Led by Sam Bowen and Sarah Oswald

Course dates: Mondays on 9th, 16th, 23rd June 2025, 10:00 – 12:30 BST.

This three week virtual course will provide insight and inspiration to help you plan for and implement accessible interpretation in your organisation.

Who is it for?

This course is suited to learning professionals who wish to develop their understanding and practice of accessible, inclusive interpretation. It compliments GEM’s Heritage Interpretation and Developing SEND-Inclusive Learning with Confidence courses.

Who runs the course?

Lead by Sam Bowen of SEND in Museums and Sarah Oswald from The Authentic Spark who bring professional knowledge and personal experience to the course. They will be joined by guest speakers from a range of heritage organisations sharing their approach to developing and delivering accessible interpretation.

When and where is it?

The course will be delivered through three x 2,5 hour online sessions (via Zoom) over three consecutive weeks as well as ‘at home’ activities. Participants are highly encouraged to take part in the live online sessions but there will also be the ability to engage with the recorded sessions afterwards.

Each session will include relevant case studies from guest speakers, Q&A and a chance to discuss learning with other participants in small break-out rooms. Over the three weeks you will be invited to put the learning into practice through:

• Undertaking an accessible interpretation audit of your chosen site / experience
• Identifying areas for improvement and developing accessible interpretation ideas
• Sharing and discussing audit findings with each other

By the end of the course you will have identified one thing you could do to improve or develop accessible interpretation for your chosen site / experience.

Week 1 (9th June) – Planning for accessible interpretation

An introduction to the best practice principles of heritage interpretation and to the guidance, standards and best practice for access provision, and how these relate.

Week 2 (16th June) – What ‘good’ and ‘not so good’ SEND provision in museums looks like

A background to SEND and the impact of accessible spaces. Sharing lived experience and case study examples of what works and doesn’t work and how we can do better

Week 3 (23rd June) – Interpretation inside and out

Looking at case studies and examples of accessible interpretation good practice in both indoors and outdoors heritage settings.

How much is it?

£150 – GEM Members

£190 – Non-members

When is it?

Mondays on 9th, 16th, 23rd June 2025, 10:00 – 12:30 BST.

Book now