We recently had a private event `Sharks After Dark’ at the Weymouth SEA LIFE Centre – thanks to a very kind donation from Johnnie and Sophie Boden. Here’s what some ASCape parents had to say about the event:
Emma Nicholson says: “For my little girl Mylie, who has ASD, sensory processing disorder and dyspraxia, going to the SEA LIFE aquarium during the day involves so much anxiety it’s impossible, disabling and overwhelming. Sharks After Dark was an experience that was so special for my daughter. She kept saying “ Mummy I love this.” It’s always so emotional as a parent of a child with so many complex needs. To see Mylie enthralled by our guide Craig and wanting to listen to every word he said. Craig was an absolute star; he just had so much patience with all the ASCape kids.
To have the opportunity to take Mylie to such a calm, thoughtful SEN-friendly experience means so much. Mylie can’t cope with crowds, noise or over stimulation so this experience was something we would never normally get to do.
As parents of autistic children, we are often so full of sadness that our children miss out on so much of their childhood because they don’t have the freedom to just be kids.
At the Sharks After Dark event, my autistic daughter could forget about all her disabling anxiety and she smiled and she was calm. This is something we will treasure the memories from this experience. It was truly so special and we feel so lucky to have experienced it. So thank you. You don’t realise how life changing your donation is to so many that struggle so much.
Vicki adds: “The event is the first time I have managed to get Nancy out the house at the weekend for quite a while! Usually she is too burnt out by school during the week and has a carer with her on Saturdays to allow me and Ella to go out. We stayed in all day to enable for her to go but it was great to see her out and totally engaged and asking questions.”
Parents Katy and Dan also say about the event: “We had an amazing time at the SEA LIFE Centre. The boys loved it, especially Leo who has been obsessed with the SEA LIFE Centre for many years. He loved being able to ask (many) questions and Laura was absolutely amazing, telling us loads of interesting things about all the species. It felt very special to have the park to ourselves and especially at night time. Leo said “I’m so lucky to have autism because I get to do loads of things with ASCape that my friends can’t do” He was also very pleased to hear that he can get a job there from age 16!”
October 2023
