fAABI recently hosted a trip to the Museum of London Docklands on 6th November. We invited adults with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) to visit the museum with us and take in the Docklands’ rich history. The museum presented a vast amount of visual information on the London Docklands. It used to be the biggest port in England, and its success led to declaring London as the capital of England. The goods that were imported and exported at the Docklands included tea, sugar and coffee, which continue to be important to London’s culture today.
We were excited to show attendees a significant place in their city’s history in an interactive, engaging way. There were many exhibits to see and explore in the museum, one being a model of Old London. We were all fascinated by the amount of eye-appealing, captivating imagery the museum showcased, giving us the chance to see something new and different from our everyday surroundings. We were amazed by the size of the museum, and many of us want to come back to see and learn even more than what fit into one trip. After enjoying all the museum had to offer, we indulged in tea, coffee and sweets, a very fitting treat while celebrating the ports that originally brought those goods into London.
The trip to the Museum of London Docklands was an opportunity for us to explore something new when we might not have the support to do that often. The museum’s exhibits were a unique source of visual stimulation, and they also helped us feel more connected to the broader London community by learning about its history. We got to take in this experience among our friends and loved ones. Polina, our volunteer and the coordinator of the event, also guided us through the museum, allowing us to genuinely enjoy ourselves on our trip instead of worrying about physical or personal setbacks getting in the way.
Visiting the Museum of London Docklands allowed our community to go on an exciting adventure and experience happy moments during a time in our lives where that might not happen enough. We hope this trip will be looked back on fondly and bring a smile to all our faces in the long term.
