Harvey Mills
Wednesday 7th May 2025 at Winchester Science Centre
A one-day event supporting STEM engagement organisations with accessibility requirements for school children, families and communities with additional needs.
We’re excited to invite you to Accessibility Unlocked, the event dedicated to making small changes for a big impact - everyone, no matter where they are placed within an organisation - can make a difference to accessibility.
The foundational mission of all science and discovery centres and museums is to share science with everyone. As organisations built on outreach, providing accessible spaces, programmes and opportunities to engage with STEM is vital for us to achieve this mission.
We welcome ASDC members and non-members to this event with ticket options for everyone.
“Making sure everyone feels included is one of our core values, and something that we as an organisation really care about, so this is a really important event for ASDC, our members and the wider STEM engagement sector. We’re excited to be able to deliver this event in partnership with Winchester Science Centre, where accessibility and inclusivity are integral to the team and the organisation.” Shaaron Leverment, Chief Executive, ASDC.
What to expect
Accessibility Unlocked can be experienced by everyone in your team with both in-person and online options. For greatest impact and the ultimate networking and collaborative experience we encourage delegates to attend in-person, with the additional option to join online and access the post-event recordings.
The day will kick start with an inspiring keynote, followed by dynamic workshops, a tour from our hosts Winchester Science Centre, and a suite of demo tables with tangible take-home messages that participants will speed-date through. The jam-packed day will also include networking opportunities and be rounded off with a final keynote.
Alongside the in-person event, a bespoke and interactive online stream will be hosted by science communicator Jamie Gallagher. The day has been scheduled so that all aspects of the event will be delivered directly to remote attendees, immersing them in the programme. All workshops will be run in online-only sessions, and there will be specific online 'speed-dating’ speakers. Keynotes will be streamed, networking facilitated, and the tour of Winchester pre-recorded and shared.
Tickets:
- ASDC members: £150 + VAT (1 x in-person)
- ASDC members: £190 + VAT (1 x in-person including unlimited online access for colleagues from your organisation)
- Non-members: £185 + VAT (1 x in-person)
- Non-members: £225 + VAT (1 x in-person including unlimited online access for colleagues from your organisation)
A bursary scheme is available to ASDC members up to the value of £150 plus VAT to purchase one in-person ticket. The scheme supports our commitment to inclusion and accessibility and is funded through ASDC's own charitable reserves.
Why attend this event?
Wherever you are in your organisation, you can make a difference; accessibility impacts all of us. Accessibility Unlocked will give you and your colleagues the opportunity to meet people from science centres around the UK, sharing best DEIA practice, learning from each other about what works well - and what doesn’t.
Delegates will be given an in-depth behind the scenes tour of Winchester Science Centre, which was awarded Gold for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism at the Beautiful South Awards following an accessibility focused redevelopment of the site in 2020. Members of the team will be demonstrating how they're making the centre more accessible for everyone.
“We're on a mission. Science is brilliant and we want everyone to enjoy it. We'd love to show everyone how science can improve lives. That's why we're starting right here with our own experience at the Science Centre. We decided to break down the barriers to science. We've totally transformed our visitor experience to make it easy for all young people and their families to be part of everything we do.
We want Winchester Science Centre to be a national beacon for accessibility in STEM. We want to be a benchmark for other science centres in promoting inclusivity in our sector. We’ve made huge leaps forward in this – but we’re not there yet. Our plan is to work with experts, people who live with disabilities and life-altering conditions, families of those people and carers. By working together, we hope to achieve our goal.”
Andy Keenan, Head of Equity, Community Engagement and Outreach at Winchester Science Centre
The programme will include workshops run by:
- National Space Centre with dance company Moving Together showcasing the impact of teaching science through arts to SEND students
- Life Science Centre running a critical-friend session on how to create a great visual story for your organisation
- Tactile Universe running a training session to break down barriers to STEM participation with blind people and visually impaired audiences
- The Science Museum discussing using Science Museums and Centres to expand STEM British Sign Language.
Who should attend?
If you work in STEM engagement as part of a public-facing organisation, this event is for you. If you’re part of the education team, front of house supporting visitors with disabilities, backstage focusing on operations or promoting accessibility to new audiences across social media, come and learn together. Whether you’re looking to learn more about accessibility and inclusion, or you’re keen to make DEIA part of your role and want to talk to experts and learn from others, we'd love to see you there.
If you have any questions about the event, or you’d like to contribute to the programme, please get in touch.