Bantock House Wins National Award

Bantock House has won this year's Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Jodi Award for Excellence in Accessible Technology.

The Jodi awards recognise excellence in museum, library, archive or heritage projects that use technology to provide access to collections by disabled people.

Announced by Lord Rix at a ceremony at the British Museum on 13 June  2007, the winners were selected from a shortlist of entries that included innovative uses of websites, in-gallery interactives, audio-guides and PDAs (personal digital assistants) – each scrutinised by a panel of judges and tested by disabled users.

“As a life-long campaigner for the rights of disabled people, I am impressed by the imagination and dedication of museums, libraries and archives,” said Lord Rix. “They lead the cultural sector in promoting inclusive technology and the best are an inspiration to society as whole.”

We won our award for our commitment to developing a range of services for Deaf visitors and engaging with the Deaf community.

Amongst the developments we have introduced is a British Sign Language (BSL) video guide to the House. Visitor information in BSL is also available on the museum’s website.

The judges were impressed that as well as guided tours, a PDA guide and visitor information on the website with BSL, the Museum is also developing a Deaf History exhibition which will include videos of deaf people signing their experience of living and working in Wolverhampton.