Exhibits provide the means for presenting and protecting the object on display and communicating information about it. No specific accessibility standards are available for exhibits. The AAM manual, 'Everyone's Welcome,' has provided guidance on how to enhance exhibit access using Universal Design and adapting ADAAG standards.

The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University defines Universal Design as the 'design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.' For exhibits and their components, it would mean designing them to be accessible to people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This design standard can be useful for children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and non-disabled.

An example is mounting interactive exhibits. The mounting of controls between 36 and 48 inches is easier to use by anyone, standing or seated, adult or child.

The interior exhibits and area around them have some issues that need to be considered. The pathway for getting through these areas has been discussed.

Lighting is an important issue for people, especially those with low vision. A light level of at least 10 foot-candles or about 100 lux is recommended. The light levels enhance all aspects of the exhibit, from seeing the pathway to reading the signage to viewing the animals or objects on display.

A signboard with multi-colored background that's hard to read.

For signage to be effective, several design features need to be incorporated. The font of the signage should be a sans serif or simple serif. The font should contrast with the background to provide for ease of reading. The size of the lettering is best read when it is 18 points or more. Another design used by sign makers is printing over pictures or backgrounds that are not solid. This design can make reading difficult, as lettering can be lost in the different colors or features of a picture.

A sign at a museum that is not at readable distance.

A solid background with a contrast of color to the lettering is the best for reading. A picture to the side of the text is a good enhancement to signage, especially for someone with a visual impairment. But you do need to make sure the sign is within a few inches or they will not be able to get close enough to read the information or see the picture..

Exhibits that can be touched, smelt or heard.

Braille can be used with signage, but it should be noted that only a small percentage of people who have lost their sight read Braille. Other means of communication such as talking signs, portable audio tours, etc., are effective means of communication. These different means for communication can be beneficial for those who also have their sight.

Many new exhibits are using a multi-sensory approach to increase the effectiveness of communication and education. Examples include the use of animal musk smells, miniature copies of an object for people to touch and see up close, two-dimensional cutouts, different sounds, descriptive tours and audio recordings.

Uneven floor could lead to tripping.

These new and innovative items provide more effective ways for everyone to learn from and enjoy the artifacts, animals, and exhibits. In addition to these exhibit enhancements, many exhibits have developed natural or immersion environments. These immersion exhibits provide features that are man-made, but natural-looking. However, many of the exhibits do not include accessibility standards within their design and construction. Some examples of accessibility issues include making the pathways accessible. In the figure, a tire rut has been impressed into the flooring. The design gives you the impression on being in the back roads of Africa. However, the rut creates a tripping hazard for people with mobility impairments. People using wheelchairs could have difficulty when the ruts become more than 1/2-inch deep. They literally might get 'stuck in the rut.'

Another issue is the creation of a protruding hazard to the public. This man-made tree was designed leaning over the pathway. Unfortunately, a person with a visual impairment, using a cane along the path edge for guidance, could walk right into the tree and receive a serious head injury.