Hi gals, just had to share an interesting situation that I found the other day. We are quite lucky here in Townsville (for a regional area) to have both an active Umbrella network and some autism support groups and OT's that specialise in sensory processing. Anyway the council decided to build an "all abilities" playground and many of these groups had a hand in the design. We went along today and.... DS loved it! We could have stayed there all day I think, so much for him to do, different sensory stuff like pebbles in the concrete to walk on lots of drums/bells to ring, paths that wind around and a smelly garden -full of herbs/smelly flowers etc. Tere is very little actual playground equipment - there is a large sand pit with access to water on different levels and 2 swings and lots of balance beams and stepping stones and a large wooden fort with squishy places to hide. and of course it is all fenced!!!

Anyway the funny thing is a friend of mine went last week and was saying how disappointed she was in it, no equipment and what was there she had to teach her chhild how to use where as my little man just went to town! How interesting it is for parents of "normal" children to see our side of life in the all abilitiies playground - whereas I am normally the one having to teach DS how to use equipment and due to his low muscle tone and uncoordination he often can't use any of it now he has found "his place"

We also met a lot of other like minded families - lots of yelling screaming kids (in a good way- well in an autistic good way) I think I have found my favourite place to hang out on weekends :-)