Make Heritage Spaces and Content Accessible and Welcoming
Practical advice to make physical and digital heritage spaces inclusive, including building and digital accessibility standards.
On this page:
Develop your understanding and strategy
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What Are the Experiences of Disabled People in the Heritage Sector in 2025?Results and recommendations from research conducted by Direct Access as part of Historic England's Disability Access to Heritage project.
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How Do I Develop an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Strategy?
Advice for those who are taking the important step to develop an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Strategy at their organisation.
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How Do We Ensure Our Heritage Project is Inclusive for Neurodivergent People?
Advice on how organisations can ensure their work is inclusive of neurodivergent people and address barriers to participation.
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What Is the Social Model of Disability and How Should It Inform Our Work as a Heritage Organisation?
Advice introducing the concept of the Social Model of Disability and how to embed it into organisations.
Exploring diverse histories
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How Do I Frame Dated or Offensive Historic Language and Content for a Modern Audience?
Advice on approaches around historic language and content that might be upsetting or offensive to a modern audience.
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How Should We Write and Talk about the History of Disability?
Advice on writing about the history of disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent people with sensitivity, nuance and respect.
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How Do We Talk About the Transatlantic Slave Trade Appropriately and Sensitively?
The transatlantic slave trade can be a challenging and emotive topic to discuss. Here's how to approach it with care and sensitivity.
Digital content that's accessible and welcoming
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Case Study: Creating Engaging Online Content About Diverse Histories
This case study looks at a series of Instagram reels about LGBTQ+ history in various places across England, created by Hollyzone History.
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How Do We Report Specific Issues of Online Harassment, Racism, Homophobia, and Other Hate Speech?
Guidance on how to report specific issues of online hate speech and who to report them to.
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How Can We Respond to Negative Online Feedback
Advice for heritage organisations and individuals on dealing with trolling, negative press, or other similar types of unwanted attention.
Making heritage spaces accessible and welcoming
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What is a Visitor Charter and How Do We Create One?
Advice on the features and benefits of a 'visitor charter', a document covering the expectations of both visitors and the host organisation.
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How Do We Produce a Sensory Map for Potential Visitors?
Advice on the features and benefits of sensory maps and how to create one.
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How Do We Address Barriers to Heritage Engagement for Disabled People?
Advice for organisations on how to recognise and address participation barriers for disabled people.
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What Is an 'Access Rider'? How Do We Produce One for Community Participants?
Advice for organisations on developing 'access riders' to ensure individual barriers are recognised and removed.
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How Can Providing Childcare Impact Our Project Outcomes and Make a Project More Inclusive?
Advice on tackling some of the challenges that people with childcare responsibilities face in accessing heritage opportunities.
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How Do We Produce a Visual Story for Potential Visitors?
A visual story is a visual guide that potential visitors or participants can see before their visit to help them prepare for it.
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What Should I Check at a Venue to Ensure It Is Accessible?
An accessibility checklist for anyone who wants to organise and plan an accessible event.
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How Do We Ensure Our Heritage Project is Inclusive for Neurodivergent People?
Advice on how organisations can ensure their work is inclusive of neurodivergent people and address barriers to participation.
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Case Study: Making Churches More Accessible
A case study by independent charitable trust Cloudesley on improving accessibility in churches and other historic buildings.
Training and skills for disability inclusion
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Where Can I Find Training and Resources on Disability Inclusion and Accessibility?
Find training and resources around disability for heritage organisations developing inclusive training programmes for staff and volunteers.
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How Can Heritage Organisations Set Up Disabled People’s Consultation Groups?
Disabled people's consultation groups ensure that your work in heritage does not accidentally create barriers to participation.
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What Is Mental Health First Aid Training and How Can Heritage Organisations Use It?
Learn about mental health first aid, who it could be useful for, and find training providers to develop your staff or volunteer training programme.
