Jason Oliver, Heritage Pathways Coordinator, writes about working with Fairview School in our latest blog post.
In February, we collaborated with Fairview School in Perth to co-produce a truly special event: the Skills for Careers Day. It was the first event of its kind in Perth and Kinross, designed specifically for young people with additional support needs and shaped by the ideas of pupils from Fairview. The aim was simple: to show that heritage and culture are for everyone, and that every young person deserves the chance to explore where their skills might take them.
Careers fairs are often busy and noisy places. They can be difficult to navigate even for the most confident students, and they are rarely designed with accessibility in mind. Working with Fairview, we all wanted to do something different. The pupils helped plan the event, giving feedback on what activities they wanted to see, how the day should feel, and what would make it welcoming. The result was an atmosphere full of curiosity, pride, and joy.
The Fairview students took part in creative workshops inspired by museum objects, met professionals from across the heritage sector, and tried out hands-on skills. As one pupil said, “I didn’t know I could do this until today.” There was a strong sense that everyone’s input mattered, and that was what made the day so powerful.
A key part of what we hoped to achieve together was to challenge ableism. In simple terms, ableism happens when society is organised in ways that exclude or disadvantage disabled people, whether through buildings, systems, or assumptions about what people can or cannot do. Events like this show how much changes when we start by asking, What would make this work for you? rather than expecting everyone to fit one idea of participation.
The pupils at Fairview proved that when accessibility is built in from the beginning, creativity and confidence thrive. Their ideas shaped every stage of the process and helped create a day that felt open, engaging, and inclusive. For everyone involved, it was a reminder that inclusion is not about lowering expectations but about opening doors and recognising ability in all its forms.
The feedback from pupils, teachers, and support staff highlighted increased student engagement, a sense of belonging, and many expressed newfound interest in heritage careers. The event has since attracted national interest. Museums Galleries Scotland invited us to share our approach at a Knowledge Exchange event in June, recognising the Skills for Careers Day as an example of innovative and inclusive practice within the sector.
It was a privilege to work alongside such a thoughtful and creative group of young people, and we hope that everyone who attended left with a renewed sense of what real inclusion looks like.