Club Offers Tailored Support for Autistic Children and Those with Learning Disabilities

“I hate noise, I hate busy places, I get overwhelmed.” Toby, an autistic individual, expresses discomfort with noise and crowded environments. He is observed colouring at a table, highlighting his passion for art and his need for a personal space. The Saturday club Toby attends, located near Portsmouth, is operated by the charity Enable Ability, which receives financial support from BBC Children in Need. The nine-year-old explains the club’s understanding of his specific needs: “Here they know that loud noises make me upset.” He adds, “I can’t sit in certain places. They know that, so they let me sit in places that aren’t noisy. They like, get me, they really get me.” Toby expresses his enjoyment of the club, stating, “We come here every Saturday, they have loads of stuff out and really nice workers, I love it.” Play workers staff the club, providing one-to-one support to children, which allows each child to engage in activities according to their individual preferences. Toby further elaborates on this support, explaining, “Everything I do, they also do, so I never do anything alone which is nice.” Hannah Patten, the club leader, states that “The majority of our children that attend are autistic or have learning disabilities. Quite a few are non-verbal.” Patten notes that the play workers “go with the flow” to ensure the children’s safety, engagement, and happiness. She elaborates on this flexible approach, stating, “It’s their Saturday, so if they want to sit and relax for a little while, or if you want to run around we’ll run with you.” Patten adds that the aim is to “Just give them that fun person, that friendly face.” Play worker Yvanna Kenfack comments on her role, saying, “Every day is different. We make sure they just have fun and just like really good, positive involvement, which is really lovely.” She describes her job as “perfect. I couldn’t dream better.” Canesta, a parent whose son also attends the club, remarked, “It takes a village to raise a child and I think the more complex your child is, the best village you can have is Enable Ability – 100%.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites and provides information on its approach to external linking.