What is Disabled Access Day?
Disabled Access Day is all about trying something or somewhere new, whether that’s a local museum or gallery. This year the event will take place on Saturday 16 March and we’d love you to get involved and visit somewhere new with your friends or family. There are lots of exciting events, activities and offers going on across Tyne & Wear, from British Sign Language (BSL) tours to discounted entrance fees to facilitated activities.
What is Happening and Where?
The Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle
A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families. The tour will take place between 12.00pm and 1.00pm and is called Newcastle Story, which depicts the city’s history from Roman times right through to the Victorian age.
A BSL interpreted tour will take place for people with hearing loss, their friends and families between 2.00pm and 3.00pm around the Destination Tyneside Exhibition which looks at the insightful stories of people who have made Tyneside their home.
Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by Wednesday 13 March,
There is also a drop-in Circus themed craft session for families with children with disabilities from 11.00am to 1.00pm in the Play + Invent space. This will include clown hats, balancing clowns, circus lights and squirting flowers. Just turn up, no booking required!
GNM:Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle
A BSL interpreted guided tour of The Natural Northumbria Gallery will take place between 11.00am and 12.00pm where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.
A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families will take place between 1.00pm and 2.00pm around The Natural Northumbria Gallery where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.
Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by no later than Wednesday 13 March.
There will also be some drop-in sessions for family activities for children with disabilities.
The first session is ‘Story Time’ between 10:45am and 11.00am where you will meet the Great North Mouse and Georgina.
The second session is ‘Fishing for Clues’ between 11.00am and 12.00pm. Using our magnetic fishing rods fish clues from our ‘pond’ to help you discover objects around the gallery.
The third session is ‘Scribbles & Sketches’ between 1.00pm and 3.00pm. This is a drawing challenge for all ages. Pop along to Natural Northumbria Gallery to meet some of the handling collection, then have a go at drawing, tracing or colouring some of them.