To not want non disabled children using our hard fought for sensory room ?

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

I'm probably going to get murdered for this but meh.

We live in a town with 3 softplay areas and various activites for nt children to do, for special needs children there is sod all, no softplay sessions, no sensory room. Nada.

A few years back me and some others started to go to meetings with our local council to arrange activities and eventually, after much fundraising a softplay area was built in our leisure centre and sensory room was built in our softplay area, it was entirely funded using money allocated for children with disabilities although the softplay is open to all and we get 8 hours per week when it is soley for use for disabled children up to the age of 15. HOWEVER, only disabled children are allowed access to the sensory room, the sensory room is also used by disabled adults and is the only one for 100 miles, it's a valued facility.

Parents have been complaining and demanded access to the sensory room and a meeting is being arranged to review the situation.

Bearing in mind the children/parents who use the softplay aren't always entirely respectful (taking food etc in) and the sure start centre does have a small sensory room for babies/toddlers, aibu to think, sod off, we only get 8 hours a week as it is, I don't want this expensive, specialist equipment being trashed by kids who don't need to be there and have 1001 other things to choose from ??!!

Actually I think you are right

I actually agree with you, it is soley for the use of Disabled children and should remain so.

Able bodied children's needs are met in other ways, and equipment for those whom are disabled is far far expensive, who would replace it if it was used by able bodied children and subsequently broken? Bearing in mind the cost, these are the factors that you need to bring across in any meetings regarding this.

', it was entirely funded using money allocated for children with disabilities' so should be used for that.
yanbu

I think you are being perfectly reasonable

Able bodied familes have access to EVERYTHING already

Sensory stuff costs and absolute fortune. Why do they want access to it anyway?

I think you're right too

I don't think you are BU. if they are wanting to use it at the same time as the disabled children, then that is not fair on the disabled children.

I'm with you but keep the hard hat on.

agree

You are totally right. Good luck, make sure you impress on them where the funding came from.

YANBU, there is another sensory room for them to go to, and the equipment in sensory rooms is expensive. How come you can only use the special sensory room for 8 hours a week?

Hmmm, I think on balance YAB(a bit)U.

Surely after working hard to get this facility, you should be pleased that it is being used to its maximum potential.

Providing that all the disabled children and adults who wish to use the facility have to chance to do so, I don't see that others shouldn't be able to use it at other times though I do understand your anxiety to make sure that the facility isn't abused.

I think you are right too, it's specialist equipment so it's just for those who need it, do the able bodied children want a go on the hoist too. Bloody idiots, fight back.

I think you are right too.

Who exactly will be replacing it when it inevitably gets broken?

If it's more likely to get damaged with heavy use, and there isn't funding to repair the damage, then yanbu.

It's specialist equipment, specially bought for children with special needs. Opening it to all could jeopardise this purpose by the sounds of it.

Is there any chance a high fee could be charged for public access though? Would maybe reduce demand and raise some funds for additional equipment?

I agree with you completely too!

Totally agree.

YANBU, I agree with you.

YANBU at all.

I don't want them using it at all, this stuff is really precious to us, cost thousands and we shed blood, sweat and tears raising money for equipment such as the double water bed with special light curtain, it costs thousands and does not need to be used or trashed by children who don't need it.

I buy a lot of small scale special needs equipment for my job and I hide it from everyone else because I know it will get trashed or used inappropriately if there is open access. If I can be there to see how its being used, I relax a bit

YANBU at all.

I don't think you're being unreasonable personally as unfortunately not everyone looks after things the way they should and I imagine the specialist equipment cost a fortune. There will always be people though who can't believe that their precious children should be denied access to anything; the fact that they can access a lot of things disabled children can't will get lost in their feelings of deprivation!

hmm i don't know... i do get where you're coming from and, on paper, i would agree

but i know places where this works well. we used to visit springboard house a lot, which is designed for children with special needs, but open to all during the day.

it brings in more money, because everyone using it has to pay, it gets it more publicity and help with fundraising because more people use it.

It clearly works well for them.

am shocked you only get 8 hours a week though? what's the thinking behind that????

Why do they want to use it? What does a non-disabled child have to gain from using it when there is a ton of other stuff they can play with?

It would annoy me too and I would fight hard to retain this special facility for the people for whom it was intended.

YANBU i also agree