Tyne and Wear Museums Hub Deaf and Hearing-impaired Museums Engagement Review

Work is currently being undertaken for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, exploring engagement with museums by D/deaf and hearing-impaired children and adults.

There are two main aims to the work:

• To present through research and consultation an up-to-date picture as to if and how Deaf and hearing impaired children and adults currently visit/engage with museums/galleries and what their experiences are.
• To consult with Deaf and hearing impaired children and adults to gain feedback as to what would make museums/galleries more interesting, attractive and accessible to them.

Contact with Deaf clubs and organisations throughout the region is currently being sought to ask for help in gathering feedback – the aim is to reach a sample of groups across as wide a range as possible.

So far, access into schools is proving very positive through the Education Authorities Sensory Support Teams.

The work aims to reach as many D/deaf and hard of hearing groups as possible through face-to-face contact, letter/e mail, as well as through appropriate organisations, such as Becoming Visible.

Any information will be treated with the strictest of confidence and used only to inform future museums provision for Deaf and hard of hearing people.