All posts by Sensory Seeker

Slimer Biscuits from Ghostbusters

October 10, 2016Halloweenbiscuits, Ghostbusters, Halloween, Slimer biscuitsSensory Seeker

Halloween can be an awful time for those with Sensory Processing Disorder – a change of routine and additional stimulation. But it doesn’t have to be such a negative experience as long as you are prepared and have some ideas up your sleeve. Remember the most important thing is to ensure that each individual has the right Sensory Diet for their needs – making sure they get just the right amounts of input for each of the senses – whether that be trying to reduce or stimulate it.

LEGOLAND Windsor, Brick or Treat, Halloween, Fireworks and the Hotel

Halloween and Sensory Processing Disorder

I have previously talked about a Scooby Doo Halloween Party the Sensory Seeker attended, how Halloween can help Sensory Processing Disorder and how an overnight trip to LEGOLAND Windsor on October 31st was great for The Sensory Seeker. This year, however, we are keeping it more low key and staying at home.

The Sensory Seeker is absolutely loving Ghostbusters currently and he has the new, Year 2 Wave 6 LEGO Dimensions Ghostbusters Story Pack. Or the Girl Ghostbusters as he calls it. He is so good at it and best of all this little boy, who I feared may never be able to talk when he was at preschool, was explaining all about the game and the new packs he has at the Family Playstation event we attended last weekend.

Not only have games helped him with his communication but in so many other ways including being more socialable. I like to take his interest off the computer as well, and have previously looked at Ghost Crafts. This time I wanted to really have him focused and this is where the idea for Slimer Biscuits came from – just perfect for Halloween.

How to make Slimer Biscuits

I have talked about the Benefits of making Biscuits with Sensory Processing Disorder when we made them as Christmas Gifts . We again used the same all in one method – and The Sensory Seeker felt really confident in himself that he made them “all by himself.

Of course he absolutely loved getting his hands in the bowl with all the lovely textures mixing the ingredients in. He still hasn’t managed to be tempted by licking the butter though!

Ingredients for the biscuits:

250g Softenend butter, 140g castor sugar, 1 egg yolk, 300g plain flour (plus extra if it is to sticky and for the surface/rolling pin) and vanilla essence.

Method for biscuits:

Mix together ingredients, roll out the mixture, cut into shapes, cook in the oven until golden.

The idea for the Slimer biscuits came from Simpsons Doughnuts. You know the ones which are literally pink with hundreds and thousands on. We had originally wanted to buy plain doughnuts but could not find any. To make Slimer biscuits we simply to the same but needed to make it green. We bought some lemon icing and simply mixed in blue food colouring.

Then we spent ages sorting out green hundreds and thousands! Once the biscuits had cooled we spread the icing on the top and added the green sprinkles. The Sensory Seeker then decided he wanted a couple of different coloured stands for the eyes and nose. The boys actually ended up doing some with multi-coloured sprinkles too. Guess what the biscuits didn’t much look like Slimer, and they weren’t difficult to make – but to my little boy they were the BEST biscuits in the World. AND HE had made them!

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder

September 6, 2016Diet, Health & Hygienehealth, sleep, sleeping, trying to sleepSensory Seeker

You know that feeling of getting back to your own bed – that nowhere else feels just quite right? It is the right temperature, the size of the bed (being just right for the position you want to be in), the feel of the sheets, blankets and pillows as well as the hardness of the mattress and maybe even the smell of the room. When you are away it is these little things that may mean you find it difficult to sleep – possibly even making you feel irritable. This is just a small insight into what it may be like for someone with Sensory Processing Disorder to get to sleep – even in their own room. When The Sensory Seeker struggles with sleep I try to consider each and every one of the senses and try to eliminate things that may be keeping him awake. The main problem is he may not even know what it is – so cannot really communicate what the problem is.

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Temperature is wrong

We know what it is like trying to sleep when it is too hot – or even too cold. But generally we are able to adjust this – turn on a fan, grab an extra blanket, wear more or less clothes. The individual with Sensory Processing Disorder may either not realise that this is the sense causing the problem, or be able to take action, or possibly it could cause more problems (eg the fan interferes with the noise sense, the extra blanket the touch sense and so on). I think it is important to also understand that just because you think it is getting cold at night now may not be how they are feeling – we are all different after all. You may really need to just experiment with fans, heaters, layers of clothing//blankets etc – and just keep listening to the individual with SPD (not just their words but how they react). It may change every night. They may be asking for water and you may think it is a distraction, but they could genuinely be too hot. Be careful not to give them too much to drink at night that results in a problem with bedwetting though!

