1. Autism in Museums Association of European Jewish Museums Sept 2017

2. Autism in Museums
What is autism?
Top tips for supporting autistic visitors
Autism programmes and resources

3. Claire Madge
Blog- tinctureofmuseum.wordpress.com
Horniman Museum Access Panel
Globe Theatre Access Group

4. Blog -

5. What is Autism?
Lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them – National Autistic Society
Autistic Spectrum Disorder - ASD
Spectrum
National Autistic Society 700,000 living with autism in the UK
Affecting 2.8 million

6. Diagnosis – triad of impairments
Communication
Social interaction
Social imagination

7. Co-exisiting conditions
Learning difficulties
Mental health issues – depression, anxiety
Sensory Processing Disorder

8. Sensory sensitivity Relevant to the museum environment
Struggle with bright lights, dark places, transition from light to dark
Sensitivity to loud noises, audio, hand driers
Sensitivity to smell, taste and touch
National Autistic Society Video – Too Much Information

10. Where do you start?
Each autistic person is different, each museum is different, tailor support to your spaces
Not asking you to change everything about your museum
This is not about right and wrong
May already be supporting autistic visitors, school groups

11. 5 Top tips – 1 - Work with local groups
Really recommend working with local schools or charities who can provide -
Expertise
Training/advice
Promote your events

12. 2 – Visitor information Think about your spaces – Quiet spaces?
Website
Visual Story – MET New York – Sensory Map
Point of contact

13. MET New York

14. Chelmsford Museum

15. 3 - Terminology
On the ‘autistic spectrum’ or ‘autistic’ rather than has ’autism’ or suffering with ‘autism’
ASD but prefer Autistic Spectrum Condition
Not ‘Autism Event’ but Dawnosaurs, Morning Explorers, Early Birds.

16. 4 – Advertising / Marketing
Connecting with the audience, if they never come they are not going to be looking at your website
Use local groups/schools
Relaxed Performance Project 2013 Include Arts website -
“It was acknowledged that ‘word of mouth’ and ‘personal recommendation’ proved a more effective means of marketing the programme than advertising. Several theatre staff reported that marketing through their ‘traditional routes’ was not effective in this instance. Rather there was a need for establishing personal individual relationships in order to engender trust and commitment to the programme, subsequently resulting in greater numbers of bookings.”

17. 5 - Awareness and training
Staff, volunteers, FOH, security, café staff
Meltdown not bad behaviour, reaction to environment
Stop and think

18. Why is Autism in Museums important?
Many autistic families are not visiting museums
70% of families feel socially isolated – National Autistic Society
28% of families been asked to leave a public place National Autistic Society

19. Wider picture - 16% autistic adults in full time employment*
47% disabled adults*
80% non-disabled adults*
Despite the fact 77% want to work*
Work experience
Volunteering
* National Autistic Society 2016 report

20. Autism in Museums is….
Socialising
Confidence
Self belief
Fun!

21. Science Museum – Early Birds
Resources and Events
Science Museum – Early Birds
Open at 8.30am - regular opening 10am
Free but need to book, keeps numbers low
Visual story on website, ed out, hardcopy on the day
Variation of activities and galleries
Free access to ticketed exhibitions/galleries
Sensory room
Early opening means travel easier

22. Resources and events Early Openings NHM -Dawnosaurs
Open at 8am main museum 10am
Some galleries kept open specifically for Early Birds past 10am
Museum of London – Morning Explorers
autistic volunteer involvement
Manchester Museum – Early Opening
Second Saturday of every month
Tower Bridge – Early Opening

23. Alternative autism support
Tate Liverpool – artist led clay sessions
RAF Museum – Autism Access Award from National Autistic Society, no dedicated events but downloadable autism friendly trail on their website
York Castle – Quiet afternoons, for those with Dementia, autism, learning difficulties and visual impairment. Turn lights on full, turn off audio, visual story.
Chelmsford Museum, MET New York

24. Resources
Kids in Museums resource – How can your museum welcome autism families and young autistic people?
National Autistic Society
Ambitious About Autism
Network Autism – piece on Autism in Museums includes 5 top tips for museum professionals
Autism Europe
Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the European Union

25. Claire Madge @TinctureofMuse tinctureofmuseum@gmail.com
Tinctureofmuseum.wordpress.com
@AutisminMuseums