Welcome to Access-i

Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée

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The project to audit and certify 11 museums was made possible by the valuable support of :

A must-see attraction located in the heart of Brussels, the Comic Strip Museum has been celebrating the 9th Art for over 30 years. 

The Belgian Comic Strip Centre is a listed building built in 1975 by the art nouveau architect Victor Horta.

The permanent exhibitions, which are regularly renewed, and a vast programme of temporary exhibitions allow visitors to discover the many facets of comics. 

Numerous original plates, unpublished documents, 3D reconstructions and games are brought together to allow you to have a good time and to delight all lovers and enthusiasts of the Ninth Art of all ages. 

  • At the time of the audit, part of the permanent exhibition on level 2 was under construction and could not be visited. 
  • In the shop, the clearance can be reduced to 70cm. 
  • On the 3rd floor, there are the temporary exhibitions.
  • The lift provides access to all floors of the museum. However, the visit to the 3rd floor is in the opposite direction to the direction of the tour. 

 

Strong points

Staff
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Safety
  • The structure of the location is simple and makes it possible to find the way and orient oneself easily.
  • A specific map indicating the accessible pathways and equipment is available.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The path from the adapted parking spaces has gradients of up to 11% in places.
  • All floors are accessible with the lift. 
  • The lift cabin is small (130x130). The call buttons are high. 
  • On level 1, in the horizontal circulation, there are two 1m long slopes with a moderate gradient. The slopes are not equipped with a curb and handrail.
  • On level 2, access to the reception area is possible via a ramp with a very steep slope of 23.3% over 2.80m. This area is used for events in the museum and does not affect the tour.  
  • The folding grab bar in the adapted toilet is short. 
  • The door to the toilet is heavy.
  • The counter in the shop is too high. 

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 100 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the car park
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is not accessible, but there is a clearly indicated alternative entrance.
  • The alternative entrance is permanently open.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • The free space in front of the counter is sufficiently big.
Horizontal circulation
  • The floor is hard.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
  • The lift can be used in autonomy.
Adapted sanitary
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
  • An adapted toilet is available, well signalled and easy to use.
  • There is an accessible sink in the adapted toilet.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible and visible.
Dining room
  • All the tables allow a correct positioning in a wheelchair.
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.
  • The staff is available to help people sit at a table, choose, serve themselves, pay...

Points of attention

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces have a slope.
Access road from the car park
  • The access path has a significant super-elevation.
  • The floor is hardly passable in some places.
Access road from the street
  • The floor is hardly passable in some places.
Home
  • The counter is too high.
Vertical circulation
  • The depth of the lift car measures less than 130 cm.
Theater/Cinema
  • The theatre does not have reserved spaces.
  • It is possible to enter the building via two entrances: the main entrance, 4 steps without handrails, or the alternative entrance to the right of the main entrance with level access. 
  • On level 1, in the horizontal circulation, there are two 1m long slopes with a moderate gradient. The slopes are not equipped with kerbs and handrails. 

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 50 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the car park
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The alternative entrance is permanently open.
Home
  • Seats are available near the reception.
  • Wheelchairs are available.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is easy everywhere.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There are seats along the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
  • There is a sink in the adapted toilet.
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible.
Dining room
  • The staff is available to help people sit at a table, choose, serve themselves, pay...
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.

Points of attention

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces have a slope.
Access road from the car park
  • The access path has a significant super-elevation.
  • The floor is hardly passable in some places.
Access road from the street
  • The floor is hardly passable in some places.
Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a handrail on one side of the staircases only.

Note: In our analysis, we assume that blind people come accompanied when visiting museums.

Indeed, our experience has highlighted this aspect.

  • On level 1, there are several protruding metal columns. 
  • On level 1, in the horizontal circulation, there are two 1m long inclined planes with a moderate slope, to compensate for a step. The inclined planes are not equipped with curbs and handrails. 
  • The lift is not equipped with a voice synthesiser. 
  • The lift buttons are not in Braille or raised. 

Strong points

Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Home
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The staff sees the persons coming into the building and can assist them.
  • The visual information is backed up by a voice announcement.
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
  • The staircases have at least one handrail.
Dining room
  • The staff is available to help people : sit at a table, choose, serve themselves, pay...

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • The pedestrian crossings are not secured by tactile tiles.
Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive and can‘t offer assistance.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are dangerous objects in the pathway.
  • There is at least one non-secured ramp in the logical pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secured by warning tiles at their top.
Exposition
  • No adapted tours are planned.
  • No adapted didactic support is available.
  • The exhibition is not adapted, since the content is mainly visual.
  • There is no audio description.
Theater/Cinema
  • There is no audio description.
  • On level 1, there are several protruding metal columns. 
  • On level 1, in the horizontal circulation, there are two 1m long inclined planes with a moderate slope, to compensate for a step. The inclined planes are not equipped with curbs and handrails. 
  • The lift is not equipped with a voice synthesiser. 
  • The lift buttons are not in Braille or raised. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
Home
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The visual information is backed up by a voice announcement.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors.
  • The lift can be used in autonomy or staff is available to help.
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Exposition
  • The written explanations are displayed in large characters.
Dining room
  • The staff is available to help people sit at a table, choose from the menu, serve themselves, pay...

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • The pedestrian crossings are not secured by tactile tiles.
Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive and can‘t offer assistance.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are dangerous objects in the pathway.
  • There are no guide-lines in contrasting colour facilitating circulation.
  • The lack of contrast between the furniture and its environment makes it difficult to circulate.
Vertical circulation
  • The stair steps are not contrasting.
  • The floor numbers are not clearly indicated at each landing.
Exposition
  • There is no visitor guide in large characters.
  • The majority of works are displayed in display cases.
  • No adapted tours are planned.
Theater/Cinema
  • There is no audio description.
  • Parking in the vicinity is subject to a charge. The terminal is close to the adapted spaces. 
  • There are maps in the museum for orientation. 
  • The content of the museum is mainly based on visual and written explanations. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The auditory information is backed up visually.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
Wireless
  • It is possible to connect to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
Dining room
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
Home
  • There is no staff member practicing sign language.
  • There is no information available in sign language.
Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • There are no organised guided tours in sign language.
  • There are maps in the museum to help you find your way around. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is located in a quiet environment.
  • The reception is open, well lit and allows lip reading.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The environment is calm.
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.
Dining room
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Home
  • Depending on attendance, the reception can be very noisy.
Magnetic induction loop
  • There is no mobile induction loop.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
Dining room
  • Depending on attendance, there can be a lot of noise.
Theater/Cinema
  • There is no mobile induction loop available.
  • The museum is organised around a skylight, there are empty areas on levels 2 and 3. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • It is possible to pay in cash (coins and notes).
  • A priority access is possible.
Vertical circulation
  • The lift is easy to use or staff is available to help.
  • The lighting is sufficient and continuous in the staircases.
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
  • The staircases are secure.
Horizontal circulation
  • The location is calm.
  • The location is well lit.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • There is no need to by a ticket in advance.
  • The lighting is sufficient and continuous all through the visit.
Dining room
  • It is possible to pay in cash (coins and notes).
  • The staff is available to help people: sit at a table, choose in the menu, serve themselves, pay...

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
Vertical circulation
  • There is no audio or visual announcement in the lift.
  • The stair steps are not contrasting.
Exposition
  • No adapted guided visits are organised.
  • The exhibition is not sufficiently diversified.
  • There is no easy to read support.
Access-i vous informe sur l'accessibilité de ce lieu, de par les données relevées sur place, à un instant T. Les modifications éventuelles après la visite d'Access-i relèvent de la responsabilité du gestionnaire.