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Touch is wrong

Do you have to sleep with a blanket touching you even though you are boiling hot? Trying to sleep when things do not feel right is probably the problem we can relate to the most. Again this is about experimentation and listening to the individual with Sensory Processing Disorder until the right combinations of touch are found: A technique called Brushing may help before bed or using weighted blankets (although they are controversial as to whether they could be taken off in an emergency okay). Try different nightwear (or without), blankets, pillows – even think about the air! For example is that fan blowing on them? This could be something they like or dislike! You may need to think about the position of the fan – is it blowing from above or to the side, can you move it? How hard is the bed? Could you put a blanket underneath the sheet to make it softer?

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Smell is wrong

I think smell is hugely neglected when it comes to considering how to help in general but it can be just as much of an annoyance as the other senses. Before even thinking about trying to get to sleep I make sure that I open the windows in the day to allow fresh air in (and shut them at night to keep the noise out). For our Sensory Seeker what works is keeping a fresh smell (and sometimes using air fresheners). Again you really need to just try and smell the room, and work with the individual adjusting things that MAY (or may not) be the problem until you hit on the perfect combination (which can then just as easily change the next night).

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Light is wrong

Whether it is having the room dark or light which helps them to sleep, I think that it is one of the easier things to control. If the individual with Sensory Processing Disorder wants light there are all manner of different lights, designs, colours, shapes and sizes on the market to meet each of their individual needs, and allowing them to be positioned where they need to be. Of course there are even ones to meet any obsessions they have too.

The Sensory Seeker says that he is afraid of the dark however (possibly just due to his age); that monsters are going to get him. Trouble is he is really sensitive to light and it wakes him up (yay for winter on its way!). To get around this we have a blackout blind and have positioned his bed away from the window. If this had not of worked we were going to try a sleep mask (which he would have liked as he likes the sense of touch). However, also consider whether they will be trying to get out of bed whilst still wearing the mask – my husband worried that if we got one then The Sensory Seeker half asleep would try to go to the toilet in the night without removing the mask and fall down the stairs. We also got him a Worry Eater to which we have told him will eat his anxieties and protect him from danger.

Of course you also need to take into account other visual factors such as the colour of the room, how cluttered it is with things to see, etc.

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Noise level is wrong

I like it quiet when I am trying to sleep in bed and would rather have a window shut on a hot day than hear the sound of a dog barking or a car alarm going off. Your child may be able to sleep with ear defenders or ear plugs if the noise is too loud. If you are really lucky you could sound proof the room. But not everyone wants quiet whilst they try to get to sleep or are sleeping – and some kind of radio may help with this – or reading/singing to them until they fall asleep. Or leave some white noise – like a vacuum on for them. In fact our own Sensory Seeker has been known to listen to Yoga Nidra to help get to sleep (this helps switch the brain between the nervous systems as well as providing him with the noise input he needs).

Also you need to think about body position – I said above I like quiet when trying to sleep in bed because I know if I am sitting up in a moving car I actually find it easier to sleep if the music is on (when I am a passenger I made add). This is just an example how things you may think you have found the answer to for one of the senses can change when you consider another.

Trying to sleep with Sensory Processing Disorder when the Taste is wrong

This goes back to what happens before bed – I guess how long before they go that they brush their teeth. We find allowing The Sensory Seeker to brush his teeth and get ready for bed a while before actually going to bed helps – and this may be to do with the fact that he is not distracted by the taste of the toothpaste flavour when trying to go to sleep. I know it sounds silly but it really is important just to focus on each sense and really have a good think about what could be stopping them.

Of course it could be that the individual with Sensory Processing Disorder you are trying to get to sleep is just a human being – and we all struggle or don’t want to go to sleep sometimes do we?! Especially if they are a child – I remember trying to stay awake all night with my sister, or they could be excited/anxious. Give them plenty of time to talk – however hard they find expressing their feelings.

