Museums are working to become more accessible to everyone. Don't be afraid to explain your child’s particular needs. A phone call to the museum beforehand may make all the difference. 

This guide provides some strategies to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for the whole family. 
 

Plan your visit and see what the museum offers 

The key to enjoying a visit to a museum lies in planning and preparation. Have a look at the museum’s website to find out as much as possible before the visit. This will enable you to keep surprises to a minimum.  

• Phone ahead if you have specific questions or, if convenient, visit in advance to identify potential areas of interest as well as difficulty.  
• Identify anything which could cause distress. For example, some museums display skeletons or masks which you might prefer to avoid. Don't forget to check out the toilets and the cafe as part of any advance visit. 
• Find out about the museum environment. Is it dark or noisy?  
• Bright colours and interactive displays can result in sensory overload. See if the museum offers a 'quiet' space if your child needs a break.  
• Ask if the museum offers a concessionary rate for autistic people and their families.  
• Ask for advice on quieter days and times if crowds are likely to be a problem. Some museums open early or run events for autistic people and their families. You may need to book these - check with the museum. 
• Are there trails or other resources to help focus attention? 
• Check the museum's website for a map of the layout and to see if they have a visual story and a sensory map that shows quiet and noisy areas. 
   

Talk to your child and prepare them  

Before the visit, talk to your child about what you are going to see and experience. The more your child knows in advance about the museum environment, the better. 

• Show photos of the museum and the visual story if available.  
• Prepare a visual timetable, including travel, lunch arrangements and what you might do while at the museum. 
• Explain why museums have a distinctive environment and rules about not touching items on display. 
• Some museums use costumed guides or very life-like wax models to interpret their collections. These can appear strange and distressing to some, so explain and reassure your child about what they might see.    
• Make a plan with your child about what to do if they get separated from you or lost. You could show them what a member of the museum staff looks like so they could tell one of them that they have lost you. 
• Museum staff are always keen to help. Your child may like to prepare some questions they could ask while in the museum. 
   

During and after the visit 

If the museum is large, you may prefer to confine your visit to one or two areas of particular interest. This approach will allow you to look at displays in detail. 

Your child may enjoy putting together a scrapbook to record the experiences of the day. Look out for things which would help with this. Pick up any promotional material which is available. Buy a few postcards of items of particular interest. Check whether or not the museum allows photographs to be taken. The scrapbook is a good way of reliving a visit to the museum.  

Written by The Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth in partnership with St Anthony's School, Chichester (updated by the National Autistic Society, 2020)