If it's the Special Needs session at the local splash park and you're not a SN family, would you stay or go?

[Waitrosejunkie1]

What would you do?

[Griphook]

Get the organisers to ask them to leave

[KondosSecretJunkRoom]

Some people are selfish but given that most people would leave, I would by the way, it might be that there are lots of special needs family enjoying the session and there may be more demand to extend these sessions.

[GreatFuckability]

How do you know that it wasn't full of special needs families?

[MrsHathaway]

I think OP meant she couldn't use it because it was too busy - and she believes this is because NT families were not required/encouraged to leave at 5 pm.

It would be very unlucky if a place were completely overrun with SN families.

[MrsHathaway]

That didn't come out right.

... If the session were inaccessible to those with SN because so many people with SN had turned up. Victim of its own success/irony kind of thing.

[KondosSecretJunkRoom]

But given it is only a two hour session once a month and I suppose any person with special needs can enjoy the session with their family it wouldn't be beyond reason to think that most were there legitimately on a hot day in the summer holidays.

[KondosSecretJunkRoom]

Ah, sorry, x-post.

[BusStopBetty]

What about autism friendly cinema screenings? Should they be restricted only to children with autism? (I say children as they always seem to be on as part of the kids club films.)

[BusStopBetty]

Argh, posted too soon. Have been to one in error as the website didn't say it was autism friendly.

[RichardBucket]

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe Let's not start playing that game. Parents of SN children always end up being forced to justify themselves on these threads. Same with disabled posters. Just don't.

[KondosSecretJunkRoom]

Well lots of children don't get a diagnosis for autism until long after their parents realise their kid is better off at the quieter screenings, so yes, fine I think.

[ElleBellyBeeblebrox]

I dunno, I would probably avoid that session so as to allow families with additional needs the space and not to crowd them, add to the noise etc. I do think it's kind of a sad indictment of our society that they put on a specific session though, would have expected an everyone always welcome kind of inclusivity and diversity approach.

[BusStopBetty]

It was practically empty though so hopefully we didn't prevent anyone from going.

[goddessoftheharvest]

I would leave. Two hours a month isn't a lot, and many children with SN may not be able to access it at all at other times, for instance if they become very distressed in large crowds. I have a friend whose son has SN and these SN friendly sessions at places are a godsend to her because otherwise they would never get out.

[minipie]

"Is for the use of special needs families"

Means if your family does not have SN then it is not for your use at that time

Go

[youarenotkiddingme]

If it's just once a month for 2 hours then yes, I'd go.

I assume the park is open 9-7 everyday so plenty of time for those who don't need reasonable adjustments to attend.

[LynetteScavo]

Special Needs Families is a bit ambiguous though.

I would leave, even though I have a DC on the autistic spectrum because mostly he copes pretty well and wouldn't need a special session.

[CremeBrulee]

I would definitely leave/not go. It sounds like a specific session for families with SN children to enjoy the facilities. I'd assume some of those children would appreciate a quieter environment and more space to themselves. My lot can go any of the other times the park is open.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Id complain with suggestions for how to improve.

So close park at 4.30 that day to give people time to exit and either evidence of sn to enter sn session of you can apply for a special card (a laminated one is cheap to produce) that can be used to eneter session.
I'd explain about reasonable adjustments.

[LoreleiGilmoreIsMyBFF]

I'm a little confused as to what the 'NT' stands for. My son has been diagnosed as having ASD, so I understand the 'SN' part - in recent months I have come to believe NT usually stands for 'neuro-typical' but please correct me if I'm wrong. I hate these acronyms anyway, but surely some 'SN kids', e.g those who are wheelchair-bound but do not have ASD, are also neuro-typical?

[coldofhands]

Of course get out, there's no question surely? My disabilities are invisible but adaptations like accessible seating and whatnot are a Godsend so of course as a family we'd afford others that same consideration

[5amisnotmorning]

Go. Why the hell would you stay? If I wasn't aware before hand and turned up then I would still leave and explain to the children that it isn't our turn to use it.

Even if only 1 child with special needs turned up then I still wouldn't use it. Isn't that like saying that the rules don't apply to us because we want to ignore them? I would like my children to grow up unselfish and considerate of other people and their needs.

Was it clear though that there was a special session at that time?

[sharknad0]

to be honest, it does depend.

I wouldn't take my own kids, because they have access to a garden so it would be completely inappropriate for them to steal the space.

That said, I do feel a bit sorry for kids without garden, who have been cooped up at school all day and enjoy a bit of splashing on the 2 hottest days of the year. I would find it hard to tell them to go. Maybe ask the park to schedule another session this month, to give the SN kids another chance to play too.