At the London Museum of Water & Steam we have four values which we try to live out in everything we do. Helpful, Knowledgeable, Inclusive and Fun. But how do you live those values in the middle of a global pandemic which has closed your Museum? For us it started with asking the question “who needs our help?” and the …
What do SEND families want from museums in a time of COVID?
Kids in Museums, Autism in Museums and Sam Bowen carried out a survey specifically for SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) families all about their visits to museums pre and post lockdown. Interrogating the data Autism in Museums has come up with ideas to support accessibility and inclusion that all museums, galleries and heritage venues should be thinking about in …
Inviting sensory learners to explore Museums in a time of Covid, National Maritime Museum, Sept 2020.
At the National Maritime Museum, we recognise that the design of some older galleries does not lend them to sensory engagement and so a concerted effort to provide sensory engagement within new galleries and to develop resources that bring sensory engagement to galleries have occurred. From opportunities to touch tactile collection objects in the new Sea Things gallery, to the …
Intersecting Art and Science to Support Autistic Children – National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Aug 2020.
Andrea Stahel, Community & Access Programs Manager, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. As many of us appreciate, art-making can be incredibly meditative and in difficult times, a source of solace. This year has brought new challenges for children as they adapt to changes in their education, family and social lives. Children can often find disruptions to their daily routine challenging, …
‘From the Stands’ – a sensory football experience box – Craig Eccles, graphic designer.
There are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, the condition comes with its individual challenges and can have a huge impact on everyday life, including within sports. For someone with autism and their family, going to watch their favourite football team can be overwhelming and stressful. The noise, sights and smells of a stadium, as well as the uncertainty …
News News News!
Two exciting pieces of news for Autism in Museums followers! 1 – Autism in Museums needs your help – Autism in Museums has been working with Kids in Museums and Samantha Bowen an access consultant on a survey for families with children who have additional needs. We want to understand more about the barriers and what your concerns are about …
Engaging families with autistic children in outdoor museum spaces, Natural History Museum, June 2020
By Laura Davison and Marie Hobson, Audience Research and Insight Team, Natural History Museum, London, U.K. audienceresearch@nhm.ac.uk The Natural History Museum has embarked on an ambitious project to re-connect people and nature, known as the Urban Nature Project (UNP), through transforming our outdoor spaces and developing a national programme of activity. To ensure that our redeveloped Gardens and associated family …
Museum and Heritage Access Survey 2020
VocalEyes together with Stagetext and Autism in Museums are researching the museum visitor experience for people who use access support – this may be facilities, resources or events. We are undertaking a national survey of visitors which is the first of its kind. It will reveal what people with access requirements need from our museums and heritages sites, and how well …
Early Morning Explorers at the British Museum, April 2020
In 2019 the British Museum launched its Early morning explorers’ events; relaxed sessions for families who would benefit from visiting the museum in a quieter environment. The events are for both children and/or parents with sensory processing requirements including Autism so that families who would otherwise be unable to attend can enjoy the Museum together. These were set up in …
Museums To You – Transport Week 2, 30th March
We hope you enjoyed Dinosaur Week last week. This week has been all about transport with trains, aircraft, cars, buses, ships and even a submarine! Monday – Aircraft – Dot-to-Dot We began with a Dot-to-Dot – Spitfire from the @RAFMuseum https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/ALD-London/Spitfire%20dot%20to%20dot.pdf Ship – Game Voyage to Van Diemen’s Land with this brilliant game. It takes a bit of time, choose …