Blog: Dudley Zoo, Dimensions and Doing more to support Neurodiverse visitors

Although Autism Acceptance Week is over for 2024, the ethos of Autism Acceptance is continually relevant. In this blog, Rosie Whiteside (Dudley Zoo and Castle) writes about being the Zoo's EDIA champion and partnering with Dimensions:  

When I took on the role of EDIA champion, I was thrilled. Not only because it was my chance to put a mark on the work being done at Dudley Zoo but also because it was incredibly personal to me.

Growing up, I watched many of my family struggle to find accessible days out for the adults with learning difficulties they supported and today, many of my family and friends use wheelchairs or have sensory needs. It's been so fulfilling to have a chance to ensure that we are doing what we can so I can share the place I work with the people closest to me (and beyond!).

The second emotion I felt was dread... How on earth was I meant to figure it all out? Sure, I had my own lived experiences but what works for me or the people I know might not work for anyone else. I wrote a brand new EDIA Policy and Action Plan and through the support of both BIAZA and other zoos, that policy has grown and improved. But it was still clear that I needed to bring in some experts.

I sent so many emails to different charities and businesses all over the UK asking for advice and thankfully, many got back to me. But this post is about one fantastic charity in particular: Dimensions!

Dimensions are one of the country’s largest not-for-profit organisations supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, behaviours of distress and those with complex health needs. They currently partner with different cinemas, libraries and Belong by GAME to create autism friendly environments.

The lovely people at Dimensions asked to look through our EDIA policy and offer advice on how to improve wording or add in things we’d forgotten. Dimensions offered to do a full-site audit to highlight changes the zoo could make and even do a training course for staff on Autism Awareness! We arranged for them to visit in February 2024 and I took the day to show Sarah, Michelle, and Nicola from Dimensions around the zoo. Nadeem and Craig (along with their carers), who are both supported by Dimensions, also joined us. The next day, Sarah and Michelle ran the training for the staff and I received such good feedback about both the session and from Dimensions about how engaged the zoo team were. Staff came forward to say that the training helped them feel more confident in supporting the needs of people with autism both in the zoo and their own families!

Now, I know that you can’t put a price tag on accessibility, but Dimensions offered all this free of charge, the zoo simply had to cover travel and hotels… still much cheaper than many options out there and it was honestly so worthwhile.

The people from Dimensions are passionate, dedicated and they speak from their own experiences which creates a training course so ingrained in the daily support of individuals not a generalised “dos and don’ts” list. The training was more geared towards showing people how different things may feel for a neurodivergent person and getting them to think how they may make that situation easier for them.

After this training they sent us a report on changes we can make, things we’re doing right and extra steps we can take to do even better! I’m also really proud to announce after seeing the report that Dudley Zoo and Castle has become certified Autism Friendly by Dimensions. We are the first zoo to receive this accreditation but we hope we’re not the last! Dimensions are very keen to get involved with more zoos and aquariums (both BIAZA and non-BIAZA) and are even looking into an option of online training webinars.

I think it’s really important that we, as zoos and aquariums, work together as much as possible to improve accessibility. I’ve been fortunate that so many people have offered me help, so if there’s anything that I can do to help others, please get in touch.

I’d just like to finish with this quote from Sarah Walters, Dimensions Campaigns Manager:

“Your team were fantastic. I previously mentioned that it was like preaching to the choir. They understood the challenges and were willing to put in the effort and we are happy to be working with them.”

“There are a few basic changes that can be made, and we have additional steps that we suggest fall under the category of "nice to have” but all in all Dudley Zoo is already autism accessible, inclusive and (most importantly) welcoming.”

“If more zoos can take such a proactive approach, it would mean a whole new experience for neurodiverse people.”

- Rosie Whiteside (She/They/He), Education and Conservation Presenter & EDIA Champion, Dudley Zoo and Castle