Every summer for the past seven years my son has attended a play scheme organised by our local Autistic society .It is an opportunity for him to spend time with people who have similar challenges in life .They organise activities just like any other summer club the difference being that everyone who works for the play scheme has some formal training in working with children with autism . Many of the people working for play scheme are volunteers , they are there to learn and gain experience .
It is the time in his life when I feel he is at his most relaxed .Every day he is collected from our house by mini bus and taken to the play scheme facility . This year it is a new location for the children , and as such all parents were warned before hand and sent photographs .So as to properly prepare their children .
Although I know my son is very proud of the fact he attends main stream school , and he intends to study there until S 6 , he loves his time at play scheme . Primarily I think because he is with like minded people . Some of the children attending are not in mainstream education , because their life challenges are such that they need greater support.
I can only guess what goes through my son's mind regarding his experience at play scheme because he does not really talk about how he feels about attending , but what I do know is that he gains confidence and every morning he is keen to go .
It some ways you could say he has the best of both worlds .When I think back to my days at secondary school I remember that for the most part they were great times .Although my adolescents was at times crushingly hard to bear .With out warning I would loose my cool , usually in the company of girls, with no realisation of what was happening to me . Add autism to the mix and I do not know how I would have coped . Which leads me to believe that my son must , some how have a default setting , one that protects him from the natural disabilities brought on by puberty .
I only really know about my son I can not speak for other autistic teenagers .But given the difficulties faced by the average teenager , to some how be protected from deep embarrassment is a god send .
Embarrassment is not an emotion my son feels often and when he does it is for a short time then he moves on .Almost as if autism was designed this way .
He does not grasp the concept of cool and as such he is the coolest kid walking out of the school gates .
