Tom Donegan, Events Manager at The Story Museum, looks at throwing open the doors to make stories accessible to all

This Saturday marks the first ever Disabled Access Day, with arts venues, museums and other cultural and recreational organisations throwing open their doors to disabled visitors all over the UK. For my colleagues and I, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase what we currently offer at The Story Museum in terms of accessible events, as well as learning how we can do more to ensure visiting the museum is an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all.

The day will feature special exhibition tours, storytelling and drop-in craft activities, giving a taste of the wide-range of activities already taking place as part of our regular programme. These include a relaxed visit to our 26 Characters exhibition (10am), touch tours for visitors with a visual impairment (2pm and 4pm), and two sensory story times (1pm and 3pm).

In addition, the museum has also invited Oxfordshire-based charity SpecialEffect to demonstrate some of the amazing work they do using gaming technology and access systems like ‘eye-gaze’ to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities. To celebrate the collaboration, we have set them the challenge of digitally recreating some of the most popular elements from our current exhib-ition, such as dressing-up and character creation, so everyone can join in. This will take place in our Long Room and visitors are free to pop by between 10am and 5pm to have a go for themselves.

Of course, as important as it is to celebrate Access Day itself, we are also keen to involve people with disabilities in what goes on here throughout the year. The museum occupies a large and rambling set of three linked buildings at the apex of St Aldates and Pembroke Street, originally constructed long before current regulations came into force. The majority of our exhibition space is located in what used to be the Post Office sorting office and telephone exchange. Those who have already been in to look around will be familiar with the labyrinthine qualities of the place, but whilst twisty staircases, narrow corridors and hidden rooms make for a unique atmosphere, they also present some serious challenges in terms of access. At present, a purpose-built lift installed during the initial phase of redevelopment brings wheelchairs to the main performance space, The Story Exchange, which hosts the majority of our readings, talks and functions.

The first floor of the exhibition is also open to wheelchair users. However, much remains to be done before things will be as we would wish. 2015 will hopefully mark another significant move forward, with the museum currently fundraising for the next chapter of refurbishment works, including another new lift, which would give access to the second floor as well. As part of these improvements, members of the team will be seeking comments and suggestions throughout the day on how to make the building and activities as welcoming as possible. The Story Museum is dedicated to making story accessible to everyone.

Visit www.storymuseum.org.uk for further details.