Groups Social Story

Accessibility

This Social Story aims to prepare groups with autism for their visit to Thinktank by letting them know what to expect.

Read the Social Story below or alternatively the same information can be downloaded in our Social Story PDF.

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My visit to Thinktank

I am going to visit Thinktank.

Thinktank is a science museum.

Exterior of Millennium Point building from Parkside. It is a modern glass building with trees in font and there is a blue sky in the background.
The exterior of the front of Millennium Point from the car park. It is a square building with a cylinder section on the side. A sign on the top of the entrance reads 'Millennium Point'.

These are photos of the outside of the building where Thinktank is.

A staff member facing away from the camera, he is wearing a blue T-shirt with the Thinktank cloud logo and the words 'Thinktank' on the it..
A staff member smiling, wearing a blue T-shirt, lanyard and badges.

There are people that will help me when I am there. These people are called Enablers.

Enablers wear blue t-shirts.

If I have a question when I am at Thinktank I can talk to the Enablers. It is fine to talk to them.

An empty cloak and bag trolley in a gallery space.

The Enablers might take me to a trolley. If I want, I can leave my bag and coat here, they will be safe.

A metal staircase.
Lift doors

Thinktank has 4 floors. I might not visit them all but that is fine. The different parts of Thinktank are called galleries.

Usually, I will move between floors using stairs or the lifts. My adult or an Enabler will tell me which is OK to use.

Toilets with cubicles, sink and mirror.

There are toilets on every floor of Thinktank.

If I need the toilet, I can ask my adult, or an Enabler and they will show me to one.

Two members of staff waving and smiling. They are wearing blue uniform fleece tops.

Thinktank is a busy place. There might be lots of other children at Thinktank when I visit. It might be very noisy when I visit.

If I don’t like the noise, I can tell my adult or an Enabler. They will take me somewhere quite.

I don’t have to if I don’t want to.

A room with chairs, colourful rug, side table and highchair.

This is a photo of the quiet room. I might come in here if it is too noisy in the galleries, but I don’t have to.

I must not leave the area where my group is unless my adult or an Enabler says I can. This is so adults know where I am, and I am safe.

If I don’t know where my group is I can ask an Enabler and they will help me.

The entrance and wall into the Science Garden. The wall made of grass, stones and bricks and a sign reads 'Thinktank Science Garden'.

This is a photo of the entrance to the Science Garden.

I might visit the Science Garden while I am at Thinktank. It is outside the museum.

I can learn about machines in the Science Garden.

In the Science Garden there are lots of things to play on. I must be careful not to hurt myself. If I don’t know how to use something I can ask my adult or an Enabler.

A large gallery space with Spitfire hanging from the ceiling with motorcycles and other vehicles below.
The Smethwick Engine pouring water from its large bucket.

These are photos of Level 0. I might visit Level 0 when I am at Thinktank.

There are two areas on Level 0. There is an area called Move It and an area called Power It Up.

There are transport and machines on Level 0. I might see a plane. I might see a train. I might see old machines.

I am not allowed to touch some of the things on Level 0. If I want to touch something I can ask my adult or an Enabler.

I won’t get in trouble for making a mistake, but I must try and remember to ask.

A gallery display featuring a Mini car without panels showing the interior, plus a model cow and tree. A sign above reads 'We Made It'.

This is a photo of Level 1. I might visit Level 1 when I am at Thinktank.

This is a photo of an area called We Made It, I might visit this area when on Level 1.

We Made It is all about how we make things. There are lots of things to see and do.

I can play with everything in this gallery but if I don’t want to play with something it is OK just to look.

An illuminated display showing valves of a heart with interactive buttons on a counter.

I might visit Level 2 when I am at Thinktank.

This is a photo of an area called Things About Me, I might visit this area when on Level 2.

I can learn about people’s bodies in the Things About Me area. There are lots of things to see and do.

I can play with everything in this area but if I don’t want to play with something it is OK just to look.

A gallery display featuring a taxidermy turtle with signs that read 'Our Changing Planet'

This is a photo of an area called Our Changing Planet, I might visit this area when on Level 2.

Our Changing Planet is all about people, nature, and the planet.

There are some stuffed animals for me to look at.

If I don’t like looking at the animals that is OK.

I can tell my adult, or an Enabler and they will take me somewhere else.

A display featuring a fossilised Ichthyosaur skeleton in a display case. A illustration of an Ichthyosaur is on the wall behind.

This is a photo of an area called Marine Worlds Gallery, I might visit this area when on Level 2.

The Marine Worlds Gallery is all about sea animals. There are lots of stuffed sea animals and bones for me to look at.

If I don’t like looking at the sea animals that is OK.

I can tell my adult, or an Enabler and they will take me somewhere else.

A display of a variety of taxidermy animals including polar bear, peacock, parrot and more.

This is a photo of an area called Wildlife Gallery, I might visit this area when on Level 2.

The Wildlife Gallery is all about animals.

There are lots of stuffed animals for me to look at. If I don’t like looking at the animals that is OK, I can tell my adult, or an Enabler and they will take me somewhere else.

Spotlight gallery entrance with a sign that reads 'Spotlight Gallery'

This is a photo of a gallery called Spotlight Special Exhibitions Gallery. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is on Level 2.

There are lots of different things to see and do in this gallery, but if I don’t want to, it is OK, and I can tell my adult, or an enabler and they will take me somewhere else.

Exhibition of a small city for children to learn and play in.

This is a photo of Level 3. I might Visit Level 3 when I am at Thinktank.

This is a photo of an area called MiniBrum, I might visit this area when on Level 3.

MiniBrum is play city. I can play with everything in this area but if I don’t want to play with something it is OK just to look.

It might be very noisy when I visit.

If I don’t like the noise, I can tell the adult I came with or an Enabler.

A gallery featuring an humanoid robot with a person looking at it.

This is a photo of an area called the Futures Gallery, I might visit this area when on Level 3.

There are lots of robots and things about space in the Futures Gallery.

This area is sometimes a bit dark. If I don’t like it, I can tell my adult, or an Enabler and they will take me somewhere else.

An empty classroom with tables and chairs.

This is a photo of a classroom. I might visit a classroom at Thinktank.

In a classroom my class might do an activity.

There will be lots of things to do and it might get noisy. If I don’t like it or don’t want to join in, I can tell my adult or the person running the activity.

An empty theatre as seen from the top back view.

This is a photo of the theatre. I might visit the theatre at Thinktank.

We might watch a show in the theatre.

There will be lots of things to do and watch.

It might get noisy. If I don’t like it or don’t want to join in, I can tell my adult or the person running the activity.

A group of schoolchildren watch a film on a planetarium screen

This is a photo of the Planetarium. I might visit the Planetarium at Thinktank.

This is a big room with the stars on the ceiling.

It can get a bit dark in here. If I don’t like it, I can tell my adult or the person running the show.

Rows of long benches and tables in the lunch area.

This is a photo of the lunch area.

When it is time for lunch, I will go with my class to the lunch area.

I will have brought lunch with me. I will eat my lunch in the lunch area.

If it is too noisy for me in the lunch area, I can tell my adult or an Enabler.