November 5th SEND event at Croydon Fire Department
Organisations are raising awareness of how to make the November festivities more inclusive for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Fireworks on Nov 5th can be complicated for SEND individuals.
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London Fire Department are hosting inclusive Bonfire Night celebrations for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The event, hosted at Croydon Fire Department, will feature themed light displays, bubble machines and quiet sensory rooms as an alternative to the loud – and often crowded – fireworks events held across London.
“We wanted to create a quieter, safer space for people to come along and enjoy the fantastic lights and colours associated with a fireworks display, but perhaps without all of the noise or the crowds,” said Station Officer Daniel Foster.
Foster was inspired to organise an inclusive event after his daughter, who has autism, struggled to enjoy traditional Open Day experiences.
The Bonfire Night celebrations, scheduled for November 8th are the latest in a series of SEND-friendly events organised by Croydon Fire Department, including a hugely successful Open Day in August.
Tickets for the event are already sold out. Foster believes this demonstrates the “massive” demand for these events in the city.
“There is a big demand for it out there – there are a lot of families out there with children who have additional needs who would love to go to a more bespoke event like this.”
Other groups and organisations are also attempting to raise awareness of the issues that face SAME individuals throughout November celebrations, such as The National Autistic Society (NAS), the UK’s leading charity for autistic people.
“There are more than 700,000 autistic people in the UK and, for some of those people, Bonfire Night and firework celebrations can be overwhelming,” said Peter Watt, Director of National Programmes at NAS.
“Many autistic people enjoy fireworks, but for others, unexpected flashes and loud bangs, as well as large crowds at displays, can be distressing and trigger intense anxiety.”
NAS has also provided guidance on their website for individuals attending firework events. They suggest wearing ear defenders, watching from a distance, or hosting a virtual bonfire night on the TV at home.
“It’s becoming more common for kids to be diagnosed much later in life, so a lot of the time, kids are struggling without knowing why,” said Callum Knight, an author of books for young people with autism.
His book ‘Fireworks Night: An Autism Story’ attempts to explain fireworks night for children who might struggle with the celebrations, to allow them to participate in local celebrations. He explained that “every autistic individual experiences sensory input differently”, meaning that the requirements for these individuals varies between families.
“I hope to show other autistic children they aren’t alone in their experiences and help parents and other family members understand why their child may be acting a certain way. Often, autistic distress is misinterpreted as ‘naughty’ behaviour.”
Croydon Fire Department hopes to organise more SEND-friendly events for the community going forward, including an annual inclusive open day.
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HeadlineNovember 5th SEND event at Croydon Fire Department
Short HeadlineSEND Bonfire Night at London Fire Department
StandfirstOrganisations are raising awareness of how to make the November festivities more inclusive for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
London Fire Department are hosting inclusive Bonfire Night celebrations for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
The event, hosted at Croydon Fire Department, will feature themed light displays, bubble machines and quiet sensory rooms as an alternative to the loud – and often crowded – fireworks events held across London.
“We wanted to create a quieter, safer space for people to come along and enjoy the fantastic lights and colours associated with a fireworks display, but perhaps without all of the noise or the crowds,” said Station Officer Daniel Foster.
Foster was inspired to organise an inclusive event after his daughter, who has autism, struggled to enjoy traditional Open Day experiences.
The Bonfire Night celebrations, scheduled for November 8th are the latest in a series of SEND-friendly events organised by Croydon Fire Department, including a hugely successful Open Day in August.
Tickets for the event are already sold out. Foster believes this demonstrates the “massive” demand for these events in the city.
“There is a big demand for it out there – there are a lot of families out there with children who have additional needs who would love to go to a more bespoke event like this.”
Other groups and organisations are also attempting to raise awareness of the issues that face SAME individuals throughout November celebrations, such as The National Autistic Society (NAS), the UK’s leading charity for autistic people.
“There are more than 700,000 autistic people in the UK and, for some of those people, Bonfire Night and firework celebrations can be overwhelming,” said Peter Watt, Director of National Programmes at NAS.
“Many autistic people enjoy fireworks, but for others, unexpected flashes and loud bangs, as well as large crowds at displays, can be distressing and trigger intense anxiety.”
NAS has also provided guidance on their website for individuals attending firework events. They suggest wearing ear defenders, watching from a distance, or hosting a virtual bonfire night on the TV at home.
“It’s becoming more common for kids to be diagnosed much later in life, so a lot of the time, kids are struggling without knowing why,” said Callum Knight, an author of books for young people with autism.
His book ‘Fireworks Night: An Autism Story’ attempts to explain fireworks night for children who might struggle with the celebrations, to allow them to participate in local celebrations. He explained that “every autistic individual experiences sensory input differently”, meaning that the requirements for these individuals varies between families.
“I hope to show other autistic children they aren’t alone in their experiences and help parents and other family members understand why their child may be acting a certain way. Often, autistic distress is misinterpreted as ‘naughty’ behaviour.”
Croydon Fire Department hopes to organise more SEND-friendly events for the community going forward, including an annual inclusive open day.
