2018 has been another busy year for DCN in raising the profile of inclusive practice and social barriers to engaging with cultural heritage. We work to raise the profile and creating opportunities to collaborate and sharing knowledge through strategy, signposting and low-cost practice. This has included delivering talks at events, developing working relationships across sectors, mentoring, signposting and workshops.
We have supported reports for inclusive practice in the workplace including AchieveAbility’s Neurodiverse Voices: Opening the Doors to Employment https://www.achieveability.org.uk/files/1518955206/wac-report_2017_interactive-2.pdf as well as attended the report launch of the Westminster Commission on Autism report on ‘fake therapies for autism’ and appeared on Ambitious about Autism Jack Welch’s podcast Episode 11: Autism in Museums with Claire Madge and Mark Barrett.
This link directs to all episodes to Ambitious about Autism podcasts
DCN has also appeared in ‘I Am Dyslexic’ a crowd-funded film on personal narratives from dyslexic adults on their own journeys through their careers to school-aged children Here is the link: https://youtu.be/ETlFiOjE8rI
We have also been part of talks in relation to the Government Digital Service on website accessibility link for resources and tools here and have attended London Accessibility Meet up on inclusive design in technology. We continue to have good relationships with organisations and forums in relation to inclusive technology in particular open source software and tools.
We’ve spoken at a number of events about our work including Cambridge and Oxford Universities, MAP conference on language on the importance of cross-sectoral, intersectional practice and strategy in relation to inclusive practice. We have also spoken at conferences including ACAS regarding inclusive practice in the workplace. We have also delivered workshops for a number of agencies including West Midlands Museum Development Annual Conference ‘Solve to Evolve’ and Cultural Inclusion Conference by Every Child Should.
We’ve delivered workshops for West Midlands Museum Development conference and Cultural Inclusion conference, Access for All Areas (Shared Care Scotland) in Scotland on barriers to text and practical advice in reducing barriers to engagement.
We’ve also launched our first informal meet up for Disability Confident scheme in partnership with the Natural History Museum where we had representatives from the V&A, DDCMS, Tate and as well as us and NHM.
Our next event is on the topic of Accessible and Changing Places toilets on 18 January, where we will host with Tate Modern and will have talks and discussions in respect to design, function and need of accessible and Changing Places toilets with families and individuals who as part of the 250,000 who need them. Link for tickets are here:
During 2018 we have supported museums of all budgets in encouraging and developing community consultation groups with respect to access strategy and development.
We are part of a working group in relation to inclusive practice in the workplace as well as our own Neurodiverse Museum Professionals Network and Disabled Staff Network and have been in discussions with relevant policyholders, organisations and champions.
DCN is developing projects collaborating with relevant partners for 2019 with respect to service provision and workforce.
We will be regularly updating our website with free resources, information and case studies in 2019. We will also be sharing some exciting news in 2019.
If you are interested in our work and would like to be involved, do email us via info@musedcn.org.uk and keep regularly updated by following @museumDCN