In cooperation with the Evansville Association for the Blind, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial helped people with limited and no vision understand and participate in the excitement and learning opportunities of the eclipse through hands-on tactile and participatory learning models and methods ensuring that all visitors are welcomed and equally involved in an event they might not have experienced otherwise.
In the spirit of Universal Design, the activities and exhibits expanded the learning opportunities and the fun for all participants of the eclipse event.
In addition to conversation with staff of the Association for the Blind and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, visitors listened with an app on their cell phones to a live-stream audio description of the eclipse. They also spoke on their cell phones to other people observing the eclipse.
Visitors heard other visitors on-site describe and react to the decreasing and increasing size of the crescent shape of the sun as the moon passed in front of the sun. They heard visitors' reactions to the sight of the sun's corona visible around the sun. Visitors heard the spontaneous cheer from the crowd at the moment of totality when the moon completely covered the sun and the area went as dark as night. Visitors felt the temperature drop as the moon covered the sun's light.