AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
We've come up with ten autistic friendly places in the North East that offer special facilities, guides, relaxed screenings and performances
If you have someone on the autism spectrum in your family, everyday life can be a real challenge.
Days out or trips to the cinema, theatre and museums can also be difficult as coping with a new environment can be exciting but challenging too.
But many venues across the North East are autistic friendly and hold special events, relaxed performances and screenings to make visits less stressful.
If you’re looking for advice on how to have a great family day out, The National Autistic Society offers some great tips on holidays and days out at www.autism.org.uk and even lists places to go throughout the UK.
With this in mind we have come up with a list of some of the autistic-friendly places throughout the North East ranging from cinemas and theatres, to museums and galleries. If we have missed your favourite place off the list feel free to comment below and we’ll add it.
Museums / Galleries
Seven Stories
Seven Stories ,The National Centre for Children’s Books, launched a monthly early bird opening this summer to enhance accessibility to its visitor centre.
Starting from Saturday, August 6, Seven Stories will open the doors of its popular visitor centre an hour early between 9am to 10am on the first Saturday of every month to enable families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities a chance to avoid the hustle and bustle which can often be overwhelming.
Families are invited to take part in a bespoke, relaxed story time at 10am as part of the regular Early Bird programme. These sessions offer accessible ways to spark imagination and allow families to share stories together by experimenting with a variety of tactile props and sounds.
The early bird opening will all ensure families have a quieter visit to the Seven Stories Café where they can explore food using all their senses with hands-on activities.
Story from their website where there is more information about accessibility at the Visitor Centre: www.sevenstories.org.uk/visit/accessibility .
For more information about Early Bird Opening or about how Seven Stories can support your visit, visit the website: www.sevenstories.org.uk/visit/accessibility .
Baltic
Join the Baltic for an Autism Friendly Session in The Playground Project exhibition on Level 4 before the gallery opens on Tuesday, September 6 and Tuesday, October 25.
This session is for families and friends on the autistic spectrum. BALTIC is working with North East Autism Society to help create a relaxed and engaging environment. To ensure you have the best possible experience the following changes have been made: the blinds will be open and the house lights off (weather permitting) so the space will be lit by natural light only; visual story of your visit will be sent to you prior to your arrival so you know what to expect before you visit us; volume on all films will be turned down to a low level; a dark quiet space will be available throughout the session.
The Baltic’s crew and staff will have symbol keychains as communication aids and will have attended an Autism information session provided by North East Autism Society. Please be aware that the gallery will be open an hour early - from 9:30am to 10:30am - only for those who have tickets for the sessions.
To book or make enquiries please email [email protected] or call a member of the Learning Team on 0191 440 4924. Please be aware that tickets are free but have limited availability. Everyone attending will need a ticket and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
A science maze, shipbuilding exhibition and Play Tyne water play area for little ones are among the attractions on offer at the fascinating city centre Discovery Museum, on Blandford Square in Newcastle.
As you enter the museum you’ll come face to face with Turbinia. Charles Parsons’s 34-metre steam powered ship that was once the fastest ship in the world and an iconic part of the history of Tyneside.
You will then be able to immerse yourself in the history of Newcastle and Tyneside told through permanent displays and temporary exhibitions over three floors focusing on the area’s maritime, scientific and technological importance to Britain and the rest of the world. The permanent galleries at Discovery Museum are Science Maze, Newcastle Story, Play Tyne, Tyneside Challenge, Destination Tyneside, Story of the Tyne, A Soldier’s Life and Working Lives.
Visitors who are on the autistic spectrum might find the museum’s Visual Story helpful as they can use it to prepare their visit in advance. The museum also has an online guide with a street view of the different floors in the museum which you can use to explore the museum before a visit. This may be beneficial to some visitors with conditions that cause anxiety when entering a new environments.
On site it offers a small range of resources that may help some children with additional needs cope with the busy museum environment. If you would like to borrow these resources during your trip then please let a member of staff know when you are making a booking via one of the workshop links or by emailing [email protected] directly. For more information go to discoverymuseum.org.uk/learning/send-provision
READ MORE: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/autistic-friendly-places-you-can-11844724
We've come up with ten autistic friendly places in the North East that offer special facilities, guides, relaxed screenings and performances
If you have someone on the autism spectrum in your family, everyday life can be a real challenge.
