The following is excerpted from my Museum News article entitled Full Spectrum. In a hurry to get to the actionable ideas? scroll down for a quick-and-dirty "top tips for autism inclusion."
Too
often, schools focus on remediation at the expense of talents and
interests: Children with autism spend their school days learning to be
as "typical "as possible. Museums, though, are all about passions and
unique abilities. The child whose fascination with outer space sabotages
his English grades could thrive and even take a leadership role in a
planetarium setting. The youngster whose artistic abilities far outshine
her ability to converse with peers could develop her talents, interests
and understanding of visual media in an art museum setting. The
possibilities are endless, given the right supports, opportunities,
training and willingness to learn on all sides.
In short, museum professionals have the tools and capability to provide
people with autism with extraordinary experiences available nowhere else
in the world. These are people for whom museums, in many cases, are a
natural destination. But neither they nor the museum community
necessarily know it yet.
Before actively inviting families and groups with autistic members to
your museum, you need to have a good sense of just whom you're
approaching and what you plan to offer. To begin with, you'll need to
consider the question of whether you're interested in providing access
to the autism community or whether you're aiming for true inclusion.
Access is relatively simple and low in cost, while true inclusion
requires a considerable commitment to training, program development and
more. A museum that is accessible to individuals with autism may open
its doors to the autism community during off hours, or it may provide
tools and resources –such as visual schedules, preview materials and
dedicated quiet spaces –so that individuals with autism can visit the
museum without undue difficulty. A museum that actually includes
individuals and families with autism, however, will need to modify
programs and exhibits, create accommodations and supports, train staff
and work with the autism community to create an autism-friendly
environment.
Whether you plan to create accessibility resources or provide training
and alter programs, you'll need to know where the necessary funding will
come from. If you're striving for true inclusion, you'll need to
determine whether you will incorporate that philosophy into your entire
institutional agenda or create discrete "inclusive "exhibits, programs
and events. And once people with autism come to and have a positive
experience at your museum, will you continue to offer them opportunities
to learn and grow with you? Or are you simply offering an open door?
If you're considering inclusion, you'll also need to decide whether your
museum is truly interested in making serious modifications to include
low-functioning individuals on the autism spectrum. You may prefer to
reach out exclusively to higher-functioning individuals who can, with
support, be fully included in your existing programs
Many museums invite families with autistic members into their exhibits
during openhouse- style events at times when the museum would ordinarily
be closed. The McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Ala., for example,
offers special autism family nights to community members, partnering
with local autism organizations. The Garden State Discovery Museum in
Cherry Hill, N.J., runs a more sophisticated version of an open house
event called "Open Arms. "Grant funding has allowed the museum to invite
autism experts and resource people to attend and provide a value-added
element to the experience.
Such special events have several great advantages for both museums and
families. They cost museums very little but bring in a fair amount of
revenue. They require no one –staff or families –to spend a great deal
of time or money preparing for the event. Families with autistic
children can enjoy exhibits on their own terms without fear of being
stared at or judged by other visitors, and with relatively little risk
of being asked to leave. People of all ages can go through the galleries
at their own pace. Higherfunctioning youngsters can explore and
discover, while lower-functioning children may engage at a simpler
level.
This type of access program is certainly a positive step in the right
direction, and it can become a big seller. Families with autistic
children tend to connect through support groups, listservs and other
means, and once a core group decides an event is worthwhile, many other
families may follow suit. It's always pleasant to meet up with friends
and peers in a safe, family-friendly setting.
While autism-only events are by far the most popular form of museum
access, other types of access programs are popping up around the
country. In Naperville, Ill., for example, the DuPage Children's Museum
offers parents of children with autism a photo-tour of museum. This
makes it possible for youngsters with autism to familiarize themselves
with the experience in advance; for children with autism, preparation is
key to a positive experience. The Adventure Aquarium in Camden, N.J.,
has created autism access materials, including visual planners and
hands-on materials, as part of a grant-funded pilot program.
Can children, teens and adults with autism fully engage with museum
exhibits and programs along with the rest of the world? The answer is a
qualified yes.
When a person is diagnosed with Asperger syndrome or mild
(highfunctioning) autism, clear communication about rules, expectations
and schedule –together with specific accommodations – are key. Such
efforts, along with employee training and providing a few extra staff
members for support, can make all the difference. Some of the simplest
and most effective accommodations are free or nearly free: providing
visual preview materials to prepare youngsters for events and programs;
placing children with autism at the front of the room or including them
as "helpers "; inviting parents to serve as aides during workshops;
providing a quiet room for families whose child is feeling overwhelmed.
