‘Vile’ words ruin SEN play time
AMUM was left upset by the ‘vile’ reaction of a parent to a playgroup exclusively for special needs children.
Indoor play centre Monkey Playland in Haslingden, has been running an exclusive session for children with special educational needs (SEN) on Tuesday mornings throughout the school summer holidays.
Mum Kate Perkins has taken her son Buddy, five, who has autism and is nonverbal and older brother Maverick, eight, to the sessions every week - travelling from her home in Whalley.
During the session on Tuesday, August 17, Kate claimed that a member of the public had questioned why the sessions were being provided.
Kate said: “We had a lovely time until two gentlemen, but one in particular, came to the reception, and tried to come in - and sort of questioned why this session was on.
“The owner explained it was for children with special needs.
“This gentleman’s reaction was just vile, he got really, really, hotheaded.
“He said that it was ‘disgusting’ that this session was being put on for ‘them’ children, whatever ‘them’ children means.
“He also said those children need to ‘integrate with others’, but I think he’s missing the point.”
Kate, a children’s safeguarding consultant, added that she was ‘really upset’ by the incident and feared that it could have caused the sessions to be cancelled.
The sessions have been a lifeline for Buddy, says Kate, who has found it hard to find events for SEN children during the school holidays.
She said: “Our children get so much from it.
“When I pull up outside, he’s laughing, he can’t wait to get out of the car.
“He knows as soon as we pull up to that car park that we’re going to play.
“The environment is for the mums as well, we share stories. We are all very accepting of the different needs in that group.
“It just completely took away everyone’s spirit today by the way that gentleman acted.
“It’s discrimination and I feel so strongly about it.”
Kate said she hopes by raising awareness that she can encourage other events and activities to be more inclusive for SEN children.
“As soon as school holidays start, it’s so, so busy everywhere you go and that’s not always the best environment to expose your children to who’ve got special needs, it just creates more anxiety for them,” she said.
“More things need to be accessible, especially during the holidays. As a parent of a child with special needs, as soon as the holidays start you’re racking your brains pre-booking things.
“Finding things in the holidays is so difficult so we look forward to Tuesday so much.”