What we did this summer 1, 2 & 3

Last Saturday Andrew had a trial ride with our local Riding for the Disabled Association at Wythenshawe Park Stables.

I first came across the RDA when they were the recipients of a Blue Peter appeal back in 1987. At the time I was a young girl myself whose horse riding experience was one pony-trekking break, so I was intrigued by a charity that helped others to ride.

I put our son on the local waiting list nearby two years ago - given his diminutive size, we figure he'll either be a jockey or a Formula 1 driver (Daddy's preference!)

Andrew rode Stitch, their smallest pony, led by instructor Shaun and assisted by two volunteers who I suspect are girls from the Pony Club. And other than getting bored when stood still to receive group instruction, he really enjoyed the experience! He's now on the list as a casual rider (when regulars cancel) and will hopefully get a permanent ride soon.

Whilst we were playing horsey, Daddy was busy constructing the new garden swing. Bought over a year ago from grant money, we have an adult-sized frame to suit Andrew for many years to come, and a cradle swing on a spinner so he can choose whether to rock, spin, or both. This means that Andre can now play outside in 10 minute bursts of activity to suit his behaviour, and he gets fresh air every day even if Daddy is tired.

Yesterday we took Andrew to Play Factore, a huge soft-play near the Trafford Centre. It's expensive and probably value for money for older children, less so for Andrew who had had enough within the first hour - somewhere we will bookmark for the future.

Laser quest and a zipwire (addnl. charge) supplement two separate play frames for under and over fives. The older generation seemed a little too boisterous for our son's comfort so we came off the large frame quickly, unfortunately without experiencing the mega slide. However given his learning delay, Andrew can pass as a 3/4 year old so he climbed happily around the younger area without any other parents questioning his presence.

If I could make two suggestions to Play Factore they would be to invest in a separate baby area, as mixing wobbly one-year-olds with bouncy four-year-olds will always end in tears; and to darken the sensory den, white is not really a sensory experience.

Jumping around or not as the case may be

Take one warehouse, and fill it from wall to wall with trampolines - and you get Jump Nation in Manchester. It's huuuuuuuuuge. And for a child who likes (1) running and (2) bouncing, it's perfect.

But like many parents of disabled children, I was very wary of taking Andrew to such a venue - whilst the general public can be forgiving of children the first time they get in their way, by the sixth time their patience is wearing thin.

Which is why I was delighted to find out in March via another blog that Jump Nation were holding a special event just for autistic children (and their siblings) (and any parents with enough energy to join in). The session was great - children running amok from one jump-bed to the next, but annoying nobody because everybody's children were doing the same thing. I even heard a few meltdowns that received very little attention from others.

Since then the sessions have been held monthly, 9am on a Saturday morning - the next is on 13th June. (Booking link) We've booked on them all! We missed April due to illness, but were back there again this Saturday for the May event. I'm not sure why it wears me out more than our son, it's probably an age thing as I haven't been on a trampoline for over 30 years !

The best moment though was in the cafe when we were taking a refreshment break - water and, for Andrew, the obligatory packet of cheesy puffs. One child decided to climb onto the sofa next to me. Their mother was apologetic and commented:

"We brought him all this way and he's bouncing on the sofa."

My response?

"Heck, I brought him all this way and he's sitting here eating wotsits ..."

Autistic children. You just roll with them.