Baseline Research
Rebecca Davies conducted some initial research as part of our pilot project, to understand the current position of the approach to neurodivergence, and specifically autism, in museums.
The Neurodiverse Museum
The Neurodiverse Museum has been set up to change the way museums and the cultural sector as a whole, approaches neurodiversity. In case you’re not familiar, neurodivergence includes autism, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia OCD, ODD dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and others.
Find out more about the Neurodiverse MuseumAbout the Neurodiverse Museum
The Neurodiverse Museum has been set up to change the way museums and the cultural sector as a whole, approaches neurodiversity. In case you’re not familiar, neurodivergence includes autism, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia OCD, ODD dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and others.
We aim to shift the dialogue and provision from deficit, person first, exclusionary models, to presumed competence, identify first, inclusionary models with #ActuallyAustitic and neurodivergent voice at its heart.
We are currently in the process of developing the next stage of the project and accessing funding to support a wide scale programme to support neurodivergent people to access museums, see themselves reflected through museum display and collecting, and support pathways to the workforce which are currently not available - with lived experience always at the centre.
Get in touch with usInformation and research
Over the coming months we will be sharing research, case studies, and a range of supporting provision to ensure neurodiversity is viewed and supported in-line with lived experience.
Keep posted here, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on social media, for more info.
We also run The Museums and Neurodiversity Network meeting - for more details just email us at info@theneurodiversemuseum.org.uk
Neurodiverse verses Neurodivergent
This resource helps to explain the neurodiversity movement and some of the terminology at play when considering provision working with and for neurodivergent individuals.
The Principles for Museums and Neurodiversity
Have your say on the ground-breaking Principles! Use the feedback form on the next tab to make your comments
Feedback!
To feedback on any of our activity including The Principles draft, follow this link
Training and support
We will be launching a range of training programmes, resources and detailing our consultancy offer to support organisations in their development. Alongside this we are also working on wider support for those wishing to develop their individual practice - see below for more.
The Museums and Neurodiversity Network
The network seeks to provide an opportunity for individuals to share their experiences and insights, exchange ideas and collaborate towards our shared goal of creating a more understanding, equitable and neurodivergent-friendly museum sector. Learning together and calling out good and bad practice. The network is neurodiverse - consisting of both neurodivergent members and members of the neuromajority. Not all of our members come from museums, everyone has varying experience and backgrounds both professionally and personally. The network currently meets online quarterly, typically on a Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00. We are looking to add a second meeting each quarter hosted on an evening. We work to ensure these meetings are accessible. All are welcome and its free to join the network, to do so just come along to a meeting!
Keep posted here, subscribe to our mailing list, or follow us on twitter, for more info.
Understanding Neurodivergence
Aimed at providing museums and wider cultural sector staff with a clear understanding of neurodivergence as well as practical ideas to increase accessibility and relevant provision.
Museums and Neurodiversity Network Meeting
Drawing together museum staff who wish to develop their understanding and practice of neurodivergence to discuss and engage with each other about furthering neurodivergent access, representation, and workforce.
Collecting practices – reflecting neurodivergent lives and experiences
When people think about neurodivergent audiences, they tend to think about accessibility. However, as with all audiences and individuals, neurodivergent people want to see themselves reflected in the displays and provision of museums. This training session supports understanding and confidence in this area, and provides practical advice and examples to implement. Coming soon…..
Training to understand different neurotypes
Over the coming months, we’ll be developing training which supports specific understanding of different neurotypes and the adjustments and support to increase access and relevance within museums. Coming soon.
Blog
We aim to publish a wide variety of neurodivergent voices here and support a greater understanding of what neurodiversity is, and how museums can better support and work with neurodivergent people.
My Journey to Kickstart
I’m Saraya! I’m currently the Kickstart Programme Assistant here at The Neurodiverse Museum. I’ve been able to spend the last year involved in lots of museum activity. All of which has brought me to this exciting position.
Neurodivergent Voice
We’re looking for guest bloggers! We want this website and project to be about raising awareness of neurodivergent voice, and supporting a greater and more meaningful approach by the cultural sector, and museums specifically towards neurodivergent people. if you’d like to share your experience or activity, please download the blog template by clicking the link … Continued
What if we looked at museums and Neurodiversity differently?
You may have seen activity growing across the heritage sector (and in other areas of life) specifically for neurodivergent people – individuals whose state of being is different from the neurotypical experience (this encompasses autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia etc). Whilst this is to be applauded in starting to consider the needs of neurodivergent visitors, there is a concern that the resulting outputs are often not driven by neurodivergent people themselves and as a result, do not, on the whole, meet need.
Autistic Experiences in Museums
I’m Sammy, a volunteer with Leeds City Museum and a consultant for The Neurodiverse Museum, a project with Sporting Heritage.
Leeds City Museum and Sporting Heritage have asked me to work on a project called The Neurodiverse Museum. We want to work with autistic people to support museums to be more accessible spaces, have more representative histories, and to make it easier for autistic people to get jobs in museums.