Science Double for disability accessibility consultancy Direct Access

The Science Museum Group, the world’s leading group of science museums has appointed Wrexham-based international award-winning accessibility consultancy firm Direct Access to undertake accessibility reviews of key museum sites.

Full site audits of iconic locations will be undertaken to identify areas of good practice and where plans can be put into place to enhance the accessibility of each site. As well as physical access, accessibility is considered for neurodiverse visitors as well as those who are deaf, blind or partially sighted. These locations include:

• Science and Industry Museum, Manchester – site of the world’s first passenger railway station
• National Science and Media Museum, Bradford – seven floors of galleries, three cinemas and Europe’s first IMAX cinema
• Locomotion, Shildon – spread over a 1km route the museum highlights the world’s first railway, the Stockton to Darlington railway

In a separate contract, the Science Museum Group has invited Direct Access to advise on the curation and programming of the new Technicians Gallery at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London. Founded in 1857, it is one of the key tourist attractions in the city with 3.3 million visitors annually and the most visited museum by British schools. The new Gallery will engage 11-16 year olds to understand the role of technicians and empower them to consider career opportunities as technicians.

“We are delighted to be working with the Science Museum Group across four iconic locations,” said Chief Operations Officer Steve Dering. “Drawing on our experience of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and working with Grade Listed buildings in the UK and Ireland we will work with the Science Museum Group to identify ways of developing accessible experiences. With sites currently closed due to COVID we will also look at ways of ensuring an accessible reopening with safety measures in place.”