At the Museum of Illusions Sydney, we are committed to providing an inclusive experience for all visitors and complying with our obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.We aim to make reasonable adjustments to support visitors with disabilities. The information below is designed to help answer any questions you may have regarding accessibility ahead of your visit.
Carers and companions:
Complimentary admission will be provided to carers or companions accompanying a full-paying visitor with disability. A valid companion card must be presented and verified upon arrival. Accredited assistance animals are welcome throughout the museum.
Wheelchair Accessibility:
The museum is wheelchair accessible and is equipped with a lift for visitors with mobility challenges. Please note that some certain exhibits, such as those with sloped surfaces or elevated platforms (e.g., the Vortex exhibit), may not be fully accessible. Certain areas may require physical stability or a reasonable level of mobility to access safely.
Visual Impairment:
While we aim to provide an engaging experience for all visitors, some exhibits rely heavily on visual effects and illusions, which may limit accessibility for visitors with visual impairments. Exhibits that rely on colour differentiation may also present challenges for visitors with colour blindness.
Exhibit Suitability:
Some exhibits may not be suitable for visitors with certain medical conditions, including but not limited to claustrophobia, vertigo, motion sickness, high blood pressure, heart, back or neck conditions, or for those recovering from recent surgery. Visitors are encouraged to use their own discretion and to seek assistance or guidance from staff where required.
Hearing Impairments:
The majority of exhibits are visually focused. As such, accessibility for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing visitors is currently limited. We are actively exploring opportunities to enhance accessibility and improve the experience for all visitors.
Epilepsy and Photosensitivity:
Some exhibits include bright or flashing lights, high‑contrast visuals, or darkened environments. These may not be suitable for individuals with epilepsy, photosensitivity, sensory sensitivities, or night blindness. Visitors are encouraged to approach these exhibits with caution.
Sensory Considerations:
The Museum of Illusions offers interactive and immersive experiences using a range of visual and sensory effects. Some exhibits may involve vibrations, balance‑altering elements, flashing lights, variable audio, or other sensory stimuli. These may cause discomfort, dizziness, or other adverse effects for some visitors, particularly those with epilepsy, light or sound sensitivity, or other sensory vulnerabilities. For more information on whether the Museum is suitable for you and your little ones, please contact: [email protected]
Sensory Friendly Times:
Visitors with sensory sensitivities are welcome at any time. For a quieter experience, we recommend visiting on weekdays outside of school holidays, or after 2:00 pm.
Please note that lighting levels and background music vary throughout the museum as part of the experience.
Facilities
Accessible toilet facilities are available at the entrance of the museum. We recommend using these facilities prior to entering the exhibition areas to ensure a comfortable visit.
All emergency exits are accessible and hazard‑free, and audible fire alarm systems are installed throughout the building.
Museum of Illusions Sydney is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continuously improving the user experience of our website in accordance with the national legislation transposing Directive (EU) 2016/2102 and aligning with the EN 301 549 v3.2.1 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Scope of This Statement
This accessibility statement applies to:
Compliance Status
This website is:
Partially compliant with EN 301 549 v3.2.1 and WCAG 2.1 AA due to the non-compliances and/or exemptions listed below
Non-compliance with accessibility requirements
The following content is not fully accessible and does not meet the requirements of EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA standards:
- Language switcher – The language switcher lacks descriptive alternative text. Currently, screen readers identify it as “Link to [e.g. ‘ES’, ‘GR’]” rather than “Spanish” or “Greek.” Due to technical limitations of a 3rd party plugin, we cannot modify this behavior.
- Skipped links by screen readers – In some cases, screen readers can bypass certain links, preventing full navigation. Since our website content changes over time, we cannot guarantee complete accessibility coverage at all times, as quality assurance efforts may not always be perfectly aligned with ongoing content and development updates.
- Zoom layout issues – Increasing text size (e.g., to 200%) may cause layout disruptions on certain pages. Since our website content changes over time, we cannot guarantee complete accessibility coverage at all times, as quality assurance efforts may not always be perfectly aligned with ongoing content and development updates.
- Inconsistent screen reader compatibility – Screen reader performance varies by tool, and in some cases, functionality is impaired.
- Focus indicator problems – Keyboard navigation does not consistently display a visible focus indicator for the active element.
Issues identified by internal quality assurance:
- The language switcher alt text must explicitly state it is a language selection tool. However, due to technical restrictions by the 3rd party plugin, this cannot be changed from short codes (“ES”, “GR”) to full language names.
Disproportionate burden
We are committed to improving accessibility; however, certain enhancements present a disproportionate burden due to technical complexity, third-party dependencies, or significant resource demands.
These include:
- Achieving full screen reader compatibility across all devices and software, as behavior differs between assistive technologies.
- Implementing dynamic layout corrections for all zoom and responsive scenarios, particularly for older devices or uncommon resolutions.
- Applying real-time fixes to third-party services (e.g., ticketing systems, embedded widgets) outside of our direct control.
Specific case: Third-party ticketing system
- Portions of this site rely on a third-party provider to manage ticketing for the Museum of Illusions. While we aim to ensure accessibility across our platform, we cannot guarantee full compliance for external systems or components.
- After assessment, modifying the third-party ticketing solution to meet all accessibility requirements would impose significant technical and financial burdens on our organization. We continue to engage with the provider to encourage improvements and are exploring accessible alternatives.
Background images and high contrast mode
- Certain decorative or content-related background images are not visible when high contrast mode is enabled. This results from original design choices where images were implemented as background elements.
- Correcting this would require extensive redesign and re-implementation of affected sections, converting images to foreground elements. Given current resources, such an undertaking would create a disproportionate burden as defined in Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2016/2102.
We will continue to make accessibility updates where feasible.
Content outside the scope of the legislation
The following are outside the scope of accessibility legislation:
- Content from third-party platforms that is not funded, developed, or controlled by us (e.g., embedded social media widgets, third-party ticketing tools).
Feedback and Contact
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any barriers or require information in a different format, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
Enforcement Procedure
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can file a formal complaint through the relevant national enforcement body.