NEC Birmingham has never thought about autism

[amber32002]

Interesting conversation today with the NEC Birmingham, who say that despite having had millions of people through their doors, no-one has ever asked them about autism accessibility issues before.

Why would that be? Anyone got any ideas?

Do other places have special autism access routes? I didn't realise autistic people couldn't use doors like everyone else

Although saying that, stick my ds2 in front of an automatic door and he'll be there for hours

I think amber is probably referring to wider issues than the doors....

I would think it is because autism is largely hidden, and lots of people with autism who would struggle most would avoid stressful environments, rather than anything.

They might have just asked in terms of Special Needs access?

When we went on holiday last year, i spoke at length to BA to try to arrange things for dd1 (in their wisdom, as she was labelled disabled on the passenger system, they decided to put her on th emain deck, alone, while dh, dd2 & I were seated in the upper deck

even once i pointed out whather disabilities were, she could not be seated on the upper deck with a disabled passenger tag. she needed the tag so as to get a wheelchair for after they had taken the buggy at the gate. catch 22.

but in all my enquiries, i got nowhere asking for assistance saying dd1 was autistic - I had to use the generic "disabled" tag (even though that then flagged up other issues like the seating problem) before they would acknowledge that she was entitled to extra help.

so, maybe people have asked about ASd accessibility issues, but in order to get to speak to someone in the know, they had to use the generic term?

Sorry, I read Ambers post as being a funny sarcastic one. Sorry Amber, I didn't meant o sound patronising

5inthebed - I did think it sounded unlike your other posts, lol

Yes, I did mean wider issues like a policy for how to ensure fair access to events there for us - a safe space for us to be, no flickering lighting or a warning of it, etc. Other places like Ironbridge have really good autism awareness amongst their staff, but apparently the NEC hadn't thought about it before because no-one's ever asked about it before.

It's got to be worth parents and people with an ASD asking venues about autism policies, since it's almost as common as wheelchair use?

Having re-read your first post and your mot recent post AMber, it does make sense that large venues should have more asd/as friendly areas. I'd be quite worried about taking ds2 to an arena event as the noise and the crowd before an event would just make him have a huge meltdown.

It never even entered my mind that arenas and large places like that would have such facilities. Very useful to know.

5inthebed, I think that's exactly it - we all just avoid going.

Yes, any public event has by law to have a disability policy already in place to include any person with any disability in any reasonable way. Most don't, of course because some silly armchair-lawyer will have told them that it only means wheelchairs and hearing loops and including guide dogs. Nope.

If it means providing a safe corner for us to be in somewhere from time to time, that's no cost so definitely reasonable. If it means asking their performers if there's going to be sudden explosions or flashing lights so they can warn us in advance (website, leaflets at door, customer services adviser, even a text message) then that's reasonable too. Ironbridge even phoned me on the day to let me know -that's how much they cared about autism, and they're a huge site. Legoland have autism policies that make it really easy for families to cope.

Small things but they make a huge difference for us, and yet so far most events don't think about it and we're not used to asking them yet. Maybe because the sensory stuff is so newly 'discovered' by the professionals - so no-one realised that we don't always just automatically go wild/shut down in public events. It's because it's a sensory nightmare with no possibility of escape. It's possible to make them more autism-friendly.

I was talking with one of the big rugby grounds recently too (Twickenham) and the only thing they had thought of was giving us a key for the accessible loo, so they've got some work to do.

WOuldn't the best thing just be autism awareness training though? As everyone's needs are so different. I mean there's nothing in the world the NEC could do that would make it accessible to DS1. That's not their fault, it's just the nature of his condition.

Maybe because with autism there are alot of different issues for different sufferers?

Maybe you need to be specific about what you are asking ie with the sudden noise thing - they could probably answer that, same with flashing lights.

What is it you are hoping to see?

MrsT, yes, definitely. Have suggested that to them. And mumofmonsters, I've asked them only if there's a quiet corner somewhere. And handed them a quick autism access policy since they asked if I had something useful they can use.

Off to see Crufts at the weekend . And hopefully have a few conversations with the Assistance Dogs charities there too, if I can manage it.

Oh if you talk to the dog charities tell them that stopping matching dogs and kids at 10 because autistic children over the age of 10 are 'too rigid' is a bloody ridiculous rule and there is no evidence for that at all. It's completely individual.

Too rigid? I hadn't heard that one from them. So far they've told me that they have no money (not true) and no trainers (well, train some - that's how industry works!) and no research to show it works (er, no).

Guide Dogs for the Blind are now looking at this to see if they can count autism as a 'visual disability' in some way. I doubt it, but they're quite influential amongst the Assistance Dogs charities so I'm hoping they can 'encourage' one, any one, of the other charities into helping those aged 10+.

It works SO well. I have two dogs, and one of them is functionally my assistance dog, though I've trained her myself. She reminds me when I need to do things, and is a great social 'ice breaker' and confidence-giver for me. It's so easy to do. But I can't take her to the most stressful places for me like supermarkets, of course, as she's not an Official Insured Assistance Dog.

PS NEC have just written back and been absolutely fantastic - offered me two places to go to if I need it, and they're going to redo one of the safe spaces to make it a really relaxing place to be because of what I wrote, they said. Brilliant . Top Marks!

Worth asking.

Thats great of the NEC Amber. I take it thats where Crufts is?

Yup, NEC centre

Brilliant! Been, thoroughly enjoyed it, coped. There were enough quiet spaces to make it possible, though wouldn't want to have tackled it without good friends with me. They were very good about letting us know of flashing lights etc, too.

So lovely seeing all the dogs, and had a chat with the assistance dogs charities and will be trying to keep some conversation going with them about autism and assistance dogs.