Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/56447

JaLCDOI : 10.14943/66447

KEYWORDS : ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder);museum;science communication;universal design;local community development

As a place of science communication, museums are being expected to encourage all citizens to avail and participate in its activities. This paper focuses on adults with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) with whom a questionnaire survey was carried out. 80% of them answered they liked museums. There were two main reasons behind this: the appreciation for the museum’s side of satisfying intellectual interests and its less burdening atmosphere and environment for people with ASD who are hypersensitive. On the other hand, it became clear that services for improving learning effect are not being sufficiently used by them. They also face some difficulties when using museums: museums might be inconveniently located, do not match well with their hypersensitivity, and often have hard to understand indications and instructions. The result of the survey reveals that there is an expectation for museums to improve usability to match better with people with ASD’s characteristics. Such improvement will have to take into consideration different positions that people have and obstacles they face, in order to incorporate universal design to museums and develop educational programs that utilize minorities’abilities. On a long-term basis, museums’contribution will be expected for the development of science communication and community.