Sensory Kit at the Palace of Culture in Iași

It is a bag, which contains items particularly selected so to facilitate a smooth, pleasant visit for people with learning difficulties due to their particular medical condition, i.e. people suffering from autism and other neuro-cognitive disorders.

Each kit contains an anti-stress rubber ball which helps people release their stress caused by the changing of their usual environment, a headset to protect from loud noise, sunglasses to protect them from areas where light may be too strong for them, a series of fundamental pictograms to help them easily communicate essential aspects.

It is to be used along with the sensory map, and the Accessible Communication guidebook.

The importance of the tool lies in the fact that people with such medical disorders know that they have the chance to visit the museum in a decent way, enjoying the visit as much as they can. At the same time, it is also important for the museum professionals who come to get acquainted with the specific needs of the target groups. We should keep in mind that these needs are very often brought to the knowledge of the museum professionals by the teachers or family members of the persons with autism or related disorders, as these people themselves are very often non-verbal or only to a limited extent able to use verbal communication.

If for the general public the light in a room may be irrelevant, for a person with neuro-cognitive disorders too much or not enough light may be seriously disturbing, so may be loud sound. Moreover, the access to a space by means of elevator can be also scary to people who already have specific neurological conditions. Therefore, the right preparation is needed from the accompanying persons, but also from the museum staff, who needs to demonstrate and apply the due care, patience and adaptation to the specificities of this target group.

”Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania is one of the museum organisations in the country whose specialists received targeted training as part of the Erasmus+ Project ”A.A.C.cessible Culture: museums for everyone developing the Alternative Augmentative Communication tools (AAC)” and consequently carry out dedicated educational activities in cooperation with local associations, school staff, and families of people with neuro-cognitive disorders.

A.A.C.cessible Culture

It is a set of items specifically designed/ created/ selected to enable/ensure a smooth visit for people with autism and related disorders

Romanian

People with autism spectrum disorder and other neuro-cognitive disorders, people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties

Free, one has to ask at the info desk

Adaptable to the needs of the user

n/a

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There is information about this project and its results both on the project website and on the website of the Romanian partner, ”Moldova” National Museum Complex

The tool can be used in conjunction with the sensory map, i.e. the plan of the edifice where the different “problematic” areas are marked. These are areas possibly causing any form of stress to the people with neuro-cognitive disorders.

WCAG compliant

”A.A.C.cessible Culture: museums foreveryone developing the Alternative Augmentative Communication tools (AAC)”

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