Getting started

Thank you for taking this first important step. Before reading on, know that you DON’T have to become an expert in SEND to make a profound difference to this audience! You know your museums, and it’s our job to guide you through this website to learn how to make them more accessible. The “experts” are SEND children, their families, friends, teachers, and carers.

Forming local partnerships with these groups will give you a bespoke view of what fits your organisation best. This website is a good starting point, and from here you can create something truly special.

This section of the website is designed to help you overcome any concerns or fears you may have about working with SEND children and their families and learn tactics for negotiating different situations. The best advice we can offer is to be open and honest as you recognise these fears. It’s also essential that you involve all staff in your museum from the start and have this conversation in a safe and nonjudgmental way.

We encourage you to look through the statistics and family testimonies in the Why work with SEND? section of this website first. We also have a useful Glossary of terms (Word) to help you navigate the jargon associated with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).