A park in Melbourne, Australia is encouraging children with autism to visit by the use of social scripts that will soon be applied to other parks if the trial is a success. Victoria parks network manager Parks Victoria is testing out the autism-friendly script in Brimbank Park.
The Brimbank Park visit social script is available online in the Parks Victoria website. The script feature simple text and photographs of what the children with autism might see and do at Brimbank Park like playing at the playground or using the music box. The parents can show this to their children with autism, download and print the document or even make a story book out of it.
#Autism-friendly park: Brimbank welcome for kids who like to follow the script - The Age https://t.co/4c6tXV4Q5W
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Brimbank Park Social Script Makes Visits Easier
"This is an opportunity for them to explore and have fun. My boys definitely miss out because
it's harder to do day-to-day things with a child that has autism," said Samantha Williamson, as per a report from The Age. Williamson is a mother to Luke and Ben, twin four-year-old boys who have autism.
The report said that many children with autism like Luke and Ben prefer to follow routines or patterns in their daily lives and the script will make visits easier. Brimbank Park' social script for park visits can help the children with autism anticipate what the outdoor trip would be like in advance.
Social Script To Make Visits Enjoyable
"They didn't know what they're going to see. They would have sensory overload. We want to make it an enjoyable experience for the families," said Parks Victoria access inclusion coordinator John Kenwright as per a report from ABC. Kenwright said they included a warning that jet may fly over Brimbank Park as children with autism may be distressed from the noise the jets make.
Parks Victoria worked with Victorian Autism group AMAZE in this project. The 16-page Brimbank park social script project for children with autism is said to be the first of its kind in the state of Victoria. Parks Victoria is awaiting feedback on the project.
