In 2020 as Chair for the Archives for Learning and Education Section (ALES) of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) I lead on the creation of a successful bid to to the ARA’s Research and Advocacy Fund for the creation of an Accessible Learning Toolkit. The aims of of the toolkit were to encourage and inspire archive services to develop learning and engagement opportunities for a wider range of users, and give archive professionals and para-professionals the confidence to work with groups and individuals with specific and varied needs.
Pandemic related delays meant that the project start did not start in earnest until 2021, and the final toolkit was published in January 2022. As part of the steering group I collaborated in the appointment of a consultant, the sourcing of case studies from the sector as well as proof reading, progress monitoring and liaising with the designer.
The toolkit particularly focuses on children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and encourages archive services to use the Assess, Plan, Do, Review model in order to become more ‘SEND-friendly’.
Following the launch I contributed to The UK National Archives’ two part online training event on designing and delivering activities for SEND, deaf, disabled and neuro-divergent audiences, promoting the use of the toolkit within the UK archives sector.
The toolkit is available to download for free at this link.
AGH Archives 
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