Letter can swing it for Naomi
Autistic kid’s heartfelt plea over play park facilities
A swing suitable for children with disabilities is to be installed at Hamilton’s Bothwell Road play park — after an impassioned plea from a youngster.
Naomi Gwynne (8) wrote a heartfelt letter to South Lanarkshire Council asking for a swing that her twin brother, Isaac, could use.
Both children are autistic, while Isaac also has global delay and is nonverbal as well as visually impaired, making it impossible for him to use a regular swing.
Naomi’s letter came after the children’s mother, Miriam, took them to play at the park.
It read: “Dear Park Builders, I like the new park but please could you make a disabled swing for it?
“Isaac my twin brother is too big for a baby swing and can’t hold on to the bars of the grown-up swings.
“His favourite thing is a swing and we are both sad. Why did you forget about him?
“I have drawn a swing he would like. Thank you. Naomi Gwynne, aged 8.”
Miriam posted a picture of it on Twitter and urged followers to share her daughter’s moving plea.
The letter quickly spread on social media, and prompted a response from South Lanarkshire Council.
Miriam said: “We have been going to the park every single night after dinner as we live so close. We had been on Friday night, and when we came back, Naomi was sitting drawing and writing.
“She asked me how to spell ‘disabled’ and I didn’t think anything of it until she showed me her letter.
“I thought they had been having a great time, but Naomi had noticed Isaac was pushing his teddy in the swing as he couldn’t get on it himself.
“Naomi absolutely adores her brother and is wonderful with him. They have a close bond as twins anyway, but for her to be autistic herself and show that level of thought and empathy is remarkable.”
She continued: “I put the letter online and didn’t expect the response it got!
“Naomi is thrilled with it all. The council have said they will send her a reply, and she is so excited to receive a letter back.
“She knows there’s going to be a new swing now and has already taken her notepad back to mark down where she thinks it is going to be in the park.
“They absolutely love the park, and I want to stress we don’t have a problem with it, it’s wonderful.
“Isaac attends Victoria Park School in Carluke, while Naomi goes to Beckford Primary School, and they are so proud of her and her letter.”
South Lanarkshire Council this week confirmed they have sourced a seat for the park, though they were keen to highlight that almost half of the new items at the park are “inclusive”.
Head of Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services, Alistair Mckinnon, said: “All new play areas are designed to incorporate an element of inclusive play. The overall aim is to allow children of all abilities to play together and present a range of experiences and challenges.
“There are six of the 15 items in the newly-refurbished play area at Bothwell Road which are classified as inclusive by the manufacturer.
“However, following the letter from Naomi and a review of provision in surrounding play parks, we have been able to source a seat which we think may be suitable for Isaac and are looking to have it installed soon”
The play area was officially opened last October, showcasing £160,000 worth of improvements and equipment.
Lead by the Bothwell Road Action Group (BRAG), the project came to fruition with support from the council, local councillor Davie Mclachlan and the Whitehill Neighbourhood Management Board.
A spokesperson for (BRAG) said: “The play equipment in the park was provided by South Lanarkshire Council and totals an investment of £160,000. This is a massive improvement from the facilities that were there before and represents three years of hard work by the local community and volunteers.
“The play equipment includes a number of accessible equipment for all. And this is only stage one of the park.
“The group endeavours to make the park as open and accessible to all in the community and this will be reflected in our future plans going forward.
“We have offered to meet with Naomi’s mum and work together on the park improvements.
“Bothwell Road Action Group is an independent group of local volunteers and is not affiliated to South Lanarkshire Council.”