Accessible Media – Wroxeter Roman City

A photograph of two pages from the Wroxeter Roman City Easy Read brochure with photographs of the legionary fortress from the sky above and a red heirloom from an old ring brought to Wroxeter by a roman soldier.

Direct Access has provided print and digital accessible media to increase inclusivity for English heritage visitors and staff at the historic Viroconium Cornoviorum, the final remains of a Roman period city within the village of Wroxeter. 

At its peak, Viroconium Cornoviorum is estimated to have been the 4th-largest Roman settlement in Britain, a civitas with a population of more than 15,000. Today, the sites remains include “the Old Works” (an archway, part of the baths’ frigidarium and the largest free-standing Roman ruin in England) and the remains of a baths complex. 

Borrowing from our extensive experience working for various heritage trusts and on Grade-Listed Heritage sites as accessibility consultants, Direct Access’ provision of accessible media has allowed Wroxeter to become more inclusive to visually-impaired, deaf, and neurodivergent individuals in areas where physical altercations could not accommodate due to the historic significance of the grounds and architecture.

Our accessible media provisions includes a series of sensory borrow bags (containing fidget spinners, handling and squeezing objects, bean bags, and ear defenders), Large Print and Braille interpretations of Wroxeter Roman City print media with detailed tour guides and artefact descriptions, and 3D printed models to allow visually impaired individuals to “feel” the scale and shape of site structures. 

A bespoke Disability Awareness training video educating staff how to communicate with people with various disabilities was also included within the project, allowing on-site partners to deliver a high quality experience to visitors.

An image of a black tote bag on a table with the English Heritage logo on it. Surrounding the tote bag are various items relating to accessibility, including ear defenders, bean bags and squeezable rings.

Furthermore, Direct Access is poducing a comprehensive Disability Awareness Training video expected to be used by staff at all English Heritage managed sites, providing site management with best practice knowledge of guest sighted guiding, guide dog policy, as well as useful information surrounding specific disabilities. This information elaborates on the various challenges individuals with particular disabilities might face on site, and how staff can accommodate. 

Finally, the video includes a section which allows staff the opportunity to learn Sign Language, introducing staff the BSL alphabet, as well as other commonly used words and phrases.

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