One of the challenges of successful inclusion for children with
high-functioning autism is disclosure: Many parents choose not to
mention their child's autism (often out of fear of being excluded from
the program); if you don't know a child is autistic, you won't be
prepared for her special needs. Regular communication with leaders of
autism support groups in your community can overcome such concerns;
families with autism tend to be in close contact with one another and
will spread the word.
When the person with autism is lower functioning, inclusion may or may
not be as straightforward. Museum staff may need to create a specially
designed inclusive program that meets the needs of individuals with
autism, or even customize experiences to fit particular autistic
profiles. Perhaps most difficult, museum staff will need to evaluate the
impact of autistic behaviors on their regular visitors. Loud noises,
aggression or other disruptive behaviors can be very challenging.
Often, generalized programs that include individuals with developmental
disorders can work well for people with autism. The key to success, in
this case, is small groups, high staff-to-visitor ratios and careful
selection of activities to avoid a great deal of emphasis on verbal
interaction. The Jewish Museum in New York, for instance, offers
specialty tours for families with developmentally disabled members, as
well as educator workshops for special education teachers. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a long-standing Discovery
Tour program that takes individuals with developmental challenges and
their families through the galleries and offers hands-on educational
experiences.
In just the past few years, interest in including individuals with
autism spectrum disorders in museums has grown – and so has grant
funding. A staff-training and program-development project funded by the
Institute of Museum and Library Services is now underway in Boston, and
corporate-funded autism access events are taking place across the
country. Google "autism museum "and you'll find dozens of such
happenings. If you're considering access or inclusion for your museum,
you're in the right place at the right time.
TOP TIPS FOR ACCESS AND INCLUSION
In a perfect world, museums would have the time, money, staff and
dedication to support every individual interested in touring its
galleries or taking part in its programs. Short of an ideal situation,
however, there are low-cost, high-impact techniques for making your
museum more accessible to, inclusive of and involved with the autism
community.
• It's important to set the stage for a successful visit. You can
provide preparatory materials such as videos, photos and maps so that
parents and teachers can plan their visits and create visual schedules
for their autistic children. These can be provided as downloads from
your website; be sure visitors know they are there. You might suggest or
set aside certain times for visits when the museum is uncrowded, or
recommend or create exhibits that are relatively low key in terms of
noise, light and crowd levels. Consider offering a special entry fee or
membership option that allows families to come and go as early and often
as they like. A clear, printable list of rules and behavior
expectations (ideally, including photos) is helpful, as is an up-to-date
museum restaurant menu that lists a variety of choices including wheat-
and dairy-free options for those who believe that such a diet can help
people with autism.
• Once at the museum, parents or teachers should know where they can
find a quiet room or space where they can take a child with autism who
has become overwhelmed or has begun to tantrum. Mark the room
prominently on maps and be sure there is a closable door. If possible,
equip the room with a video player and a selection of favorite
children's videos, along with simple toys such as Legos and sensory
objects such as squishy balls.
• Train your staff to ask families whether they need any special
services or supports as they tour the museum. Museum employees should be
aware of any services you've created for autistic visitors and know how
to offer them rather than reacting in a loud or angry tone to odd or
unexpected behaviors.
• Finally, communication is key. Connect with local special needs parent
groups and your area's Autism Society chapter to let them know of your
offerings and to ask about their needs and concerns. Open the doors to
communication with individual families so that you can accommodate their
child's special needs while also helping them to explore their
strengths and abilities.
Interested in learning more? Here are a few articles that may interest you:
"Creative Inspiration: Art Museums and Autism "by Saira Vasquez, Autism-Asperger's Digest, museoarteponce.org.
"Autism, Inclusion and Museums, "autism.about.com.
"Getting Hands-on With Autism Education "by Lisa Jo Rudy, Autism- Asperger's Digest, autismdigest.com.
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A clear, printable list of rules and behavior expectations (ideally, including photos) is helpful, as is an up-to-date museum restaurant menu that lists a variety of choiceshttp://www.adelaide-travel.com/ including wheat- and dairy-free options for those who believe that such a diet can help people with autism.
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