Nuneaton News
A NUNEATON mum who was scared that her disabled son would one day seriously injure himself or her has had her worries eased.
Scott Thake, 12, who lives in Attleborough now has a protective area in his own home which will keep him safe.
He has a rare chromosome disorder (Micro deletion 19p13.2) and experiences epileptic seizures, has Autism Spectrum Disorder and his behaviour can often be challenging and can hurt not only himself but the people around him.
Now he has had a Safespace specially designed to keep him safe after his mum was scared he might seriously injure himself or her.
The Safespace is a room made of soft material which can be put up inside the home and can be kicked, punched and head-butted.
It has been custom-made to fit one of the rooms, with a hole for a door and a winmanage Scott’s behaviour – dow and the walls of the and it was agreed that a Safespace are positioned bespoke piece of equip25cm away from any hard ment called a SafeSpace surfaces to reduce the risk was the last option. Howof injury. The floor also has ever, this equipment has 75mm of foam under it to cost £5,775 – and there was protect people who can no funding available from sometimes put themselves local statutory services. in danger. With the support of fundThe charity Newlife ing from the annual Covencontributed to try and Warwickshire costs for the Sports Awards, Scott has room which just received his SafeSpace. has given Natalie said: “The situaScott sometion is so serious that withwhere safe out this SafeSpace I was to go when frightened that one day he can’t myself or Scott would suscope with the tain a very serious injury. world around Scott is like a light switch – him. his behaviour can change Scott’s mum in an instant, often over Natalie Thake said: “He has something that to everyone severe and complex needs else would seem quite trivwhich affect all aspectsial.”of his life. Natalie will encourage
“He self-injures on a her son to take himself off daily basis, bouncing his into his SafeSpace when he head off doors and walls. It is experiencing a sensory isn’t at all nice to watch. As overload. he is growing taller and She said: “I have bigger he poses a real danexplained to him what it is ger to himself and those and what it is for and he is closest to him.” smiling about it. I am hop
Along with his local care ing the SafeSpace will lead team and brain injury speto a de-escalation of his cialists, Natalie has tried challenging behaviours. So many different ways to far, it is fantastic!”