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Association of Europeanoyal Residences

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Monika Buraczynska, an employee of Education Department in Wilanow Palace Museum, discovered Hampton Court Palace (HCP), one of the Historic Royal Palaces, during her Leonardo da Vinci one-month placement in February 2011. Placement’s topic was accessibility of HCP, especially education events, for people with all kinds of impairment.

“The main task of my placement was to prepare two documents:

  • a report on how mainstream school sessions might be more accessible and how education resource material on website could be adapted in order to incorporate the access material.
  • a guide around Hampton Court Palace for parents and carers of children with autistic spectrum.

I participated in a large number of educational events – sessions, workshops, family activities to see how they worked and to realize what kinds of solutions and tools are used in HCP.

I was based in Education Department. However, in order to prepare these documents and to resolve my main issue I took part in many meetings and discussions with employees of all the Hampton Court Palace and other palaces from Historic Royal Palaces (Tower of London).

Thanks to their kind cooperation, friendliness and competence I had possibility to focus on: accessibility (physical one and the accessibility of information), education activities, projects and activities from Hampton Court Palace's community programs, Access Panel (forum of disabled people consultant for HRP), promotion of accessibility and education projects, law regarding the availability of historic buildings. I experienced visits prepared for people with auditory impairment using British Sign Language (BSL) and work with audio describers preparing audio description for tours for people with visual impairment. I got to know customer service and volunteers’ and warders’ job which is of great importance not only for disabled guests but for others visitors as well.

During the placement I had a great opportunity to discover every nook and cranny of the Palace I met a lot of helpful and friendly people who helped me to get to know and understand the specific work of HCP and British history and culture. It was both a real pleasure to work with them and a valuable experience in my personal and professional development as well. 

Special thanks to Daniel Ferguson and Susie Batchelor for their help with preparing the placement and constant care during its duration.”