Tapestry tour added for blind after legal threat
The British Museum has agreed to provide audio-described tours of the Bayeux Tapestry following a legal threat from a blind visitor. The museum previously cited light exposure restrictions as a reason for limiting access, but now plans to integrate accessibility features into the exhibition.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between preserving fragile historical artifacts and ensuring equal access for disabled visitors under equality legislation.
Image source, The Making of Heritage in Normandy, Antoine Cazin Image caption, The tapestry is on loan at the British Museum until July
The British Museum says it will provide an audio-described tour of the Bayeux Tapestry after a blind man threatened legal action over a lack of access for visually impaired visitors.
Dr Yusuf Ali Osman, from Croydon, says the museum breached the Equality Act by not offering such tours of the exhibition.
His lawyers, Leigh Day, sent the museum a pre-action letter on 24 September.
On Wednesday, the central London museum said an in-person audio-described tour would be held during the exhibition's run. It said it was also exploring adding an audio-described tour to the exhibition's app.
Osman, who has no sight in either eye, contacted the museum in July to ask whether audio-described tours would be available, according to Leigh Day.
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