Widgit Discover Packs
Sensory Trust has worked with Widgit in the development of the Discover Eden packs for the Eden Project.
The Discover Eden packs have recently been launched on the Eden Project, Widgit and Sensory Trust websites and so far have been very popular with visitors. They are also available as hard copies in Jo's café at the Eden Project.
We have found since the beginning of our Big Lottery supported project on accessible information that it is hard to point people in the direction of examples of good practice. This has been an opportunity for Sensory Trust to develop examples that could be used to illustrate techniques and approaches. The Discover Eden pack was an opportunity to show the process of putting together information in different formats and evaluate the responses to it both on-line and on-site. So far we have been able to see that through the Widgit website both the information packs on Eden and the activity packs that accompany them have been very well received – over 200 packs were downloaded in the first month. We plan to continue monitoring websites and getting feedback on line, along with more focused sessions at Eden to see what the most preferred method of delivery is.
The Widgit packs were a new resource for the Sensory Trust to be involved with. Although we had a close working relationship with Widgit and had worked on the production of many signs and exhibits using Widgit, a full information pack was a new step. We had been waiting for an opportunity to develop something in Widgit that could be easily obtained and used by groups, individuals and families and Discover Eden was just that.
We have to thank Cate Detheridge from Widgit who not only translated all the packs as agreed but also developed activity packs to accompany them. Cate felt that from her own experience of creating information for people with learning disabilities that providing some supporting materials for use after a visit would assist in memory and learning. This highlights exactly why the Sensory Trust feels so strongly about working in partnership, it allows the freedom of information and knowledge to pass between those who create the information, the places that can facilitate it and the individuals that need it. Through this collaborative project we have created packs that allow people access to information about one of the most exciting places you can visit in the UK, the Eden Project.
The packs have recently been put out on site and so far have received some very positive feedback. A group of 16-30 year olds from the Somerset Art and Technology College that visits the Eden Project on a monthly basis was thrilled to find the new information on site. Alison Stokes a tutor from the college said she was over the moon to find the packs as it covers all the work the students do on their trips to Eden.
Discover Eden was an incredibly rewarding project to work on, we hope we have also created a model of producing accessible information that can be used by Eden and other sites in the future.
We would also like to add that the Mechanical Theatre described in the packs is not on site yet but will be appearing soon and we can guarantee it will be well worth the wait!
If you are unsure what Widgits are please follow the link to find out more.
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