A transportable sensory container has been unveiled in an Australian-first initiative that means every child will be able to join sporting and community events regardless of their abilities.
Making its debut at the Kickability Schools Carnival on Wednesday, the groundbreaking Sensory Convergence Container — which has been created with the help of Telethon funding — offers a space that can reduce anxiety and sensory overload.
WA All Abilities Football Association programme coordinator Sam Otway said she could see the sensory container being available for any community event.
“Something that we often hear is that people don’t go to events because their child may get overwhelmed or overstimulated,” she said.
“So to be able to provide something that will allow them to go to community events and engage with their community knowing that they do have a safe place to retreat to, it just means everything.
“I think this might be the start of something big. It’s the first in Australia and I don’t feel like its going to be the last.”
The container has calming lights, a dark room, interactive displays and projections to create an immersive space.
Lee Bondi has some fun in the ball pit inside the container. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
Bright Bunch Therapy speech pathologist Shelby Ellen-Walquist said there were also communication boards, which would allow non-verbal kids to have their own voice while in the sensory space.
“This is going to adjunct to whatever they’re already using, so either their devices, signs or speech, and give them a voice in this play space so they can chat their way and play their way,” she said.
“It’s actually pretty amazing that we’ve been able to include so many different aspects of regulation into such a small space.”
Occupational therapist at Sensory Heroes Hayley Wood and speech pathologist at Bright Bunch Therapy Shelby Walquist. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
Francis Kennedy, whose son Thallaich was one of the first to try the sensory container, said the space was going to “help so many children” at overstimulating events.
“Thallaich gets overwhelmed by noise and so this container is perfect for him to come and just take time out and just calm down and regroup before he goes play footy,” he said.
By Claire Sadler, first published by The West Australian.