Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW)  –The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has introduced new accessibility features as part of its “Abe for All Initiative,” aiming to make Lincoln’s legacy more inclusive for visitors with vision or hearing impairments. These updates include digital panels in the Treasures Gallery that provide additional photos, Spanish translations, and interactive elements such as QR codes for accessing written or spoken information.

The museum has also launched a temporary exhibit that explores the history of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and the Illinois School for the Deaf, both of which have served students with disabilities for over 150 years. The exhibit includes communication devices, student art, and historical artifacts, as well as accessibility tools like braille panels, QR codes for audio descriptions, and tactile items for visitors to touch.

Museum officials, including Director of Exhibits and Shows Lance Tawzer, hope that the accessibility features tested in this exhibit will help future efforts to make the museum more inclusive. The exhibit runs through October 29.