BUTTERCRANE shopping centre in Newry has invested £20,000 in upgrading its toilet facilities to include a parenting room with integrated sensory zone and a unique ‘Space to Change’ facility for children and young adults with disabilities.
The parenting room changes into a sensory zone at the touch of a button for children with autism who need a quiet place to deal with sensory overload or ‘meltdowns’.
“The suggestion of a sensory zone came up through discussions with committee members of Autism NI Newry and Mourne branch around Autism Week last year, and we’re thrilled to be able to launch this sensory facility to help families to deal with sensory overload if it happens while out shopping,” centre manager Peter Murray said.
The sensory room has electric blinds to shut out daylight, changeable coloured light; a ceiling-to-floor bubble tube with colour-changing options and padded seating, and a wall-mounted padded xylophone and a projector with calming colours/shapes.
Buttercrane is also supporting the ‘Space to Change’ campaign to provide families of children with special needs with appropriate toileting facilities. The centre is of the first in the UK to be credited with an Orange Award for installing a 'Space to Change' adult-length, height-adjustable changing bench in the Disabled bathroom.
