Fifth award of its kind in the north east

A lighthouse in the bustling fishing port of Fraserburgh, has become the North East’s very first autism-friendly museum.

To achieve the award, museum staff learned about autism and made adjustments to the way they work to ensure autistic visitors can access and enjoy the lighthouse and the story it tells.

This included identifying a designated quiet zone and creating staff autism champions.

The Autism Friendly Award, administered by the National Autistic Society Scotland, recognises organisations that ensure autistic visitors can access and enjoy venues. The museum is the fifth organisation in the North East to achieve the award.

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses has also created a section on their website to help autistic customers prepare for their visit www.lighthousemuseum.org.uk/autism-awareness/.

Fiona McGreavy, area volunteering development manager at the National Autistic Society Scotland, said: “I’m so pleased that The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses has achieved the Autism Friendly Award.

“We know that 44% of autistic people and families in Scotland sometimes don’t go out because they’re worried about how people will react to their autism.

"We also know that small changes can make a big difference, meaning that autistic people can access and enjoy the places that many of us take for granted."

Michael Strachan, collections manager at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, said: "Our manager, Lynda McGuigan, feels passionately about autism and set us the task of achieving the National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award.

“This project has been successful in making the museum more accessible to autistic people by highlighting what they can expect during a visit. We are equally proud at the fact that we are the first museum in the north east to achieve autism-friendly status.”