Blind people can’t see the royal crown, so we should be allowed to touch it, right? Edinburgh Castle wanted to increase accessibility while managing the security concerns posed by large crowds. What do you think of their creative solution? The stunning tactile map featured in this video sits in the public plaza near the Scottish National Gallery. I learned about the map through @Catarina | Public Speaker. Thanks, Catarina! Descriptive Transcript A large, detailed bronze model of Edinburgh sits on a stone platform. Haben sits on the stone platform studying the neighborhood around the castle. Around the model, people move leisurely through the outdoor square. Haben (voiceover): History you can touch. A cobblestone path leads up to the castle’s walls, perched high up on a hill. Towers rise above the walls, pointing toward the dark clouds above. Haben (voiceover): Edinburgh has a lovely tactile model. German Shepherd Seeing Eye dog Mylo and Haben stride up a cobblestone path on the castle grounds, passing by a person pushing a stroller down the path. Haben carries a thick book under one arm. The video returns to the tactile model of Edinburgh, which appears to be six feet long and six feet wide. Mylo stands patiently as Haben explores another section of the model. She also reads a plaque, which appears in print and Braille. In the background, people wander through the square. Standing nearby, Haben’s friend Catarina Rivera, a woman wearing sunglasses and holding a white cane, chats with her partner. A neoclassical building with columns stands in the distance. Haben (voiceover): It’s large, maybe six feet by three feet – and apologies that was feet and not meters. Sighted people were standing all around admiring it. It was designed for blind people, but we notice again and again that when you design something for accessibility, both disabled and nondisabled people end up enjoying it. And I loved being able to feel the position of Edinburgh Castle and its relationship to all the surrounding streets and buildings. It’s made of metal – the model. The castle, on the other hand, is made of lots of different materials. The video again shows Haben and Mylo striding up the cobblestone path, people passing on the left and right. Haben (voiceover): I showed up unannounced and asked for a Braille brochure, and they had it! Haben opens a spiral-bound book on an outdoor picnic table and begins reading Braille. Behind her, cannons perch at the castle’s edge facing the sea. Haben (voiceover): That rarely happens. Usually you have to ask in advance for a Braille copy, if there even is a Braille copy. But they had Braille, large print, audio guides, and they offered tours in British Sign Language. So I found a picnic table to sit down and read through the brochure. There’s lots of fascinating Scottish history, written in a very humorous, entertaining style. Mylo and Haben walk through a cobblestone square inside the castle walls. They pass a dark stone, gothic style building topped with flying flags. Haben (voiceover): We walked around the castle. My guide dog Mylo was very welcomed by everyone there. For many visitors of Edinburgh Castle a big highlight is the chance to see the Honours of Scotland. They’re under glass, but around the corner for blind individuals there are tactile models of the Crown, the Sword and the Sceptre. Beside them are Braille plaques. A long table bears the bronze models of the crown, sword, and scepter, with a Braille plaque beside each. On the wall above the table appears an image of a group of people and the words, “The National Service of Thanksgiving.” Haben gently explores the crown, then reads its plaque. Haben (voiceover): This is a really thoughtful and creative way to ensure blind people also have access to Scottish history. #EdinburghCastle #Edinburgh #TouchTour #AccessibleTravel - @haben.girma