A STANd Out Museum
4
4
Date of visit: October 2024
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
Manchester Museum has just about everything you'd like to see in a museum: modern and ancient history exhibits, celebrations of culture, dinosaurs, and a vivarium filled with exotic frogs! Speaking of dinosaurs, many visitors come to the museum to meet Stan, a T-Rex fossil found in Hell Creek, South Dakota. This monolithic monster is 66 million years old but doesn't look a day over 60 million. The museum offers a fun and educational day out and also boasts a well-equipped Changing Places toilet.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
There is level access throughout the building, with lifts to all floors which feature braille markings and handrails. The lifts are small but can easily accommodate a powerchair. The front desk has an induction loop, and the museum advises that there are hearing loops "where possible" in the building. Seating is available throughout the museum, including in the main hall, coffee shop and most of the galleries. Portable folding seats are also available There's a quiet room on floor 1 next to the Egypt and Sudan gallery which includes seating puzzles and books. Ear defenders are available in the room and at our reception desk. Guide and assistance animals are welcome at the museum. However, the museum asks that they wear a jacket, a harness, or a brightly coloured collar and lead. Water bowls for dogs are available in the café and bowls can be filled using the water fountain at the entrance. It's worth noting that the museum is located between two buildings, meaning that to access some exhibits, you'll need to take the lifts up, cross the floor and take the lift down on the other end. There is a ramp at the front, or you can enter through the cafe.
Parking & Transport
Good
There are 3 accessible parking spaces on Bridgeford Street, which runs along the side of the museum. The 15, 18, 41, 43, 53, 87, 111, 142, 143, 147, V1, V2, and V4 bus services stop and collect on nearby Oxford Street. Bike parking is also available on the grounds.
Accessible Toilets
Good
The Changing Places toilet can be found on the ground floor, close to the picnic area. The door opens outward and does not require a RADAR key. It can be opened from the outside by using the touchpad and locked or unlocked from the inside by pressing a button on the wall. The toilet features many essentials, including an adjustable changing bed, a large height-adjustable sink with a lever-style tap, and a ceiling track hoist. The toilet has grab rails on either side, a colostomy shelf, and space for a left-side transfer. The flush is on the right when seated, and the emergency cord, which hung to the floor, is on the left. The toilet seat, toilet lid, and grab rails contrast with the rest of the toilet. There's also a shower at the head of the changing bed for those who may need it. As expected, the toilet is large enough to accommodate several carers if needed. Two privacy screens are provided. Additional accessible toilets can be found throughout the museum. I found them to be spacious and easily able to accommodate additional people. A second accessible toilet can be found close to the Changing Places toilet and features space for a right-side transfer and furniture that contrasts with the wall. The toilet has a soft backrest with grab rails on both sides, as does the sink, which features a lever-style tap. The red cord hung to the floor. The toilet door opens outward and is activated by a touchpad on the wall outside.
Staff
Good
The staff were lovely, happy to chat and show me around.
Additional Information
There are braille markings in the vivarium. The museum has an emotional support dog called Murrary. The lifts would score higher if there was braille buttons and a hearing loop installed
