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

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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 waving, he is wearing a blue t-shirt and standing at a yellow ticket desk.

This the Ticket Desk.

I will walk past this when I come in.

There will always be staff here in blue t-shirts if I need them.

A staff member smiling, wearing a blue T-shirt, lanyard and badges.

There are people that will help me when I am in the museum. 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.

At Thinktank there are lockers.

If I want, I can leave my bag and coat here, they will be safe.

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.

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 where they are.

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 there is too much noise, I can tell the adult I came with or an Enabler.

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 noise in the galleries if I want, but I don’t have to.

I must not leave the area where the people I came with are. This is so adults know where I am, and I am safe.

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

They will take me somewhere else, and they have a quiet room if I want it.

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 this area while I am at Thinktank. It is outside the museum.

The Science Garden is about how machines work. 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.

Machinery of the 'Old Smethwick' Canal Pumping Engine

These are photos of a gallery called The Past. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is on level 0.

The Past is about machines and transport. I might see a plane, or a train, or a steam engine.

I might see some old machines that used to make power in factories.

There are some things I must not touch on Level 0. If I don’t know what I can or can’t touch, I can ask an adult or an Enabler.

I won’t get in trouble if I make 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 a gallery called We Made It. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is 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.

This is a photo of a gallery called Things About Me. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is on level 2.

Things About Me is all about how people’s bodies work. 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.

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

This is a photo of a gallery called Our Changing Planet. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is 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 of a variety of taxidermy animals including polar bear, peacock, parrot and more.

This is a photo of a gallery called Wildlife. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is 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.

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 a gallery called Marine Worlds. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is 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.

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

This is photos from a gallery called MiniBrum. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is on level 3.

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

Maybe I will try on some dressing up clothes, build a house or play in the café!

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 photos from a gallery called Futures. I might visit this gallery when I am at Thinktank. It is on level 3.

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

This gallery 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.

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 the adult I came with or the person running the show.

Rows of long benches and tables in the lunch area.

During my visit I might have lunch.

I might sit in the café or the packed lunch area.

If it is too noisy for me, I can tell my adult and an Enabler will find me a quiet place to eat.