Written in Partnership with The Lighting Superstore

Carex Fun Edition Love Hearts Review by The Sensory Seeker

September 3, 2016Diet, Health & Hygiene, ReviewsCarex Fun Edition Love Hearts, Hand Wash, Love HeartsSensory Seeker

When it comes to Sensory Processing Disorder you really do have to consider all of the senses. And wen it comes to hygiene the biggest obstacle we have to overcome is smell – because The Sensory Seeker is really sensitive to different ones, and if they are not right he will refuse to use whatever it is or want to escape from it (and there’s no point in forcing him because this just raises his anxiety levels and brings on a meltdown – or what appears to be a tantrum!). Therefore finding the right products for the bathroom have been a real game changer for helping him to keep clean. There are some things he is more particular about than others, or that he just likes more than the rest. Carex Strawberry Laces are one of the products he loves – so how would he feel about trying the new Carex Fun Edition Love Hearts?

Sensory Seeker and Carex Fun Edition Love Hearts

It always was going to be a tough competition as the Love Hearts went up against the Strawberry Laces. Our Sensory Seeker loves Strawberry Laces Hand Wash by Cussons Carex so much so that we have had to start just topping up the empty bottle a bit at a time, or he just uses it all. Although it was quite funny the time he told me to smell his armpits as he had even used it there! When asked to try the new Love Hearts I felt unsure of how well he would make the change.

Just like the Strawberry Laces the Love Hearts Hand Wash smells just like the sweets – it really is the perfect solution for encouraging our son to wash his hands. I think even the most reluctant of hand washers would want this smell on their hands. It effectively removes dirt and kills 99.9% of bacteria. It is dermatologically tested by experts and contains a special blend of moisturisers which helps to keep the skin soft. It certainly was a winner in our house with The Sensory Seeker (and well the whole family).

RRP £1.80

You may also be interested in the following previous posts:

I received a free bottle of Carex Love Hearts for purposes of review. All words and opinions are honest and my own. I have not received any financial compensation.

Why a trip to The Forest is good for those with Sensory Processing Disorder

August 11, 2016Days Out & Holidaysauditory, Forest, propreception, sensory avoider, sensory processing disorder, sensory seeker, tactile, vestibularSensory Seeker

The Forest is a great place for someone with Sensory Processing Disorder and visiting a Forestry Commission site means that there are toilets, a café, parking and a park too. Suitable all year round both day and night, here are some of the reasons that I believe that it is a great place for Sensory Seekers and Sensory Avoiders.

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and The Visual Sense (vision/seeing)

Visually there is so much to see in The Forest, but without it being too much (with the colours being mostly shades of green and browns). I do like how each time The Forest can be visited it may be different as the seasons change, giving something new to look out for, whilst providing that security of routine. Likewise The Forest gives the option of moving into the shade/dark or coming out into the open for more light. The Forest also has opportunities for getting really up close to things – as well as viewing them from a distance. You could even visit on a dark evening and take glow sticks.

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Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and The Auditory Sense (Hearing)

The Forest is a great place for the auditory sense because it can be so quiet – or so noisy depending on how you need it. Listen to gentle sounds like leaves crunching, birds, taping twigs, the wind, water – or for those that need it, make loud noises!

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and The Proprioception (Sense of body position, from information received through the muscles, and joints – force, speed and control)

The Forest gives them the opportunity to explore Proprioception – allowing different body positions using fallen/cut trees, or (carefully) hang from a branch, exploring going fast or slow, and even things like pouring water into a cup – as it does not matter if it spills over on to the floor.

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and The Vestibular Sense – Movement and Balance/Gravity

The Forest is great for a Seeker in the Vestibular sense – with plenty of places to jump, spin, do star jumps, skip, hop, dance, play tag and run about. Do be careful with them taking excessive risks with climbing though – however we found that most of the trees were not climbable with the lower branches removed. The Forest is also suitable for taking bikes and scooters too. There is plenty of opportunity to practise their co-ordination, gross and fine motor skills. Or there’s the option of Go Ape.

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and Olfactory (smell)

I think that The Forest is good in terms of smell as there are scents to enjoy/experience but it is not overwhelming. If more smell is required you could bring a scent with you that they can hold and sniff when needed.

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and Tactile (touch)

The Forest offers lots of things to touch (mainly on their own terms too). There are trees, leaves, mud, water, flowers, mushrooms, stones, moss, pinecones, acorns, etc, etc. If you are feeling really brave (and I suggest spare clothes) why not let Seekers go barefoot – and splash in muddy puddles. If they are avoiders you can gently encourage them to try a range of new textures and sensations on small parts of their body and slowly build it up (eg start with finger tips until they can touch it with their whole hand). Seekers will be happy to walk around carrying as many sticks as they can too!

