are the rewarding design challenges I like to do.”

Together, they began a process of trial and error, research, collaboration, and—according to Smith—a lot of “mind reading” from Daybear. At every stage, they remained focused on the patron experience.

A Sensory-Friendly Solution

With sensory friendly maps, visitors will be able to navigate the festival according to their individual sensory needs.

"These maps are designed for individuals who would like sensory inclusive information like loud areas, calm areas, high visual stimulation, and touch-friendly areas," Smith explains.

The team was inspired to create sensory-friendly maps experiencing them firsthand at the Smithsonian Folk Festival in D.C. Among all the accessibility services they experienced, the sensory-friendly map stood out as a feasible and impactful option.

For Daybear, the hardest part of the process was making sure the sensory advisory icons inform visitors without conveying a positive or negative experience.

He mentions the sound icons as an example: "I made a traditional sound wave design with rounded ends, but if I wanted this to be a warning, I'd give those sound waves sharp angles or a spiky treatment.”

Getting a Feel for the Festival

The tactile map will give visitors another way to explore the festival. It’s printed on swell paper—a special material that reacts to heat by raising the black ink, creating a textured, touchable surface.

Smith came up with the idea for this resource while attending an accessibility conference. As she heard other organizations talk about using tactile maps, she thought, “I can do that.”

But after doing some research, she realized that the specialized printers used to create these maps were expensive. So, she decided to conduct some at home experiments.

“The printer is basically a fancy pizza oven, so I thought I might be able to replicate that process with a light bulb and some dedication,” she says.

Smith ordered infrared lizard cage bulbs and got to work. But things didn’t go smoothly at first. While trying to print the maps at work, she broke the copy machine—twice.

“Everyone told me to give up, but I can’t do that. So, I got my old laser jet out and printed it on there. I may have burnt a few pieces of paper, but I got the hang of it.”

Once she figured out the process, Daybear helped design the map—which presented a few challenges.

“I had to ask the question: Does a black and white version of our existing map actually make sense to someone feeling it with the tip of their finger? If a visually impaired person has never seen what a stage looks like, does a stage icon make sense?”

Using their expertise, the Accessibility team helped Daybear to address these questions.

“Since not all visually impaired people read braille, they asked me to use ubiquitous iconography that has been used everywhere in airports, public buildings, & workspaces like the universal restroom icons, and the icon that looked like a stage, became a music note instead.”

One day, Smith hopes to receive funding for a specialized fuser machine so that they can create tactile maps more efficiently. In the meantime, being able to create even a few maps is worth it, she says.

A Comfortable Festival Experience

Although Smith says patrons haven't specifically requested these maps, she is always hearing from people who are looking for more sensory-inclusive activities and information.

"I believe that access to the arts is a human right," Smith says. "I am a disabled individual, and I act as a conduit for other disabled people to get access to the arts. That's all the motivation I need."

The sensory-friendly map is part of a larger effort to enhance accessibility at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. As usual, the event will provide accessible tables in the eating area, ASL interpretation at the main stage, limited manual wheelchair rentals, and an accessible outdoor restroom.

Smith and the Accessibility team know their efforts positively impact festivalgoers, but they don’t expect to hear from people if their services are effective. In fact, Smith believes that accessibility should be so seamless that most people wouldn’t even think to reach out with praise.

With that said, Smith adds, if something isn’t working, the Cultural Trust team wants to hear about it so they can address the situation.

"If we really did well with accessibility, then people with disabilities should be able to come and enjoy the festivals with their families with ease. It should almost be so comfortable that it's unnoticeable—that they can just exist in the space without difficulty like everyone else.”

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Maps Matter

If you're wondering who might find these maps useful, the wide range of people who can benefit may surprise you. According to Sensory Friendly Solutions, 25 different conditions are associated with sensory sensitivity or overload—including autism, PTSD, hearing loss, post-concussion syndrome, dementia, and long COVID.

When someone experiences sensory overload, their brain receives more information than it can process effectively. This can trigger reactions ranging from irritability and restlessness to panic attacks and emotional distress. And when it comes to vision accessibility, the need is equally clear. According to the CDC, approximately 6 million Americans experience vision loss, and 1 million live with blindness.

Want a Map?

You can pick up a printed copy of either map at the Information Center, located near the public entrance on Waterfront Place.

If you'd like to print your sensory-friendly map ahead of time, you can download the PDF here.

 

DOWNLOAD THE SENSORY-FRIENDLY MAP

A copy of the tactile map will be shared here at a later date.