Days out or trips to the cinema, theatre and museums can also be difficult as coping with a new environment can be exciting but challenging too.
But many venues across the North East are autistic friendly and hold special events, relaxed performances and screenings to make visits less stressful.
If you’re looking for advice on how to have a great family day out, The National Autistic Society offers some great tips on holidays and days out at www.autism.org.uk and even lists places to go throughout the UK.
With this in mind we have come up with a list of some of the autistic-friendly places throughout the North East ranging from cinemas and theatres, to museums and galleries. If we have missed your favourite place off the list feel free to comment below and we’ll add it.
Museums / Galleries
Seven Stories
Seven Stories ,The National Centre for Children’s Books, launched a monthly early bird opening this summer to enhance accessibility to its visitor centre.
Starting from Saturday, August 6, Seven Stories will open the doors of its popular visitor centre an hour early between 9am to 10am on the first Saturday of every month to enable families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities a chance to avoid the hustle and bustle which can often be overwhelming.
Families are invited to take part in a bespoke, relaxed story time at 10am as part of the regular Early Bird programme. These sessions offer accessible ways to spark imagination and allow families to share stories together by experimenting with a variety of tactile props and sounds.
The early bird opening will all ensure families have a quieter visit to the Seven Stories Café where they can explore food using all their senses with hands-on activities.
Story from their website where there is more information about accessibility at the Visitor Centre: www.sevenstories.org.uk/visit/accessibility .
For more information about Early Bird Opening or about how Seven Stories can support your visit, visit the website: www.sevenstories.org.uk/visit/accessibility .
Baltic
Join the Baltic for an Autism Friendly Session in The Playground Project exhibition on Level 4 before the gallery opens on Tuesday, September 6 and Tuesday, October 25.
This session is for families and friends on the autistic spectrum. BALTIC is working with North East Autism Society to help create a relaxed and engaging environment. To ensure you have the best possible experience the following changes have been made: the blinds will be open and the house lights off (weather permitting) so the space will be lit by natural light only; visual story of your visit will be sent to you prior to your arrival so you know what to expect before you visit us; volume on all films will be turned down to a low level; a dark quiet space will be available throughout the session.
The Baltic’s crew and staff will have symbol keychains as communication aids and will have attended an Autism information session provided by North East Autism Society. Please be aware that the gallery will be open an hour early - from 9:30am to 10:30am - only for those who have tickets for the sessions.
To book or make enquiries please email [email protected] or call a member of the Learning Team on 0191 440 4924. Please be aware that tickets are free but have limited availability. Everyone attending will need a ticket and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
A science maze, shipbuilding exhibition and Play Tyne water play area for little ones are among the attractions on offer at the fascinating city centre Discovery Museum, on Blandford Square in Newcastle.
As you enter the museum you’ll come face to face with Turbinia. Charles Parsons’s 34-metre steam powered ship that was once the fastest ship in the world and an iconic part of the history of Tyneside.
You will then be able to immerse yourself in the history of Newcastle and Tyneside told through permanent displays and temporary exhibitions over three floors focusing on the area’s maritime, scientific and technological importance to Britain and the rest of the world. The permanent galleries at Discovery Museum are Science Maze, Newcastle Story, Play Tyne, Tyneside Challenge, Destination Tyneside, Story of the Tyne, A Soldier’s Life and Working Lives.
Visitors who are on the autistic spectrum might find the museum’s Visual Story helpful as they can use it to prepare their visit in advance. The museum also has an online guide with a street view of the different floors in the museum which you can use to explore the museum before a visit. This may be beneficial to some visitors with conditions that cause anxiety when entering a new environments.
On site it offers a small range of resources that may help some children with additional needs cope with the busy museum environment. If you would like to borrow these resources during your trip then please let a member of staff know when you are making a booking via one of the workshop links or by emailing [email protected] directly. For more information go to discoverymuseum.org.uk/learning/send-provision
READ MORE: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/autistic-friendly-places-you-can-11844724