162: Accessible & Inclusive Design | The Dot Experience

In this episode, Cherise is joined by Jo Haas, VP of Advancement and The Dot Experience, and Chris Carmicle of PLC Management. They discuss The Dot Experience in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scheduled to open in 2026, The Dot Experience represents a fundamental rethinking of what a museum can be - and who it is for. Conceived as a destination rather than a conventional exhibition space, the project merges the qualities of an attraction, a factory tour, and an educational center into a single, immersive environment. At its core is a clear mission: to change perceptions of blindness, to invite visitors to act in their own ways to make the world more welcoming, and to serve as a global model for inclusivity.

Click here for the extended length interview on YouTube

Jo Haas, VP of Advancement, The Dot Experience

Jo Haas is a nonprofit leader known for advancing accessibility, community engagement, and organizational transformation across the arts, education, and cultural sectors. As Vice President of Advancement for The Dot Experience, she is leading the new attraction that will reshape public understanding of blindness and disability through immersive, tactile learning. Her work reflects a career-long commitment to creativity, collaboration, and redefining inclusion in practice.

Chris Carmicle, PLC Management

Chris Carmicle is the owner of PLC Management, Kentucky's most experienced Owner's Representative and Project Delivery firm. Notable past and present projects include Rupp Arena & Central Bank Center Renovation, Louisville Belvedere Renovation, Speed Art Museum, Jewish Community Center, Galt House Hotel, 21c Hotels and Whiskey Row. He is the former President, COO & Partner of DMK Development Group, a $100MM healthcare developer and construction manager, and the former President of Brown Jordan, the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of luxury outdoor furnishings. Mr. Carmicle serves as Chair of the Board of Zoeller Company and he also serves on the Board of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority which operates the Muhamed Ali International Airport. He is a former member of the Board of directors for Republic Bank (NASDAQ: RBCAA) and Polywood, Inc. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Bellarmine University.

Project Name and Location: The Dot Experience, Louisville, KY 40206

Scheduled to open in 2026, this innovative museum will incorporate elements of an attraction, a factory tour, and a center of education. The Dot Experience is a destination experience where the mission is to change perspectives about blindness, to encourage people to act in their own ways to make the world more welcoming for everyone, and to lead as a model museum of inclusivity. They can't wait to open their doors and welcome guests.

The Dot Experience is APH's (American Printing House) re-imagined museum set to open in 2026.

Designed with an unprecedented set of applied inclusive design standards that puts disability access front and center, it will be five times the space of their original museum.

The Dot Experience aims to be the most accessible museum in the world. It will house historic treasures such as Helen Keller's desk and a rare 1829 book by Louis Braille and share cutting-edge innovations of the present and future.

Through first person accounts from people who are blind or low vision, The Dot Experience will change perspectives about blindness and the human experience, incorporating history, education, innovation, a factory tour, and more!

The name pays homage to the six-dot system of braille that will be showcased throughout the museum to educate, empower, and encourage literacy for all.

The museum will contain more than just exhibits - there will be opportunities for everyone to experience, touch, and interact!

• Complete accessibility: This means 3D printed replicas, everything is touchable.


• Inclusive design standards: Literally creating a blueprint that other buildings/business can use.


• Prototyping team: Individuals who are blind or low vision, limited mobility, and more regularly meet to test out designs and provide feedback. This includes feedback about lighting, flooring, exhibit height, bathrooms, and more.

Project Team List:

Exhibit design and fabrication - Solid Light

Photos/Drawings/Supplemental Info:

Photo Credit: American Printing House for the Blind
Podcast Production: Gabl Media