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Interactive sensory objects for and by people with learning disabilities

Encompassing two projects based at Speke Hall National Trust property, Liverpool and developed through collaboration with both H.E. and non-H.E. organisations, for instance Mencap, Allen’s research uniquely develops innovative strategies to enable access to, and enhance the experience of, museum and heritage sites for people with learning disabilities. The importance of this research is in its inclusion of disabled users as co-researchers in on-site museum workshops, to produce interactive electronics that activate objects from the collections as an alternative to conventional interpretation for all visitors. The first project ‘Access to Heritage’ (2008-9), commissioned by Liverpool Mencap (http://accesstoheritageproject.blogspot.co.uk/) involved Allen working with members of the ‘Access to Heritage Forum’, a group of people with learning disabilities, to develop a sensory trail, comprising five new artworks, designed through a series of 10 workshops focused on sensory experience. The project is referenced in the ‘National Trust Access Guide’ (2010), featured in ‘Access by Design’ Journal (2010) and Mencap’s ‘Viewpoint’ magazine (2009).In 2011, building on this research, Allen developed (as PI) the project ‘Interactive multisensory objects developed for and by people with learning disabilities’ AHRC/£461,921.84 (http://www.sensoryobjects.com/). This involved collaboration with Access to Heritage Forum, Systems Engineering, UoR, and The Rix Center, University of East London. The three-year project takes place at Speke Hall (2012-13), Museum of English Rural Life, Reading (2013-14) and British Museum (2014-15). The participatory methods of the previous project are extended through experimentation with multisensory interactive objects, using sensors and rapid prototyping electronic Arduino boards to activate audio, video, LED, smell or motor/vibration, as a trigger to information and augmenting the experience of exhibits. The reach of the research was extended through public events including Sensory Stories symposia/workshops at Speke Hall and Museum of Liverpool (2013) and the production of a Methods ‘Cookbook’ available at http://www.sensoryobjects.com/?page_id=1081.