Botanical Garden: COME IN!
The project Botanical Garden: COME IN! VSTUPTE! KOM IN! WEJDŹ! GYERE BE! is based on the development, passing on and setting up innovative practices in the field of making botanic gardens more accessible to the general public with emphasis on visitors with special needs.
Questionnaire
This questionnaire will help you become aware of and identify obstacles that could escape your attention during the institution’s routine operation. Take a few minutes to answer the questions below – self-reflection is the first step to make your garden more accessible.
You can also download it as a pdf file in English and in Czech.
| Is the information on your website and social media easily accessible, clear and regularly updated? |
| Is your website customized for visitors with special needs (a version accessible to the visually impaired)? |
| Are there detailed itineraries of routes with marked obstacles on your website? |
| Do you offer downloadable maps with marked obstacles and important places (public transport stops, parking lots, toilets, refreshments, resting places and expositions) on your website? |
| Are the printed materials adjusted for people with special needs? |
| Is your garden easily approachable from the public transport stops? If not, can you make any changes to improve the situation? |
| Are there parking spots near the garden? Is the capacity of the parking lot sufficient? In accordance with the law, are there places reserved for people with special needs? |
| Is parking nearby the garden free of charge? |
| Do you use clear signs, is the navigation system comprehensible and functional? |
| Do you use different formats in the navigation system (e.g. the Braille)? |
| Is the navigation system available in more languages? |
| Is the navigation system regularly maintained and inspected? |
| Are employees who deal with the public regularly instructed about communication with visitors with special needs? |
| Are there enough personnel (employees, temporary workers) in your garden that can advise visitors, pass them information or assist them when needed? |
| Are the entrance gates and spaces clearly signed, wide enough and functional? |
| Are the entrances and gates regularly inspected and maintained? |
| Are the trails paved and easily passable? Do you use non-slip surfaces? |
| Do you use different colours or materials on the trails to improve movement and orientation? |
| Are the trails regularly maintained and inspected? Do you remove obstacles (even overgrown plants, slippery algae), do you repair the paving? |
| Do you use distinct visual or tactile marking of places with the risk of injury (stairs, low ceilings, ramps)? |
| Do you offer visitors a choice of trails (different distances, routes, stops)? |
| Are there passages for wheelchairs/strollers and detours of poorly accessible places? |
| Are the boards of the navigation and information system well placed with regard to their readability (visitors on wheelchairs, seniors)? |
| Are the texts of the information system simple, divided into sections, well readable? Are they accompanied by photos, pictures, maps or pictograms? |
| Are the boards of the information system regularly inspected and maintained? |
| Does your information system use special formats for people with special needs (e.g. the Braille, simplified texts, image transcription, other language versions)? |
| Are there enough accessible and barrier-free toilets? Are they built in accordance with the law? Are there changing tables? |
| Is it possible to get refreshments in the garden? |
| Are there drinking fountains in the garden? |
| Can visitors choose different refreshment alternatives (in terms of price and type)? |
| Are there enough trash bins in the garden? |
| Are there enough easily accessible resting places and shelters? |
| Does the number of benches match the size and terrain of the premises? |
| Are wind conditions and views taken into account when installing benches? |
| Do you try to overcome terrain unevenness in the garden? Do you use ramps, sloping surfaces or elevators? |
| Do the stairs meet the safety criteria? Are there handrails on both sides, suitable surface, are they marked in accordance with the law? |
| Are the stairs or ramps regularly inspected and maintained? |
| Do you acquaint visitors with poorly accessible or inaccessible places in an alternative way (e.g. leaflets, website, audiovisual projection in the infocentre)? |
| Can visitors borrow wheelchairs or bicycles to negotiate longer distances? |
| Are visitors allowed to use their own means of transport in the garden (bicycles, scooters, riding toys)? |
| Is there any kind of transport available within the premises (electric bus, train)? |
| Can visitors borrow audio guides? |
| Can visitors borrow haptic plans of the premises? |
| Do you use labels in the Braille? |
| Are indoor spaces well illuminated? |
| Is it possible to borrow hearing or other aids for people with hearing impairment? |
| Is the acoustics of the buildings satisfactory? Do you use quality sound systems during events? |
| Do you strive to make the expositions interesting in terms of touch, smell and hearing? |
| Is it possible to touch selected plants and objects installed in the garden? |
| Can visitors get information in non-printed form (guided tours, lectures)? |
| Are there workshops for the public? |
| Do you offer school programmes? Are they practical? Can participants take away some natural items or plants? |
| Does your institution offer green therapy? Are there people with special needs among the staff? |
| Can visitors learn information using all senses and enjoy the garden this way? Do you organize exhibitions, lectures, workshops or guided tours in this manner? |
| Can visitors choose a programme based on their special needs? |
| Is there a lower entrance fee for various groups of visitors? |
| Is the entrance fee the same during special events? |
| Do you cooperate with schools, community centres, institutions for people with special needs or travel agencies? |
| Do you care about the visitors’ opinion? Do you reach out to them using questionnaires and surveys? Do you communicate with them on social media? |
| Do you use the feedback gathered from visitors to improve the accessibility of the garden? |
| Do you use all available means to immediately inform visitors about limited access to the garden (directly at the premises, on the web and social media)? |
Botanical Garden: COME IN! 