Alison Eardley

Dr Alison Eardley is a Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Westminster, affiliated with the Centre for Psychological Sciences and the Centre for Social Justice Research. Her interdisciplinary work focuses on accessibility and inclusion in museums, challenging ableism through cognitive psychology and mixed-method research. She holds a PhD in cognitive psychology and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Laval (Canada) and Birkbeck, University of London. Her current projects include the AHRC-funded W-ICAD and Sensational Museum initiatives, redefining museum accessibility through co-created audio description and multisensory engagement.

Education: PhD in Cognitive Psychology; postdoctoral research at University of Laval (Canada), Birkbeck (UK), and the Anacostia Community Museum (USA) as a Fulbright-Smithsonian Scholar (2021–2022). Teaching includes cognitive psychology and research methods on the MA in Museums, Galleries and Contemporary Culture.

Research interests span museum accessibility, inclusive audio description, multisensory interpretation, and disability gain. She advocates for disability-centered museum practices, emphasizing that inclusive tools benefit all audiences. Recent work explores sensory integration and the role of non-visual experiences in museums.

• Key Projects: W-ICAD (UK/US co-created audio description), Sensational Museum (rethinking sensory engagement)
• Media: BBC Radio 4's 'All in the Mind' discussing art accessibility for visually impaired audiences
• Awards: Fulbright-Smithsonian Scholarship

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations through the Centre for Psychological Sciences and Centre for Social Justice Research.