Museums provide opportunities for individuals, families and groups to spend quality time together in an interactive environment that aims to foster a sense of community and enjoyment.
But many museums have become loud and crowded public spaces that are difficult to navigate and over-stimulating for individuals with autism.
Policies on inclusive practices for individuals with autism have resulted in the development of successful practices in formal education and early childhood settings, but museums have been slow to provide approaches for supporting those with autism, especially for those over the age of 10.
So, throughout 2017, the San Diego Natural History Museum is facilitating the Social Stories Spectrum Project.
This provides a structured opportunity for high-functioning verbal young adults (aged 18-25) with an autism spectrum disorder to meet up with their peers and practice social skills, participate in organised trips to seven museums in Balboa Park, and work together to create both written and video-based “social stories” for the museums visited.
Because this type of project does not exist elsewhere, the museum has invited the participants of the project to serve as partners and co-creators in the development of these social stories. Our hope is that this project will exemplify the museum sector’s effort to share authority with a segment of the public that has historically been overlooked.
The project has been made possible in part through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Federation for Autism Research, with additional support from the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership.
Beth Redmond-Jones is the senior director of public programs at San Diego Natural History Museum
But many museums have become loud and crowded public spaces that are difficult to navigate and over-stimulating for individuals with autism.
Policies on inclusive practices for individuals with autism have resulted in the development of successful practices in formal education and early childhood settings, but museums have been slow to provide approaches for supporting those with autism, especially for those over the age of 10.
So, throughout 2017, the San Diego Natural History Museum is facilitating the Social Stories Spectrum Project.
This provides a structured opportunity for high-functioning verbal young adults (aged 18-25) with an autism spectrum disorder to meet up with their peers and practice social skills, participate in organised trips to seven museums in Balboa Park, and work together to create both written and video-based “social stories” for the museums visited.
Because this type of project does not exist elsewhere, the museum has invited the participants of the project to serve as partners and co-creators in the development of these social stories. Our hope is that this project will exemplify the museum sector’s effort to share authority with a segment of the public that has historically been overlooked.
The project has been made possible in part through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Federation for Autism Research, with additional support from the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership.
Beth Redmond-Jones is the senior director of public programs at San Diego Natural History Museum