To be suprised at Butlins and their lack of neurodiverse awareness?

[GreenPhlem]

have just left Butlins. Will hopefully never go back.

We were visiting with our autistic 3 year old grandaughter.

Not one mention of “autism friendly” shows anywhere. Every thing we attempted was too loud and in your face, even with ear defenders on granddaughter was struggling. You would have thought a place like Butlins would put on at least one autism friendly show a day but nope … nothing.

We took her to the tots disco last night - was meant to start at 6pm so we got there for 6pm knowing DGD will struggle to wait for something to happen … 6:05pm and nothing is happening - DGD getting restless and wants to leave. 6:10 the redcoat comes on and says the kids disco will start in about 15 minutes. No chance we could keep DGD happy for another 15 minutes so we had to leave. As we were leaving he said something about another show that would be happening at 7:30 unless the PJ masks photo shoot goes on for too long then that activity will be cancelled!! God forbid they miss out on money making photographs

Swimming - you now have to book a time slot. We booked 11am. 11:05 were still in a queue outside in the rain. When we eventually get in the changing rooms are so packed out (as everyone is going in and leaving at the same time) that DGD gets overwhelmed and shuts down. Nowhere quiet to take her … no thought to neurodiversity

Took her to soft play. I booked her into the toddler area as she would struggle being around the big loud hyper kids. I was told she was too tall for the toddler area and have to go into the big kids area. A small, timid autistic girl going into the big kids area with 10/11 year old kids flying around screaming and shouting?? Was never going to work so we left (DGD was already starting to have a meltdown as soon as she saw the chaos of the big kids area).

Is it just me or what?? Surely a place like Butlins should factor in that some kids may require a bit of reasonable adjustment?

I understand all about what’s a reasonable adjustment and what isn’t.
I’m a school SENCO, I do it every day. We are having a lift fitted in our school which will mean leaving us without a usable IT room but we have to do it as we are not legally allowed to say we can’t meet need due to accessibility.

Minehead has a quiet arcade also, I’ve never been aware of the wristbands at the other two although someone on here said you can get them

Yes and no one should have to cater to wheelchairs either it’s not right that people have to but ramps in at extra expense, people in wheelchairs should just go to places that already have ramps

it’s wild that people are genuinely trying argue that Butlins, a resort aimed at FAMILIES, should want to make some adaptions for the 1.6 million children in the country with SEN.

@Morph22010 So should Mount Snowdon put ramps in then? Butlins is the equivalent to ND people.

SEN is a very, very wide descriptor, its an umbrella term

What 'adaptations' would you suggest for this SEN then?

Gosh there are some nice folk on here…. Not! A granny wants to treat her granddaughter. The OP has admitted they know better now so leave it at that.

whats even more worrying is that those slating the OP no doubt have kids themselves and are passing this intolerance onto them. Wowee. That’s going to create some delightful young people in the future. Gone are the days of be kind…..

….I know?

the easiest one would be quiet sessions with limited numbers, no music, no flashing lights.

quiet time slots at restaurants.

detailed guides including pictures of different areas to show children in advance so they know what to to expect

staggered entry times to prevent queues

ear defenders for loan

sensory bags

chill out rooms

I think you just need to research more carefully what is provided for you daughter specifically. I mean if there was "not one mention of “autism friendly” shows anywhere" then you weren't expecting them. I do think 25 mins wait for a kids disco is weird - like many neuro-typical kids wouldn't cope with that!

Soft play ages is about how tall and heavy the kids are. If your kid isn't tiny for her age then OBVIOUSLY she would hurt a littler kid if she fell on them just as much as a non disabled child, so she should NOT be playing in that area. I do think it is sad that there weren't better facilities for your daughter (a lot of the soft plays and trampoline parks round us have SEN sessions), but to be honest , a phone call would have confirmed what was available.

OP, I'm with you. I'm quite aghast at the number of posters who voted YABU but I think that just conveys societal attitudes to the neurodiverse at the moment. Things are cha going, albeit slowly. Of course you're not being unreasonable to think Butlins should consider people with disabilities! Offering an ASD-friendly show makes it accessible- in the same way they might put a ramp in addition to stairs for wheelchair users.

It's Butlins. That's like me booking a mountain climbing holiday as a wheelchair user.

This. These attitudes get passed on and on. People seem to think it's the kids' fault for being autistic so they shouldn't partake in the predominantly neurotypical world if they can't cope- they should be trying to find ways if including neurodiverse people instead.

Of course it isn't like that at all. It would be very easy for Butlins to add a chill out room, and an ASD-friendly performace. Don't be so ridiculous (and abelist).

Precisely. Some people on here are utterly disgusting.

Some really nasty thoughtless and ignorant replies. I have an autistic son, 4, although I’d never take him to Butlins as I’ve heard it’s too loud, don’t give up and try other places. I know it’s stupid expensive but centre parcs is wonderful for my little boy - he adores it so I save up for that bit extra to go. Best to go during term time if you can for four days as it’s cheaper than three at the weekends. They always accommodate our needs there and it’s the perfect setting.

Has the OP requested ear defenders? It’s possible that Butlins would have provided some if asked. If they don’t offer them then perhaps that could be a good reasonable adjustment they could offer. But it won’t make it less busy (same with festivals)

Sorry, but taking her somewhere like Butlins when you lnew it would be busy was a bad decision on your part. All they care about is making money, not about the needs of individuals.

But that is not the OP's fault - it's Butlins' fault. That's why things need to change - that's the point!

Tbh I would have avoided a venue like this, there are other venues that would also be good fun that would be more suitable.

If you are looking for a quiet, family friendly, forest lodge type place that’s cheaper than centre parts, I highly recommend Whitemead forest park in the Forest of Dean. It’s a very calming environment and the activities are in very small groups (we went off-season last time and we were the only people in some of the activities).

I do agree with the poster above. The adjustments have to be REASONABLE.

Sadly it is not reasonable to make a show a day autism friendly and not expect NT families to attend it when there might only be a handful of autistic kids on site that week and even they may not want to go.

Adjustments can be made in so far as dimmer lighting or less loud shows but they’ll still be busy if you go in school holidays for sure.

My nephew has autism. We work around what works for him. That means we always go to the same restaurant and birthday parties are train rides. This works for him. It’s his idea of a great time. He would hate butlins. So we would never go, even if they made every adjustment.

I think that you could make Butlins as autism friendly in its entertainment as you like but the general busyness, noise and chaos of a week like that probably wouldnt work for a lot of autistic kids anyway.

Sorry but there's hundreds of people on site all wanting to do the same things. And I say that as a parent of 2 with autism as well as relatives with autistic children.

We have been to Butlins a few times with all 4 DC with autism. We just have to do what the majority do make the most of it while we're there. There's always something to do in the skyline if you have to wait for a show.

Mine love the 2p slot machines so used to take them to play on them while someone else sits at our table. Honestly I would never leave the house if I expected everywhere to have autism friendly sessions.

I don’t think it’s necessary to mention it in the review. I’m sure parents with ND children think very carefully about where to take their child.

The Peppa pig show is quiet x

I'm not neuro diverse.

I know I would struggle at any resort as busy and loud as Butlins and would have a sad time.

I choose a holiday that suits me so that I don't struggle and so that I enjoy it.

You need to make more suitable choices.