Disabled Access Day is all about trying something or somewhere new, such as a local museum or gallery.
This year, the event takes place on Saturday 12 March and we at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums would love you to get involved and visit one of our venues with your friends and family.
We run nine museums and galleries, several of which have special activities and offers to celebrate Disabled Access Day, from British Sign Language tours to facilitated activities and free admission.
Discovery Museum
An exciting audiovisual installation produced by people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Featuring Freda the musical octopus, the exhibit is a living soundscape, with real plants that harness innovative technology to produce musical sounds. For audiences of all abilities this is the chance to come and interact with the piece, to create, and to learn.
The artwork was created by a group of people who attend the Welford Centre in Newcastle, with the support of local learning disability theatre company 'The Twisting Ducks'.
Free, 10am - 4pm, drop in
Blind and partially sighted people can enjoy guided tours of the Newcastle Story and Story of the Tyne galleries. Free, 11am and 1pm, advance booking essential
Disabled people can go behind the scenes of the Great North Museum: Hancock with a guided tour of its Resource Centre, based at the Discovery Museum. Free, 11am, advance booking essential, BSL interpreter support available
Laing Art Gallery
We've got 20 free places available for disabled people to view the exhibition Leonardo Da Vinci: Ten Drawings from the Royal Collection. Free, 10am - 5pm, advance booking essential
Great North Museum: Hancock
Disabled people can enjoy a guided exhibition tour of The Extraordinary Gertrude Bell. Discover the woman who helped to shape the Middle East after the First World War. Free, 1pm, advance booking essential, BSL interpreter support available
South Shields Museum
Deaf people/BSL users can enjoy an illustrated talk about the many treasures at South Shields Museum. An optional tour of the museum's brand new Treasures gallery follows. Free, 11:30am, advance booking essential
Segedunum Roman Fort
Disabled people can enjoy free admission to Segedunum, the most excavated fort along Hadrian's Wall. Free, drop in
Book your places and enquire about BSL interpreter support by contacting Robert Latham on 0191 277 2313 or Robert.Latham@twmuseums.org.uk