Verbally guided haptic exploration: A strategic and reusable move/step model in Easy English for inclusive art experiences

Abstract How can individuals with cognitive difficulties access and enjoy art through verbally guided haptic exploration? This article explores this question by introducing a flexible and reusable move/step-based model developed in Easy English. The model integrates principles from accessible translation, genre analysis, and Spoken Easy Language to offer a theoretically grounded guide for museum staff. It aims to enable the use of touch as a compensatory strategy, engaging visitors with cognitive difficulties in museums and galleries and enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of art. The model highlights the importance of clear verbal communication and identifies rhetorical units specific to the context and audience (referred to as “moves”), alongside linguistic realisations of each structural element (referred to as “steps”) in Easy English. Its modular design facilitates translation and adaptation to diverse linguistic, cultural, and contextual settings while maintaining pragmatic equivalence. This flexibility makes the model a useful resource for creating linguistically accessible and inclusive art experiences tailored to the needs of various target groups.