The Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co Distillery and Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny have received accreditation from Ireland’s National Autism Charity, AsIAm, to increase accessibility for all visitors through sensory-friendly experiences and training
November 2nd 2023 – The Guinness Storehouse has today been announced as accredited by Ireland’s National Autism Charity, AsIAm, as a certified autism-friendly attraction.
From January 2024 on the first Wednesday of every month, from 9 am to 12 pm, the Home of Guinness will hold sensory-friendly hours. Autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals will be able to partake in the experience with lower capacities and noise and light reductions. Higher sensory areas will be marked.
The collaboration between the Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co Distillery, Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny and AsIAm aims to ensure that autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals can visit with confidence. To complete this certification, employees completed training to better understand and welcome autistic people, their families, and those with sensory processing differences.
Adam Harris, AsIAm CEO, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the team to educate their staff, assess the environments and to help enhance these amazing experiences to ensure that autistic visitors, their families, and those who process the sensory environment differently, get the same chance to enjoy these wonderful visitor attractions. These partnerships with industry leaders are essential to create more inclusive and welcoming experiences for all.”
Catherine Toolan, Diageo Irish Brand Homes Managing Director, said: “This accreditation is an example of how the Guinness Storehouse team is working with partners to ensure that our attractions are accessible for all guests, and to help everyone create unforgettable memories at our experiences.
“It has been enlightening for our staff to work with AsIAm to receive extensive autism sensitivity and awareness training, which will help the way we interact with all visitors, but especially those with sensory sensitivities,” added Toolan.
As an accredited AsIAm visitor attraction, the Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co Distillery and Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny will provide the following features and services to make the experience as inclusive and enjoyable as possible:
- Designated low-sensory tours: The first tour/early hours of selected sensory-friendly days will include noise and light reduction across the experiences, including silencing announcements and turning off experiential music, dimming lighting and more. All three experiences will also offer one free carer ticket per customer if needed.
- Collateral: All three attractions will offer sensory kits at their reception areas, along with visual guides of the buildings and sensory trigger warning maps.
- On-Site Signage: During the designated sensory-friendly hours/tours, additional signage will be placed around the buildings, marking higher sensory areas.
- Training: Guinness Storehouse, Roe & Co Distillery and Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny staff have been trained by AsIAm.ie to better understand how to cater to customers with autism or neurodivergencies.
AsIAm conducted reviews of the visitor attractions to provide recommendations to increase accessibility and help visitors prepare for their visit, including sensory guide signage, customised tours, and adaptions to the customer experience.
The sensory-friendly experience has been trialled at the Guinness Storehouse ahead of the launch on Tuesday, November 7th. The sensory-friendly experiences will also be available at Roe & Co Distillery and Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny.