Why a trip to the Forest is good for SPD and Gustatory (taste)

Of course it is best not to eat things that you do not know what they are – but The Forest is a perfect place for a picnic and there are tables provided. Bring their favourite foods and make the day more special.

Can you think of any other ways a trip to The Forest is good for those with Sensory Processing Disorder?

For more information if you wonder if your child has Sensory Processing Disorder please read this post.

I receive free parking passes and material from the Forestry Commission. Words and opinions are honest and my own.

Changing from a Statement to an EHCP

June 22, 2016Personal PostsEHCP, StatementSensory Seeker

Experience of EHCP Paperwork

The hardest thing for me during the whole process of switching from a Statement to an EHCP was time – and the fact that I had to think so much about the answers to the questions I had to keep answering what seemed like over and over and over again. I was glad to have a degree when filling in the Family Contribution form and cannot imagine how difficult it must be for some families to do. Luckily I opted to type mine on the computer ,which meant I could just add to it, or draw out relevant bits when asked for the information again by someone new. Also I completely forgot to ask to be referred back to Occupational Therapy in time and so they have not been part of the process.

Experience of The EHCP Meeting

Well I have to say that the meeting itself was not as hard as I thought it would be and I guess it is because no-one mentioned any levels and I already knew that he was behind his peers – so that was not a big shock. I feel that I did not really know or understand what was going on and had to just trust the professionals. In attendance I had the current school SENCo/Head, the new school SENCo, his new TA, The Speech and Language Therapist, The School Advisory Teacher, and the lady from the council.

Adding Sensory Issues to the EHCP

When I asked about adding in his Sensory Issues it became a little awkward as here in the UK there isn’t an official diagnosis for Sensory Processing Disorder. I hadn’t included information from the Occupational Therapist or Paediatrician as their reports were longer than the date – but the lady from the council said she would see if she could include them. In my opinion the other people in the room were a little under-educate in sensory issues. They seemed to think everything could be sorted with some tactile toys (least it is a start I guess). I suppose the problem also lies in the fact that I did not really know what to say as how to include it into the EHCP either.

His Progress

It was good to hear his progress and that he has a good work ethic. He just wants to be like everyone else and tries so hard to obtain it. Fingers crossed he even may have passed his phonics screening this year! There was a lot of emphasis on making sure his transition to his new school goes well and I met his new TA. His old TA will also be moving schools and working as a classroom assistant. It was hard to hear how much me going away affected him and his behaviour – but was good in a way as it highlighted how he needs extra support to deal with changes. It was good to hear that the schools were liaising on the best ways to help him.

I now have to wait for the draft EHCP and then I have a very short period of time to read through it, making any changes needed and send it back. I am feeling hopeful -fingers crossed now.

Bullying, Self-Regulation Social Stories and Other Resources

May 10, 2016Reviewsbooks, Jennifer Anzin, Resources, self-regulation, Social StoriesSensory Seeker

Bullying and Self-Regulation can be a difficult area for children with special needs to cope with. Those on the Autism Spectrum often find it hard to understand emotions and related to others. They can usually benefit greatly from visual aids and fun ways of learning.; and social stories are often recommended for those on the Spectrum. So I was keen to find out more about a range of books by Jennifer Anzin, who has written inclusive programs for children with special needs on Bullying and Self-Regulation. I was sent the 5 books mentioned below for purposes of review, all opinions are honest and my own.

Devon the Digger’s Difficult Day

The book begins with a story about how Devon is having a bad day and doesn’t care how he affects others. But his friend Frederick makes him think about times when he has been upset and asks him how he would feel. Then Devon finds a strategy that he will use next time he is mad. Devon then goes off to apologise and put things right. The book then uses activities to Build Cooperation and Caring – these are useful tools for all children (and even adults!). In fact we have been using the Say it Forward (when you say something nice about someone else) at dinner time, and I really like the idea of having a bag of phrases in case people find it difficult to think of something. Next are Songs to Build Empathy and Caring, Anti-Bullying Strategies (with more singing) and finally a Game. I think the book is full of great ideas but is really for children in a group setting and not as helpful for a parent at home (especially if the child does not have siblings). I am not sure how much the use of vehicles would help a child on the spectrum relate the story back to people – but does give them the opportunity of making things more concrete in their minds.

