Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, a leading regional museum, gallery, and archives service, has been awarded the Silver Autism Acceptance award by the North East Autism Society (NEAS) for its commitment to supporting autistic visitors, families, staff, and volunteers.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, which manages nine museums and galleries across Tyneside and the Archives for Tyne and Wear, holds collections of international importance and receives over 700,000 annual visits. With a team of 250 staff and the support of over 600 volunteers, the museum service is dedicated to making its resources accessible to everyone in Tyne and Wear.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ partnership with the North East Autism Society has been instrumental in creating a more inclusive environment for autistic visitors, staff and volunteers. Key initiatives include:
- Providing sensory bags, ear defenders, and relaxed sessions at special events.
- Creating online resources to guide visitors and provide information about what to expect.
- Conducting autism awareness training for staff members and implementing more inclusive practices in the recruitment process to remove barriers.
- The introduction of an access to volunteering group that supports the organisation to make volunteering more accessible.
Further improvements planned to reach the gold standard include:
- Conducting further environmental audits to identify and address accessibility barriers, within public areas and staff spaces.
- Improve training opportunities that support autistic volunteers
- Reviewing and updating website sections to include more advance information to assist all visitors in planning their visit.
The award was presented by Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager for the North East Autism Society, to Julie Westgarth, HR Business Partner, Clare Smith, Learning and Engagement Manager and Kate Holden, Learning Officer.
Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager for North East Autism Society, said: “We are thrilled to recognise Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums with the Autism Acceptance Silver Award. The organisation’s proactive efforts to create a more inclusive and sensory friendly environment reflects its genuine commitment to supporting the community. As Tyne & Wear Archives & Museum continues its journey towards achieving the Gold Award, we look forward to seeing the introduction of more fantastic initiatives that will enhance accessibility and make all its venues a welcoming destination for everyone.”
Julie Westgarth, HR Business Partner at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums added: “We are thrilled to receive this award. Our partnership with the North East Autism Society has been a huge help to us in making changes to ensure that our museums and galleries are welcoming spaces for autistic people. This is just the start of the process, and we will continue to act on their advice and make more improvements.”