Silverstone Museum replicates the noise, adrenaline, and excitement of motor racing, but staff are aware that this can be an unsuitable environment for some visitors. We welcome many SEN education groups (both child and adult learners) to Silverstone Museum, and it has been a passion project to introduce sensory friendly events here, to enable everyone the opportunity to enjoy the Museum. The small Learning Team at Silverstone Museum have backgrounds working with people with SEN, and I even researched autism provisions at museums in depth for my Master’s degree (including working with Autism in Museums to share my survey!). This made me aware of how a successful sensory opening could look for Silverstone Museum.
For the inaugural Low Revs event in June 2023, we made a number of changes within the exhibition space to create a less stimulating, sensory environment. The audio in the museum can be either on and very loud, or off completely. There is no middle. For the event we ensured low sound levels by turning the sound off, removed flashing visuals on surrounding panels, and increased the lighting in the main exhibition space. We displayed warnings to visitors about our loud hand dryers in the toilets, and reduced visitor numbers by extending Museum opening beyond our usual hours ensuring fewest barriers to access as possible.
Low Revs offered a small group from Autism Bucks a sensory friendly environment to enjoy their visit. It was their initial request for a more suitable environment for their group to visit that led us to organise the sensory friendly event. We received very positive feedback from the group lead and were motivated to organise a second sensory friendly event, taking place on Thursday 2nd November, from 4.00-5.30pm. Information for the event can be found on our social media, or on the Accessibility pages of our website.
I have been sharing the details of the November event date with local councils and SEN schools and hope to build on the success of the first event. We plan to make Low Revs a continued event, offering dates throughout the year.
Charlie Clark, Learning Officer
You can find out more about Silverstone Museum by visiting their website – https://www.silverstonemuseum.co.uk/
To book onto the next Low Revs event visit the booking link – Low Revs