Jo Gillam: Accessing heritage & engaging with new audiences

As museums get ready to welcome visitors back through their doors, now is a good time to reflect on how the last few months have particularly affected engagement with autistic people. Lessons can be learnt from the pandemic negatives which will probably continue in some form for a while. There have been some surprising pandemic positives. It would be a huge shame to get rid of these too.   The last two years have been tough for all of us but consider the stress levels if even in normal circumstances you “start each day half-filled with anxiety”. [i] Autism isn’t a mental health problem but 33% of autists have one caused by the difficulties of living in a neurotypical world with inadequate support. [ii] 90% autistic people worried about their mental health during lockdown and 85% say their anxiety levels have got worse. [iii] The pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties in a number of ways.   Opportunities for social interaction There’s been a big reduction in social and communica

Relax and enjoy the show It’s a human right to be able to freely participate in and benefit from culture [1] . If you and your family can’t access shows, you’re missing out physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. I’ve been involved in ‘relaxed’ performances for a few years. Not as a performer or a technician but as an adviser and volunteer. It’s tremendous to experience the relief, pleasure and increased confidence they bring to audiences. It’s also a positive experience for performers. Many people feel that relaxed performances offer a more dynamic theatrical experience which benefits everyone. Public performance companies and venues are gradually realising how many more people will pay to enjoy their shows if a few small changes are made to the experience. What is a relaxed performance? A relaxed performance retains the essential content and character of a show, while making them more accessible for people with sensory communication needs. Shows and venues are dif

Just 16% of autistic adults are in full-time paid employment. [i] [ii]  Many autistic people have a variety of sometimes exceptional skills and qualifications. This means that  everyone  is missing out. If you have any doubts about this, start by taking a look at this  clip .  The barriers to work begin at the recruitment stage and continue once someone is employed or volunteering. Here I'll be exploring these and sharing practical tips from autistic museum workers. Understanding is the key to benefiting from autistic contributions Employers and colleagues may not realise just how much an autistic worker can bring to the team. There's most awareness in the scientific and digital industries. Unusually, this firm only employs autistic people. It’s created a supportive environment from which all workplaces can learn. However, it's wrong to think that autistic people are suited to a limited range of jobs. Many creative, imaginative people are autistic.  Some managers fea