inclusive football

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/manchester-city-football-club-sensory-room_uk_5da59158e4b01c76560c705a

Manchester City Football Club have opened a sensory room at their stadium for fans with autism. The room is for families during matches and is designed to help all people access the game, even if they struggle with crowds or loud noises. The room was built using feedback from families who need it to attend matches.

The room has a view of the pitch, a quiet space away from the pitch and a dark sensory room with toys. The club says, "Opening this space is a big step for us to continue our long-standing mission of ensuring football is inclusive for all."

After the announcement, one parent on twitter said, "Sat trying to hold back tears  on the train home from work here. The possibility of finally taking my son to a match is incredible. What a club!"

Many parents of children with autism have supported the room and added stories of their own:
"Amazing news! We can hopefully all now come as a family to watch games as my autistic son struggles with sensory issues and often hasn't coped at games he has managed to attend. Thank you."

"I support Liverpool. I was born with autism so I can appreciate how good a move this is. Well played!"

"Great news. It's my dream to take my daughter to Bramall Lane, but it's doubtful."

What do you see in the picture?
Where is it?
what is happening?

- what is autism? ((I asked a child with autism how to describe what autism means. Oliver told me, "autism is your brain wired differently so you see the world in a different way. It' just a different view of the world." Oliver says some things are harder for him but but also he better at some things than other children.)
- why do you think some children with autism struggle at football matches?
- why do you think Manchester City Football Club have built this room?
- why did they use feedback from families who might use the room, why didn't they just build it themselves?
- "Our long standing mission of ensuring football is inclusive for all" what does this mean?
- why is a parent crying on the way home form work after reading the announcement?
- why do you think the other parent says it's "doubtful" that they can take their daughter to Bramall lane?
- what can we learn from Manchester City Football Club?
- why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the equality act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat