Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space: Supporting Autistic Children at The Creation Station

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people communicate and interact with the world. According to Autism charities, more than one in every 100 people are on the Autism spectrum and there are about 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Autism comes in many different forms and is called a “spectrum” because it affects autistic people differently. People with Autism may struggle in social situations, display repetitive behaviours, suffer from extreme anxiety, be over or undersensitive to noises and lights, and may get highly focused on activities they enjoy. 

The National Autistic Society has labelled this year’s theme as being about colours, as it believes people should be proud of their differences and not shy away from an Autism diagnosis. The charity is hosting an awareness month where it shares stories and provides opportunities to “increase understanding and acceptance of people with Autism, fostering worldwide support”.

At The Creation Station, we understand many of the challenges that both parents and children face. Many of our Creation Station franchise partners have first-hand experience of navigating life and supporting their own Autistic child. 

“As a mum with an Autistic son, I know how hard it can be every day to support Autistic children with managing going to school, coping with change, dealing with different social situations and all the other daily anxieties that they can face”.  Louise Richardson, The Creation Station Hampshire Fareham.

This is why it is so important to all of us at The Creation Station that everyone can access and enjoy our sessions.

We ensure our programmes are inclusive so that all children can benefit from the creative experiences at their own pace.  We have specific ways in which we support children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in our classes, such as adjusting activities to suit individual needs, reducing sensory aspects of the class if necessary, and allowing children to follow their own ideas.

For parents of children with additional needs, it can be exhausting to manage daily anxieties that your children may face. It is important to share responsibilities with a family member, plan in “me-time” each day, talk to other people about how you are feeling, rest as much as possible when your child is at school, and plan in fun activities that the family can do together.

For more information and support, there are many resources available, such as the National Autistic Society, Regional Autism Groups, Autistic Education Trust, Parent Carer Networks, Autistic Not Weird, Barnardo’s, Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate, and Contact. It is important to find the support that is right for each family and individual.

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