How this Working Group was set up?
Local groups working in autism advocacy and support helped the Museum to locate members for this new working group. Dochás Autism Mid-West, the National Learning Network (Limerick) and Limerick Youth Service (Ability + programme) played a central role in spreading the word about this opportunity.
The Museum also linked with members of a local Autistic adults meet up group and staff at Mary Immaculate College’s Special Education Unit. Word of mouth and the museum’s social media channels were also used to locate members.
The main activities of this Group
The Working Group completed a sensory audit of the Hunt Museum building so that they could advise on the access barriers affecting them. Some of these, such as difficulty with wayfinding signage, will require funding to be resolved, however a short to medium term programme of work was planned and delivered in conjunction with them. This included:
- Co-creation of pre-visit materials for autistic visitors shared via the Hunt Museum’s Visitor Accessibility webpage which can be accessed here. These include a video based tour of the Museum, which highlights the sensory challenges an autistic visitor might encounter. Use this link to access it.
- Co-curation of a sensory map for the Museum which is currently being trialed. This highlights sensory triggers in the Museum so visitors know that they exist and can avoid them during their visit.
- Advising the Museum on lighting solutions during the lighting upgrade in the Permanent Collection and Temporary Gallery. This work was carried out to make the visitor experience more comfortable for everyone, but especially for autistic people and persons with visual impairment, who often experience photosensitivity.
- Planning a multisensory trail to aid wayfinding in the open plan Permanent Collection galleries. Lack of a defined route around these galleries was a source of anxiety for several members, so this resource was conceived as a means to provide some support to visitors who need it.
- Co-development of the Accommodation Station with members of the Visually Impaired Working Group
- Co-production of autism access and inclusion video based digital resources with museum staff. Use this link to access the videos.
Results Achieved
- Membership of six persons in this working group was achieved
- Seven monthly meetings were delivered between April and October 2024
- Pre-visit materials in three different formats were delivered for autistic visitors
- Seven video based digital resources delivered to help other museums on their journey to increasing access and inclusion for the autism community
- Three Permanent Collection galleries received lighting upgrades under the guidance of this group
- The lighting system in the Temporary Gallery is now dimmable helping to facilitate frequent inclusive events for exhibitions in the near future.
Challenges Encountered
- Locating autistic people who were open to sharing their lived experience of autism through the project
- Finding a suitable time to meet on a monthly basis was challenging because most members were either working or studying
- One or two members found speaking on camera during filming (for the video based digital resources) to be overwhelming but with preparation and support, most members coped exceptionally well
- Noise in the Hunt Cáfe was uncomfortable for some working group members so lunch was typically served in our meeting space
- At first finding safe food and clean food options for some members was challenging but the Museum liaised with Cáfe staff to figure this out
What Now?
Working Group members continue to meet and to collaborate on development of the sensory trail. Two workshops with Cre-AUT and artist Ivan Owens will take place in mid December to progress this.