Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle strongly believes that books and stories, and the transformational experiences they unlock, should be accessible to everyone regardless of ability or background.
We are already on a journey towards making our venue and resources fully accessible and, by working alongside professionals and families, have made good progress in our offer for families of children with autistic spectrum condition.
Our multi-sensory approach to exhibition design creates imaginative immersive environments as well as providing multilayered interpretation of exhibition themes.
Our sensory backpacks, which are designed to help families explore our exhibitions using touch, sound and sight, and ear defenders are particularly useful for children with sensory disorders.
Quite spaces are available for visitors who need some down time. To make everyone aware of what is available in the building, we provide a pdf visual story guide to the museum that can be downloaded from our website, so that anyone with reason to be apprehensive about a new place knows what to expect.
Seven Stories learned a huge amount from taking part in Disabled Access Day last year. We were already committed to access and inclusion, but the day really helped us shift up a gear.
We trialled early bird opening for visitors with autism, which is now a regular monthly fixture, and delivered sensory story sessions tailored to specific needs – including an autism-friendly session and an open relaxed session.
We also created a display in our bookshop of books containing positive representations of disability, and made an activity about the senses available in the cafe. By taking part in the day we made lots of new connections and got online reviews from the families that visited.
The other thing that’s been hugely helpful is appropriate training. Our whole staff team completed disability awareness training and afterwards many of our staff said that they felt more confident to approach families now that they could imagine their experiences and potential questions better.
Beth Coverdale is the learning and participation coordinator at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books
We are already on a journey towards making our venue and resources fully accessible and, by working alongside professionals and families, have made good progress in our offer for families of children with autistic spectrum condition.
Our multi-sensory approach to exhibition design creates imaginative immersive environments as well as providing multilayered interpretation of exhibition themes.
Our sensory backpacks, which are designed to help families explore our exhibitions using touch, sound and sight, and ear defenders are particularly useful for children with sensory disorders.
Quite spaces are available for visitors who need some down time. To make everyone aware of what is available in the building, we provide a pdf visual story guide to the museum that can be downloaded from our website, so that anyone with reason to be apprehensive about a new place knows what to expect.
Seven Stories learned a huge amount from taking part in Disabled Access Day last year. We were already committed to access and inclusion, but the day really helped us shift up a gear.
We trialled early bird opening for visitors with autism, which is now a regular monthly fixture, and delivered sensory story sessions tailored to specific needs – including an autism-friendly session and an open relaxed session.
We also created a display in our bookshop of books containing positive representations of disability, and made an activity about the senses available in the cafe. By taking part in the day we made lots of new connections and got online reviews from the families that visited.
The other thing that’s been hugely helpful is appropriate training. Our whole staff team completed disability awareness training and afterwards many of our staff said that they felt more confident to approach families now that they could imagine their experiences and potential questions better.
Beth Coverdale is the learning and participation coordinator at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books