2018-08-13 15:01
小弈编译
(本文为小弈自动翻译)
[(Title)] Subtle changes make all the difference at play gym designed for children with autism.
Melbourne mum Sally Johnson used to feel so "challenged and judged" when out in public with her son Digby that she started to withdraw.
在和儿子迪格比一起出现在公开场合的时候,墨尔本妈妈莎莉·约翰逊经常感到“受到挑战和被评判”。
Digby, now 7, is on the autism spectrum and finds it hard to deal with the sensory overload he experiences in many public spaces.
迪格比现在7岁,患有自闭症,他很难处理他在许多公共场合经历的感官超载。
"I started to retreat from the community, which was lonely for us but also for him," Ms Johnson said. "It was a very difficult time for me because I'm very social.
“我想要退出社区,这对于我们来说是寂寞的,但对他来说也是寂寞的。”约翰逊女士说,“这对我来说非常困难,因为我非常社交。”
"I thought [parenting] would be much different than it turned out to be, especially in the early days."
“我以前认为(父母)应该与现在表现得非常不同,特别是一开始的时候。”
Ms Johnson used to dream of a place where her eldest child was understood and where he felt comfortable enough to socialise and play with his younger sister Clementine.
约翰逊女士曾经梦到一个地方,她的长子可以被理解,他觉得舒服到足以和他妹妹克莱门汀社交和玩耍。
But with no indoor play centres catering to children with autism in Melbourne she had to take things into her own hands.
但是,由于墨尔本没有适合患有自闭症的儿童的室内游戏中心,她不得不自己操办所有事情。
Together with her brother Marcus, Ms Johnson has just opened Australia's first indoor play centre designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum.
约翰逊和她的兄弟马库斯刚刚开放了澳大利亚第一家专门为自闭症儿童设计的室内游戏中心。
We Rock the Spectrum has transformed a former warehouse in Preston, in Melbourne's north, with colourful climbing equipment, a flying fox, trampoline, art supplies and toys.
“We Rock the Spectrum”将墨尔本北部普雷斯顿的一家旧仓库进行了改造,那里拥有丰富多彩的攀登设备、飞狐、蹦床、艺术用品和玩具。
At first glance it looks just like any other kids play centre. It's only when Ms Johnson points out the subtle changes they have made that you notice the difference.
乍一看,它跟其他孩子玩耍的地方一样。只有当约翰逊女士指出细微的变化时,你才能注意到这一点。
"We've spent a fortune and a lot of time getting the lighting right so it's natural and not glaring....[and] doesn't make any noise," she said.
她说:“我们花了很多时间才把照明灯弄正确,所以它是自然而然的,不会很刺眼,也没有噪音。”
"We won't have blaring radio. We might have music at times but it will always be at a low volume, and if a child isn't coping with that we'll turn it off."
“我们不会有收音机,有的时候可能有音乐,但音量总是比较低,如果孩子不能适应我们会关掉它。”
There's also a calming room with bean bags and dull light for children who need some time out.
还有个安静的房间,里面有豆袋和昏暗的灯光,为需要一些时间的儿童准备。
And while the centre is designed for children on the autism spectrum, it's open to everyone.
虽然该中心是为自闭症儿童设计的,但对每个人都开放。
"The changes you make don't affect neurotypical kids, they don't even notice. They just think it's a cool, fun place," Ms Johnson said.
约翰逊女士说:“你所做的变化并不影响那些孩子,他们甚至都不在意,只认为这是一个很酷、有趣的地方。”
"Everyone arrives in here understanding what it's all about and everyone's their awesome self."
“每个来到这里的人都明白,这里是为了让每个人都表现出非凡的自我。”
The philosophy is extended to the centre's 11 staff, who all either have a disability or care for someone who does.
中心有11名工作人员,他们都是残疾人或在照顾残疾人。
Ms Johnson said everyone was passionate about making all children and their parents feel accepted and understood.
约翰逊女士说,每个人都热衷于让所有的孩子和他们的父母感到接受和理解。
"Often they talk about parents of kids on the spectrum having some of the similar stress levels as people in combat. Particularly in the early days you were just really on edge, particularly in public because you're waiting, I guess, for something to go wrong or someone to have a go at him," she said. "We just want kids with special needs and their families to know that they're looked after here."
“他们经常说,这些孩子父母的压力水平与战斗中的人相似。在早期尤其如此,你真的处于边缘状态,特别是在公共场合。“她说,“我们只希望有特殊需要的孩子和他们的家人知道,他们在这里是被照顾的。”
And while the response from the special needs community has been overwhelming, the centre has also brought great benefits to the Johnson family.
虽然来自特殊需求界的回应势不可挡,但中心也为约翰逊的家庭带来了巨大的好处。
"If Digby is comfortable in a place, he's terrific socially and he can get along for a lot longer. It's not just something we want for him, he actually loves interacting," Ms Johnson said.
约翰逊女士说:“如果迪格比在一个地方很舒适,他的社交能力很出色,他可以待很久。这不仅仅是我们想给他的东西,他实际上喜欢交流。”
"We've already seen here he's been much kinder to his sister and he's lasted all day here which is unusual for him."
“我们已经看到,他在这里对他的妹妹更好一些,他在这里待了一整天,这对他来说很不寻常。
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