Feb. 4, 2025
DES MOINES –
The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) is excited to announce the implementation of NaviLens, an innovative technology designed to improve accessibility for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Using a smartphone app, users can scan special digital codes – similar to QR codes but visible from almost any angle – and gain access to navigational content to help museum visitors orient themselves in the space, including information about the proximity of each code and where different exhibits are located. This project was made possible with the support of a $10,000 Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant.
This technology is a significant advancement in making the museum more welcoming, allowing visitors to independently navigate museum spaces, access detailed information, and engage with exhibits in a variety of formats. All museum visitors can benefit from the app and enhance their museum experience by using the codes to access multimedia content including images, videos, audio descriptions, translation, and educational materials.
“We’re proud to be among the first museums in the U.S. to introduce NaviLens and we’re grateful to Prairie Meadows for their support,” said Lindsay Keast, SHSI’s Title II Accessibility Coordinator. “This project is a natural extension of our commitment to make the museum accessible to all, and it demonstrates how technology can bridge the gap for visitors who are blind or have low vision.”
The introduction of NaviLens builds on the State Historical Society of Iowa’s accessibility initiatives, which include launching regular touch tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision, adding captions to videos in exhibits, conducting accessibility audits, and providing assistive technologies like noise-cancelling headphones and iPads pre-loaded with accessibility apps.
While the Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant funded the implementation of the NaviLens system, additional plans – including the introduction of audio description tours and 3D-printed touchable artifacts – are still in the works.
Bettina Dolinsek, SHSI Accessibility Consultant and Immediate Past President of the Iowa Council of the United Blind, has been instrumental in the development of this project, providing expert guidance and leading user testing.
“As someone who is blind, it is important to me to be able to enter a building and meaningfully participate in whatever that space has to offer,” stated Dolinsek. “Now that the State Historical Society has NaviLens, I know my visit there will be one of independence and inclusiveness as I explore all they have to offer.”
The State Historical Society of Iowa is continuing to expand on its accessibility initiatives, which also includes a 2024 audit from the Great Plains ADA Center, the creation of an Accessibility Advisory Group, and ongoing improvements to its website. The Society plans to further enhance the museum’s accessibility including the addition of more language translations, children’s content, sensory kits, and communication tools like social narratives and communication cards.
“We’re working hard to ensure that all Iowans can experience our museum by adding new ways for people to access Iowa’s history,” said Valerie Van Kooten, Administrator, State Historical Society of Iowa. “NaviLens is just one of many steps that we’re taking to make the State Historical Society of Iowa a more welcoming and accessible place for all.”
Visitors to the State Historical Building can learn more about accessibility and plan for their visit using the Accessibility & Pre-Visit Information on the website.
The State Historical Society of Iowa has been a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy since 1857. With a dual mission of preservation and education, it maintains a museum, two research centers, and seven historic sites. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. The society is part of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Follow the State Historical Society of Iowa on Facebook and Instagram.