Museum Ocularcentricity and Visual Impairment in Policy, Practice, and Mindset

Museums are generally making efforts to know their audiences and to develop effective programs according to available resources. While this attitude shows increased interest in the experience of a diverse audience, access for blind and partially blind (BPB) publics still entails barriers. The main reason for this drawback is arguably ocularcentricity, a biased sight-centered attitude in museums. This article agrees with the claim that ocularcentricity is dominant in most museums, and it argues that it disrupts efforts toward accessibility for BPB audiences from their conception. The article identifies three persisting behaviors and attitudes that sustain ocularcentricity in museums: ableist policies, overreliance on sight, and expertise that feeds assumptions. These paradigms are analyzed via a scoping review methodology, by assessing evidence and perspectives from a diversity of fields. The article shows evidence in the investigated literature toward the persistence of ocularcentricity in museums by highlighting the effects of ableist policies on museum governance and attitudes, as well as sole reliance on sight for the display of artifacts. It is also suggested that expertise and assumptions about the lived experience of BPB individuals, even stemming from good intentions, contribute to creating a false portrayal of their museum experience. Despite identifying these shortcomings as instrumental in hindering inclusion for BPB museum audiences, the article also presents alternatives that could favor a more equal footing between museums and these audiences.