Whilst completing a PhD relating to inclusion in heritage I have been working with people diagnosed as autistic and with people experiencing mental health problems. I have worked on projects which use archaeological fieldwork as an occupational therapy for people with mental health problems and/or autism. I am also interested in how the management, presentation and organisation of heritage attractions may serve to exclude these people
and what changes might promote inclusion. This paper, therefore explains how Mind Aberystwyth members have experienced
opportunities to work on archaeological digs in Wales and what difficulties the focus demographic have found accessing heritage and how these difficulties can be overcome. Having learned of therapeutic archaeology projects including Mind Herefordshire's 'Past in Mind' project and the Defence Archaeology Group's Operation Nightingale, and with the encouragement Fiona Aldred (chief executive of Mind Aberystwyth) I took members on
archaeological digs in 2014 and 2015. I shall explain how participants found their experience and the benefits they gained from it. I shall then question how the designers and managers
of heritage attractions in the UK have succeeded or failed in the ethical imperative (championed by John Carman, Emma Wateron, Laurajane Smith and others) with regards to those affected by autism and mental health problems. One colleague has told me of
problems he experienced taking his autistic daughter to Stonehenge. However I can also point to at least one voluntary organisation in the heritage sector which has demonstrated
great success in supporting and encouraging self-esteem and coping strategies for members affected by mental health and autistic spectrum conditions. This paper seeks to show that archaeology and heritage have a valuable role to play in promoting inclusion of and participation by people on the autistic spectrum and affected by poor mental health and to encourage further research in order for this role to be fulfilled.
William RATHOUSE (University of Wales Trinity Saint David)