Suzanne McCallum reports on an autism-friendly try dive session for young people , organised by Derby SAC
COMMUNITY
Physically diverse Matt Goodwin leads a neuro diverse student
Another happy diver with DfA Instructor Stephen Dorricott
A different way to view the world
Suzanne McCallum reports on an autism-friendly try dive session for young people , organised by Derby SAC
A busy shallow end kitting-up
In early July , Derby BSAC held a try dive event at one of our local schools . High Grange School specialises in providing education for children and young people with primary diagnosis of high functioning autism . We had reached out to the school to ask if they would like another try dive session , following a successful event that took place last year . A date was agreed and we began to put a team together , which included instructors Graham Rintoul , Paul McCallum and Simon King . Mick Stewart of BSAC Diving for All ( DfA ) was contacted to ask if any DfA instructors were interested in joining us to deliver the try dives . DfA instructors Stephen Dorricott and Matt Goodwin were both keen to attend and gain experience diving with neuro diverse young people . Club members Phil Bointon and Frazer MacLeod , having attended last year ’ s event organised the kit ; supported by Lauren Ferguson , a club trainee . We held a Webex meeting about two weeks before to go through the plans and expectations for the day with the instructors . The additional measures taken from running our usual try dives were to raise the team ’ s awareness of autism . We circulated a document written by a member ’ s friend who has a child with autism . It provided us with an excellent overview of the condition , and answered many questions the team had relating to a sporting environment .
“ It is extremely rewarding to witness a person with a condition enjoy the freedom and excitement of a new experience ”
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