Introduction to Access in Museums with Stagetext and VocalEyes

Access in Museums Training with Stagetext and VocalEyes

Join us for a day of practical, engaging training designed specifically for museums and heritage sites, hosted at the Postal Museum. This session will focus on developing confidence and skills in supporting visitors who are blind, vision impaired, deaf, deafened and hard of hearing, helping to ensure an accessible and welcoming experience for all.

The day will include two workshops: one in Vision Awareness and one in Deaf Awareness. 

This training is aimed at staff, volunteers, and freelancers working in museums and heritage sites who want to build confidence in inclusive practice and strengthen the accessibility of their organisation. By the end of the day, participants will leave with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to create positive, welcoming experiences for all visitors.

Plus the day includes an opportunity to network with sector colleagues over lunch. A sandwich lunch is included in the cost of the ticket.

Vision Awareness Session
This session will explore the experiences of blind and vision impaired visitors in museum and heritage settings and share tips on how to reduce barriers to access. Through discussion and practical exercises, participants will learn how to:

• Anticipate and address common barriers within museum environments.
• Communicate effectively and confidently with visitors with sight loss.
• Practical tips to improve accessibility without the need for specialist equipment.
• Introduction to sighted guiding

Deaf Awareness Session
This session will build understanding of the barriers faced by deaf, deafened and hard of hearing visitors, and how staff and volunteers can help reduce them. It will cover:

• Why deaf awareness is important

• Terminology and different types of deafness including Deaf, deaf, deafened and hard of hearing

• Communication strategies for staff speaking to deaf customers

• Hints and tips on removing communication barriers such as in noisy environments or dimly lit areas

• Interactive BSL fingerspelling and lip-reading exercises

Please note tickets are limited to two people per organisation.