The Terrible Tantrums of Timmy the Truck

This story is about Timmy the Truck who is a bully. It explains why Timmy behaves the way he does and that lashing out, especially to Arthur the Engine, does not make him feel better. After talking to Timmy Angela the Airplane and Timmy’s parents promise to help him learn new ways to deal with his anger and to make friends. The book explains what Timmy does to help him cope with his anger and then he went off to apologise to Arthur. Timmy followed the rules of conduct and played with the rest of the class and felt part of the team. The book then goes on to explain different Strategies to Stop Bullying Behaviour – including yoga activities (such as child’s pose, balloon breath, train yoga and lion yoga – which are explained within the book). Next are the games such as The Anger, Self-Regulation Fishing Game and A, B, C…Calm Down with Me. Again I am not sure how concrete the story is by using vehicles and I am not sure it is a fair representation for a child with additional needs. My son would break things without considering how the other person is feeling but I do think the label “bully” is a bit harsh. To me a bully is one who does it deliberately to upset people. In saying that it is refreshing to have something where the problem needing to be addressed is because the child is the bully rather than the bullied – and the techniques are great.

The Incredible Shrinking Bully

This book again is about Timmy being mean to Arthur, but this time it does appear more that he is deliberately being nasty. It is more about Arthur feeling safe and his friends helping him to learn to stop being bullied. Interesting to read the two books together because from Timmy’s side of the story things are really different. Maybe there could be some discussion as to how children with special needs may be upsetting children without meaning to – and we should give them empathy and support to help them change – as opposed to singling them out and not wanting to play! This book has songs again and colouring pages with the story told again. I think the message here is simple (don’t suffer in silence) so the strategies weren’t as in depth. I think I would like to see the two books combined – and as I say, seeing things from both perspectives.

The Anger Train

I loved this story. It uses the imagery of an anger train inside to explain the emotion. This book has pictures of people, and explains how to help the anger (train) calm down. The back of the book has other ideas (again such as Yoga and the Fishing Game).

Goodbye Anger Monster – Jennifer Anzin and Cathy Kerr

This again is like the Anger Train but instead it is a monster. Again I like that the book has visuals of people that children with special needs can relate to. There are a few different techniques to reduce the anger as the anger monster disappears. Again the back of the book has other ideas (again such as Yoga and the Fishing Game).

Generally I think these books are great social stories with many useful ideas and resources for helping children to cope with self-regulation and bullying. In all honesty I do think the illustrations could do with some work, but then their simple nature may make it easier for a child with additional needs relate to. I would recommend these books for the strategies, but think the stories are not to be read alone but discussed.

Jennifer Anzin is an Early Childhood Consultant with over 20 years of experience working with children in child care centres, nursery school programs, J.k./S.k. and school age programs. Jennifer has drawn upon her experiences with children with special needs to write anti-bullying and self-regulation children’s books for parents, teachers and other professionals to use with children from the ages of 3 years-8 years. The books contain practical strategies and activities within the stories, as well as additional help which may be incorporated into their daily routines. These books are available on amazon.uk for approximately £4.60 per book. There are also two free children’s stories, “Frederick the Fire Truck” and “Arthur the Engine” available on the website http://thewhisperersaga.com on request.

Another Post of interest: How to teach Anger through Craft

I received these books free of charge for purposes of review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Starting School Fears with SEN – The Reality

April 18, 2016Personal Postsschool fearsSensory Seeker

When The Sensory Seeker was offered a place at a Mainstream school I had many worries. I felt that the best place for him was in a special needs school and that he just would not cope. I wrote the post Starting School Fears with SEN – in which I wrote about my worries and how irrational I thought that they really were. Now the end has come of his time at this school and he has to move on to another Mainstream school so I thought I would come back to that post to explain what happened now he is 7 years old.

Starting School Fears with SEN - The Reality

Fears when The Sensory Seeker Started School

Will my child eat?
Will my child be able to use the toilet?
Will my child make friends?
Will my child with Sensory Issues keep their clothes on at school?
Will my child struggle getting changed for PE?
Will my child ever hold a pen?
Will the staff in a Mainstream school be supportive of my child’s additional needs

Will my child eat?

Thanks to the introduction of free school meals The Sensory Seeker not only eats at school but he eats better at home too – even trying new foods that he would have never considered before. We can even encourage him to eat foods he would rather not eat (when given an incentive). He has even got much better with his cutlery.

Will my child be able to use the toilet?

