Autism in museums – What does it mean for staff?

I am back at the Science Museum again, on my own, without the kids. They get very jealous when I come on my own, I have to make a conciliatory visit to the shop every time. Our 8 Sea Monkeys called Dave, bought on my last trip, have unfortunately not survived, but to be honest I am reluctant to buy …

Royal Academy of Arts – Family SEN Session – July 2014

I am rushing and I can’t be late, volunteering at Bromley Museum in the morning, a rush to the station, lunch on the train. It is hot and muggy, I have a blister on my heel, I mustn’t be late. I am off to observe a family special educational needs (SEN) session at the Royal Academy of Arts, it is …

Do we need Kids in Museums? – The Family Friendly Museum Award 2014

Kids in Museums, they are everywhere now, right? Can’t escape them can you? Not just museums either these days, art galleries too, can’t take two steps towards a Monet or a Renoir without tripping over some small child’s torso sprawled on the floor. You can’t walk from the beginning of one gallery to the next without bumping into some intrepid …

Autism in Museums – 10 steps to breaking down the barriers

This post is 10 things I think will help if you want to run autism friendly events in your museum. I am not an expert in autism or museums, but they are both close to my heart and I have seen what works. I have three children, the eldest is autistic, I volunteer in museum and I love museums and …

The return of the Early Bird – Science Museum Early Bird Autism Friendly Sessions

I am finding it really hard to write this blog post, it is about museums and I love museums so surely it shouldn’t be this hard. It is about drawing attention to a museum doing great things for autistic children and their families, something I am very passionate about so that shouldn’t make it this hard either. I guess it …

The Science Museum – Early Bird Autism Session

This is a post I feel I have to write, but I am not totally comfortable with the content. It is too important not to write so I will do my best to walk a fine line between the words I feel need to be said and the words that cut too close to me. I have three children, aged …