Welcome to Access-i

Choco-Story Brussels

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

Dive into the world of cocoa and chocolate, walk through a Mayan temple where the beans were consumed 5000 years ago, board the ship of Cortes who brought the cocoa beans to Europe, discover how chocolate was consumed at the French Court in the 17th century and how it was made into "Praline" in the early 20th century in Belgium.

Demonstration, tasting and audio guide included in the visit.

The museum does a lot to adapt the visit to different audiences, however the place has different obstacles.

As stated on their website, prams and electric chairs are not allowed, as the tour involves the use of 3 platform lifts in addition to the lift present.

The tour itinerary also includes passages in very dark areas.

Parking is not easy in the narrow streets of central Brussels.

Reservations are required.

Only the museum was audited, not the workshop.

Strong points

Staff
  • There is staff available to help negotiate obstacles.
Safety
  • The signage makes it possible to find the way and orient oneself easily.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

The museum is designed for manual chairs only (no pushchairs or electric wheelchairs).

Vertical circulation is ensured by a compliant lift and 3 platform lifts along the staircase, 70/85 cm in size, which are compulsory passages for the visit.

Part of the corridor is 110 cm wide.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is a step of 2 cm maximum to negotiate but it is bevelled.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • There is no step in the entrance.
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • The free space in front of the counter is sufficiently big.
Horizontal circulation
  • The floor is regular .
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
  • The lift can be used in autonomy.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible and visible.

Points of attention

Parking
  • There is no car park.
Access road from the street
  • The floor is irregular.
Home
  • The counter is too high.
Horizontal circulation
  • Some transit areas are too narrow.
Vertical circulation
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is an adapted toilet, but it is difficult to use.
  • There is an adapted toilet, but it is difficult to access.
  • The use of the sink is difficult.

Vertical circulation is ensured by a compliant lift and 3 staircases without handrails which are obligatory passages for the visit.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
Entrance
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • There is no step in the entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
  • There are seats along the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.

Points of attention

Parking
  • The parking spaces are located further than 100 metres from the entrance.
Access road from the street
  • The floor is irregular.
Home
  • There are no seats near the reception.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are some steps without handrail.
  • There is a staircase with more than 6 steps to negotiate.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases do not have handrails.
  • The lift does not serve all the floors open to the public.
Exposition
  • Due to the configuration of the premises, a part of the content is difficult to access.

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

Indeed, our experience has highlighted this aspect.

Adapted visit possible on reservation.

Audio-guide to be presented near the boxes.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • Guide-lines facilitate circulation .
Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance .
Home
  • The reception is located in front of the entrance.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The reception has no glass partition.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.
  • An audio-guide is available and adapts itself automatically to the visitor‘s progress.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no device allowing the identification of the entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • The pathway presents punctually a passage height of less than 2m.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases do not have handrails.

Adapted visit possible on reservation.

Audio-guide to be presented near the boxes.

Parts of the exhibition are dark or very dark.

Strong points

Access road from the street
  • Guide-lines facilitate circulation.
Entrance
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • There is no device allowing the identification of the entrance.
  • There is at least one non secure glass door.
Horizontal circulation
  • The lack of contrast between the floor and the walls makes it difficult to circulate.
  • The pathway presents punctually a passage height of less than 2m.
Vertical circulation
  • The stair steps are not contrasting.
  • The staircases do not have handrails.
Exposition
  • An audio-guide is available, but does not adapt itself automatically to the visitor‘s progress.

Adapted visit possible on reservation.

A videoguide is currently being produced.

The content of the audio guide is transcribed into a paper version.

Parts of the exhibition are dark or very dark.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • 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 text.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • A person speaking sign language is available upon prior request.
Wireless
  • It is possible to connect to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
  • A visit in Belgian French sign language is available upon prior request.

Points of attention

Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult.

Adapted visit possible on reservation.

The content of the audio guide is transcribed into a paper version.

Parts of the exhibition are dark or very dark.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • 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 reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The institution can be contacted in writing: text or email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The environment is calm.
  • An adapted visit is available upon prior request .
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
  • An audio-guide with headset and adjustable volume is available.

Points of attention

Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .

Dark or very dark parts of the exhibition.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
  • 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).
Vertical circulation
  • The lift is easy to use or staff is available to help.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • An adapted visit is available upon prior request.
  • The exhibition is varied (touch, smell, sight, hearing).

Points of attention

Vertical circulation
  • The lighting is not sufficient in the staircases.
  • The stair steps are not contrasting.
  • The staircases do not have handrails.
Exposition
  • A part of the exhibition is in the dark.
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.