At first The Sensory Seeker did wet himself – but now he is doing fine. Yes he uses the toilet completely independently. I think at school he is probably doing better than some other children – as he doesn’t ALWAYS forget to flush and wash his hands! At home we sometimes have trouble with toilet paper, but on the whole he is doing really well. Yesterday my husband told me that our son was even happy to use the urinals (which was a great time saver too!) We still have the odd toilet accident but they are the rare occasion rather than the norm.

Will my child make friends?

Yes The Sensory Seeker has people he considers are his friends, gets invited to the odd party and has a couple of children coming to our house for his birthday. He also goes to groups outside of school time and he has made friends there too. In fact I am really proud of how he has coped in those groups – another sign of how well he is doing independently.

Will my child with Sensory Issues keep their clothes on at school? And Will my child struggle getting changed for PE?

With his sensory issues he often takes his jumper off when it is still cold, or ends up walking down the road topless on the way home, but by and large he is okay and not doing daft clothing stripping in school. The Sensory Seeker is fine at dressing and undressing and has just asked for trainers with laces so that he can try to learn how to do knots (obviously I am doing them up for him but helping to encourage him to pull them undone).

Will my child ever hold a pen?

The Sensory Seeker can now not only hold a pen but is trying to create sentences, recall them and write them down (trying to remember them all is the tricky bit for him right now but the Teaching Advisory Service told me to write his sentence down, cut it up and then let him sequence it. It is hard to believe that it was considered whether he was better off just using an iPad rather than writing.

Help in schools for those with sensory processing disorder

Will the staff in a Mainstream school be supportive of my child’s additional needs?

Will the staff be supportive – well I could not have asked for more! I think the right attitude from the staff can make so much difference and The Sensory Seeker has come on in leaps and bounds. They are always there for me (to listen to worries no matter how small) and have brought him on from P levels to that of a child securely in the year below!

Other Posts of interest:

Relaxed Performance of BOY at Almeida Theatre

April 12, 2016Relaxed PerformancesAlmeida Theatre, Boy, relaxed performanceSensory Seeker

A Relaxed Performance of BOY, a new play by Leo Butler, directed by Sacha Wares, will take place at the Almeida Theatre on Wednesday 11 May at 1.30pm. All tickets will be £10; tickets for companions and support workers are free.

A boy.

At a bus stop.

Easily missed.

Boy is an ambitious, timely exploration of austerity London. Master of observation, Leo Butler casts a sharp eye over contemporary London and picks out someone for us to follow. Boy is an important new play about coming of age in twenty first century London.

About the Relaxed Performance of Boy at Almeida Theatre

The Relaxed Performance has been specifically designed to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning disability. People have the freedom to come and go as necessary, and a chill-out area is provided for those who need a quiet space. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement and some small changes are made to light and sound effects.

To help the audience prepare for their visit a Visual Story will be distributed with photographs of the Almeida building and auditorium, the set, and the characters in Boy. The audience will have the opportunity to attend a familiarization visit at the theatre before the performance, and to meet the cast on the day. The Almeida Participation team are offering specialist workshops to give groups the chance to explore themes from Boy in a creative, open environment. Alongside the Relaxed Performance workshops are on offer for groups to explore the themes of Boy, as well as a familiarization visit and Visual Story.

Boy has a running time of approximately 80 minutes with an age guidance of 14+.

Following Boy, a Relaxed Performance of THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO, a new play by Adam Brace, directed by Michael Longhurst, will take place on Wednesday 21 September at 1.30pm.

Relaxed Performance	Wednesday 11 May at 1.30pm
Address	Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA
Tickets	All tickets for the Relaxed Performance of Boy are £10; all tickets for companions and support workers are free but must be booked via the Box Office.
Box Office	Call 020 7359 4404 or email access@almeida.co.uk

RELAXED PERFORMANCE OF WONDER.LAND

April 11, 2016Relaxed Performancesrelaxed performance, WONDER.LANDSensory Seeker

RELAXED PERFORMANCE OF WONDER.LAND
Thursday 21 April 2016 at 7pm in the Olivier Theatre, National Theatre

A Relaxed Performance of WONDER.LAND will take place on Thursday 21 April at 7pm in the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre South Bank, London, SE1 9PX

Wonder.land is a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic story, wonder.land is a coming-of-age adventure that explores the blurred boundaries between our online and offline lives. Combining live theatre and digital technology in dazzling new ways, wonder.land is a musical like no other: Aly is struggling with all the pressures of being a teenager: family, school, friends and her own insecurities. Then she discovers wonder.land – a mysterious online world where, perhaps, she can create a whole new life. The web becomes her looking-glass – but will Aly see who she really is?

