For Immediate Release: July 11, 2023
Contact:
Marie Cheek
Community Relations Coordinator
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.909.7312 mcheek@chmuseums.org
Culture & Heritage Museums sites are now KultureCity® Certified and Sensory InclusiveTM
ROCK HILL, S.C. — KultureCity® has partnered with Culture & Heritage Museums to make Museum of York County, Main Street Children’s Museum, and Historic Brattonsville
Sensory InclusiveTM sites. This new initiative promotes an accommodating and positive experience for all visitors with a sensory issue, no matter their age or ability.
The certification process ensures that Culture & Heritage Museums staff and volunteers are trained by leading medical professionals on how to recognize visitors with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. KultureCity® Sensory Bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones (provided by Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and KCVIP lanyards are available to visitors at CHM’s three sites.
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise, which can be a major part of the events or services at Culture & Heritage Museums sites. With its new certification, staff at Museum of York County, Main Street Children’s Museum, and Historic Brattonsville are now better prepared to assist clients with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.
Prior to their visit, families and individuals can download the free KultureCity® App to view what sensory features are available and where they can access them including how
to get a KultureCity® Sensory Bag. Also, on the App is the Social Story that provides a customized visual preview of what to expect while participating at CHM’s three sites.
KultureCity® is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs, not just those with autism. Since the program’s inception, KultureCity® has created over 1,000 Sensory InclusiveTM public and private services, organizations, events and venues in 6 countries: this includes special events such as the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, MLB World Series, and MLB All Star Weekend.
About Culture & Heritage Museums of York County, S.C:
Culture & Heritage Museums is a family of museums that includes the Museum of York County and Main Street Children’s Museum in Rock Hill and Historic Brattonsville in McConnells. Culture & Heritage Museums is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums; accreditation signifies “excellence and credibility to the entire museum community, to governments and outside agencies and to the museum-going public.”
CHM ADMISSIONS, HOURS, ADDRESSES: All visitors are encouraged to check the website chmuseums.org for up-to-date information and potential changes in operational hours, admission procedures, and programs.
For groups, program registration or other information, contact scheduler@chmuseums.org or call 803.981.9182
As part of the Museums for All initiative, all Culture & Heritage Museums sites provide reduced admission for low-income families; visit museums4all.org for more information. CHM sites are also Blue-Star-Museums and offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.
IMAGES:
- KultureCity® Sensory Bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and KCVIP lanyards are now available to visitors at Museum of York County, Main Street Children’s Museum, and Historic Brattonsville.
- The exterior of Museum of York County. Exhibits and programs present the natural history of the Carolina Piedmont and its connections to the rest of the world. The Settlemyre Planetarium presents a changing array of full-dome digital planetarium shows. The early literacy interactive exhibit, “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites™” runs June 3- Sept. 3, 2023.
- Main Street Children’s Museum is located in the heart of downtown Rock Hill at 133 East Main Street in the People’s Bank Building, built in 1910 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Historic Brattonsville’s 180-year-old Brick House, which CHM restored to how it looked in 1871 to interpret the Reconstruction Era in York County, contains award winning exhibit “Liberty and Resistance: Reconstruction and the African American Community at Brattonsville 1865-1877.”
All images courtesy of Culture & Heritage Museums. Contact Marie Cheek for high resolution images — mcheek@chmuseums.org
Become a Culture & Heritage Museums member: Get free general admission to Museum of York County, Main Street Children’s Museum and Historic Brattonsville and enjoy member-exclusive events. Members get early access to select ticketed events and more. Consider becoming a Culture & Heritage Museums member or give the gift of membership; learn more about membership benefits and apply online at CHM membership.
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