There’s no need to avoid big, loud community events anymore when people can seek a little solace when it all gets too much.
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That’s the thinking behind the Ability Links NSW Event Tent now under trial in Port Stephens.
"Busy events can often get overwhelming. Sometimes you just need somewhere to take a time-out or to seek assistance, particularly if you have a disability or special need,” Port Stephens Council’s acting community development and engagement coordinator Liz Akerman said.
"The Event Tent is designed to be used at public events to provide a safe and supportive space for people to retreat to when they need some time away from the noise and busyness of events.”
Port Stephens Council is one of the early adopters of the Event Tent. They serve as a kind of one-stop-shop for people to access what they need.
"It's a place where people can borrow or hire aides and capacity-building items like wheelchairs, sensory devices and the ability to connect to a hearing loop,” Ms Akerman said.
"The tent contains smaller tents or 'sensory tents' with tools designed for children, particularly those who have sensory processing disorders and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder."
The Event Tent is the brainchild of Ability Links NSW. The organisation has begun to partner with councils in the Hunter Valley to bring this tent to events across the region.
"It's aimed at a broad cross section of people with disabilities, their families and carers, as well as people with temporary injuries or illness, older people or parents with prams," Ms Akerman said.
"Port Stephens Council is one of the first to take up this initiative and we're currently in the middle of a six month trial, after that we hope to be able to rent out the tent to trained community members so that they can use it for their own events.”