Specifically designed to welcome people with a learning disability, Down’s Syndrome, autism or sensory and communication disorders into the theatre, Relaxed Performances give those who otherwise might feel excluded the chance to experience live performance. Relaxed Performances have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels. There is a relaxed attitude to audience noise and movement and some small changes made to the light and sound effects. Parts of the theatre foyer will be available as a quiet space for those who need to leave and re-enter the auditorium during the show. After the performance, the audience will have the opportunity to stay to meet the actors who will be in costume but out of character. ‘Visual stories’, which give information about the theatre and the show, will be provided to all bookers to help support their visit.

WONDER.LAND has a running time of approximately 2hrs 30 including an interval.

All tickets are priced at £5.

Suitable for children 10+. The storyline features challenging and current issues of teenage life in the 21st century.

Includes slang, explicit language and scenes of bullying and teasing.

Tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 020 7452 3961 or emailing boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk.

Relaxed Concert Birmingham Town Hall

March 17, 2016Relaxed PerformancesBirmingham Town Hall, James Rowney, Relaxed concert, Ventriloquist James RowneySensory Seeker

About Relaxed Concert Birmingham Town Hall

Birmingham Town Hall do it again by providing an inclusive Relaxed Concert, designed to introduce audiences to music they know and love, all in an everyone-friendly, family-friendly, Autism-friendly atmosphere. Featuring Sutton Coldfield born Ventriloquist James Rowney, his puppet Little Jim and Orchestra of the Swan.Audiences with be taken on a magical musical adventure featuring Disney favourites, wizards and William Tell, all accompanied by live music from Orchestra of the Swan; at Birmingham Town Hall on Sunday 10^th April 2016 3pm-4pm.

About James Rowney

James is such an inspiration and gives hope to those with autism, and/or to parents who fear for the future: Due to graduate from Stafford University with a Foundation Degree in Musical Theatre in July this year, James has already secured roles in Cinderella, Peter Pan, Jesus Christ Superstar, and now, he takes the lead in The Relaxed Concert at Town Hall. He’s proven that his abilities far outweigh any disabilities he might have, and isn’t letting Autism stand in his way.

About THSH Relaxed Performances and Relaxed Concerts

THSH are celebrating ability, not disability, and completely changing the way people with Autism experience music. It’s a fantastic opportunity for families to come together to enjoy quality time and to meet with other people who also understand the challenges and opportunities that come with Autism. Relaxed performances at Town Hall are open to everyone, but are designed to be welcoming for people with an Autistic Spectrum condition, a learning disability or a sensory and communication disorder. For those performances the rule book is thrown out the window – audiences are encouraged to cheer, clap, talk, laugh or even dance if they want to! Intended to be less formal and embrace different types of audience reactions, the show will incorporate changes to the lighting and sound levels, as well as a quiet zone, chill-out areas away from the auditorium and additional wheelchair spaces. A story guide and video guide will be available on the THSH website for families to prepare before their visit.THSH has donated 50 tickets to Autism West Midlands in order to invite people from their Family Services Network at no cost. For some, this may be the first time they are able to experience live music in this way as a family.

Chris Proctor, Programme Manager for THSH, said: “Unlike many other relaxed performances which are adapted from a run of shows, ours has been designed specifically from the ground up. We have listened to exactly what our audience wants, through our work with James and Autism West Midlands, and then created something entirely new for them. What this means is that for many people with an autism spectrum disorder or learning disability, live music is finally accessible.It is amazing to see first-hand the artistic development in James as a young person with autism. Whilst we are trying to break down barriers of access, James is breaking down barriers of achievement and completely tearing up the rule book! We are really looking forward to welcoming families to this concert, and many more similar events in the future.”

We previously attended The Relaxed Perfomance of The Gruffalo and were very impressed with the lengths that THSH are going to, to ensure that access is fully inclusive. The welcome any feedback and/or ideas for further improving experiences.

For more information, visit: www.thsh.co.uk/event/the-relaxed-concert-featuring-james-rowney-little-jim-and-orchestra-of-the-swan where you can book tickets and download a visitor’s guide to Town Hall and a visual story of the performance, to help prepare for your visit.

The Relaxed Performance will be at Town Hall on Sunday 10 April, 3pm – 4pm.