Enhancing Accessibility: Training for Museums and Historic Sites
So, the New Year dawns and I head off for my first distant assignment – a long-anticipated trip down south. Historic Docks at Chatham was the destination. You can tell we don’t get out much, or travel far enough, because the first plans we made were taking us to Plymouth or Portsmouth (where there are indeed historic dockyards), but not to Chatham.
To be honest, there was a memory I had that Chatham was in Kent, probably an old TV programme or similar.
Then, the planning – How far is it? Do you need a passport? Do they understand (Northern) English? What’s the food like?
Relax – I’m joking, I have some very good friends in that part of the country, but still, it’s about 4½ hours driving!
A Journey to Chatham: The Challenges of Historic Sites
I located a Travelodge very close to the site and enjoyed a restful evening there. Morning broke with a thin mist from the nearby water with the promise of sun later, so I (foolishly) decided to push to the Dockyards – cool, crisp air, absolutely level, solid path – great for fitness which is sadly lacking with me since Christmas overindulgence. What could possibly go wrong???? I’ll tell you what could possibly go wrong – the absolutely level, solid path took me to the first buildings, but the building I actually needed was at the very far end of the site, and the site is huge, has some very dodgy surfaces (cobbles and the like) and totally pointless and unexpected gradients!
Luckily, on the worst section, a cyclist going in the opposite direction abandoned his bike in the road and pushed me to the top of the last hill! The kindness of strangers – I could write a book!
Anyway, I got there on time (just) to be greeted by my contact who immediately rushed off to get me a mug of tea (New best friend)!
Delivering Accessibility Training for Museums and Historic Sites
The training was a delight – 4 groups of about 30 people each, rotating for different talks. 75 minutes per group, lots of breaks. Worked for me – easy to fill 75 mins and then repeat, but it’s amazing how different each talk was. One different question and you’re off on a different tack. I personally loved every minute. They seemed to enjoy it too, with lots of people staying behind to ask questions.
I particularly enjoyed this day because it was different. I’ve done lots of stately homes and gardens and museums, lots of galleries with pictures and costumes, lots of stables, lots of kitchen gardens, but no dockyards. This leads to many new problems and new questions – how accessible can you make a wooden pirate galleon??? Can you expect a modern submarine to be wheelchair accessible??? Is rope climbing completely out of the question???
Now, tell me if I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t turn up there and expect to participate fully in the submarine tour – but some wheelchair users do?!? I found the whole day fascinating from so many points of view.
Overcoming Accessibility Challenges in Historic Locations
Providing accessibility training for museums and historic sites is crucial in helping venues understand the unique challenges that visitors with disabilities face. While some locations naturally present more difficulties than others, it is always possible to improve inclusivity. Whether it’s ensuring clear signage, providing alternative experiences, or training staff to assist visitors effectively, small changes can make a huge impact. The Historic Docks at Chatham provided a fresh perspective on accessibility, reminding me that even the most historic or unconventional sites can find ways to accommodate everyone.
And then, the push back was easy because the gradients were now all downhill and there were plenty of volunteers who wanted to help!
Hopefully we’ll be asked to visit again, because I loved it!
Onwards and upwards, possibly another London visit to report on soon.
Cheers,
Chris
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