Sports For All.

Been told that I'm way too positive when I blog here so thought I'd shake it up a wee bit  regarding the Drumwealth Games held recently in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow.

An annual day of sport for pupils at Camstradden Primary, St Clare's Primary, Drummore School, Langfaulds Primary, Antonine Primary and Drumchapel High, the event is held over a number of venues in the area and it's one of those venues that is getting the prize of a harsh Paddington-style stare and a very loud tut.

Stand up The Donald Dewar Centre for managing to be possibly the most Autistic (un)friendly venue I've visited recently - and on a day of inclusion too.

As David Coleman would say/have said "Remarkable!".

And before anyone says, yes I'm aware that venues such as sports centres, libraries etc. can't be totally Autism friendly but a good bar to have is maybe try to do it the day you have a fair few Autistic folk in?

The day in question we arrived to find the (male) toilets being repaired and were told we had to use the female ones - which isn't confusing at all when you're busy teaching kids which toilets to use.

My boy child was adamant that he had to use the one with the boy picture on so we headed into the centre to find a fully functioning one only to be questioned as to why I was after a male toilet as he (boychild) has long hair.

A quick aside to mention to staff everywhere that if I'm out with a child (including ones that aren't my own) there's a pretty good chance I know what sex they are so may have a good idea of which facilities to use.*

Thanks for the help and all but just saying.

Bizarrely enough we did actually find male toilets that were working so no idea why we couldn't just use them in the first place.

Probably something to do with logistics and the like.

I would have said something at the time but probably wouldn't have been heard over the really bass-y music being pumped over the tannoy cos obviously it would have killed the neurotypical  punters in to have to lift weights for 25 minutes or so without hearing the dulcet tones of Shaggy.

And they say we're obsessed with repetition.

Both me and the boy ended up sitting outside during the intro session as the noise, bustle and general chaos was so overwhelming.**

As the twins are always saying "Try again."

*If you're even thinking about commenting, just don't.

**Oh and a wee word of advice to park rangers....if you see an adult (Autistic or not) on the phone whilst comforting a slightly antsy child, the best course of action isn't to stand in their personal space and touch their arm.

Ever.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as.