Amber Valley mum gives disabled children a chance to dance at SEN disco
A mum who runs activity sessions for disabled children and adults in Amber Valley has featured on a new podcast highlighting the work she does across the region.
Andrea Thomas’ youngest son has low functioning autism and global developmental delay and attends an SEN school in Amber Valley. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck she set up a parent’s WhatsApp group, sending activity suggestions for children to do on a daily basis whilst schools were closed.
As society re-opened an idea was born from the group, a disco to offer their children the same opportunities as others.
“Four of us took it upon ourselves to do it, and we’ve been going ever since” she tells host Sam Lloyd on the latest Active Together podcast.
She received funding and support from Get Out Get Active, a national programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together.
Alongside the SEN (Special Educational Needs) disco Andrea has also launched other activity sessions, with some for adults, including ‘disco-cise’, craft sessions and swimming.
She has also set up holiday clubs, something that parent’s locally have found incredibly helpful.
“Normally the kids are not included in holiday clubs. They come to ours, they have a great time, parents and carers sit there having drinks and coffee knowing that they aren’t judged at all” she says.
“Because the worst thing ever parents feel with SEN children is that they’re being judged by other mainstream kid’s parents. It sounds awful to say, but that’s half the battle. When you have a special needs child you feel as if the whole world’s watching you sometimes, on how that child’s reacting. So the parents are finding it great.”
Andrea’s contribution to the area is recognised throughout the episode. Her relentless energy is the backbone of so many sessions that give people the opportunity to be active together, although she insists that the real benefits are seeing opportunities arise for children across the region.
“I don’t think of it as a difference in Amber Valley, I just think of it as making a difference to that child.”
The Active Together podcast is available to listen to on all major podcast platforms
Find more information on Activity Alliance on our website www.activityalliance.org.uk
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