Accessibility
Making cave exploration available to all people
A student who normally uses a wheelchair experiences the thrill of cave exploration as his classmates lift him up the CaveSim vertical caving tower. This drone footage (taken by school staff) has no audio.
CaveSim: educating everyone for a brighter future
CaveSim is for everyone
People of all backgrounds and ability levels regularly participate in CaveSim. Kids with physical and developmental disabilities love exploring CaveSim, and they often have great success even without using the accommodations that our systems include. Their success strengthens their confidence, and inspires other participants to explore bravely. Be Brave, Go Cave!
How CaveSim systems are accessible:
- Our mobile caves contain accommodations for participants with disabilities, including pathways through the cave system that require no climbing, as well as special wide access doors.
- Our permanent installations are fully customizable, and can include wheelchair-accessible routes.
- Our caves include the CaveSim Scoring System, which gives participants real-time feedback about how carefully they are exploring CaveSim. This computerized system teaches participants about conservation concepts, and was developed by CaveSim specifically for our cave exhibits. The system includes both audible and visible feedback for participants, which allows people with visual or auditory disabilities to get the full interactive CaveSim experience.
- The CaveSim Scoring System includes a graphical user interface that allows participants outside the cave to watch those inside the cave on infrared cameras and an interactive map. The video feeds are exciting to watch, and they also allow families and caregivers to monitor the progress of participants through the cave. Participants who are having difficulty exploring can then be offered additional accomodations.
- Our latest CaveSim models include cushioned flooring to make the exploration experience easier for everyone, especially participants who are physically larger.
- Our cave systems contain handholds and hand lines that are helpful for people of various ability levels. Participants with limited leg strength find it helpful to be able to pull on handholds and hand lines, and participants with limited arm abilities find it helpful to use their feet in these devices.
- Our vertical caving towers include seat harnesses that can be used by most people who regularly use wheelchairs.
