Inclusion (for inclusions sake?)

We have just got back from an enjoyable weekend at Keppelwray near us. A weekend of doing outdoor activities with disabled children and their families. There was a mixture of physically disabled, autism, learning difficulties, so the leaders, to quote a well worn phrase, had their hands full!

As ever safety considerations were taken very seriously......

Jack, I think, benefited most from weekend, being able to do things like tree climbing, abseiling,

archery and canoeing - where Matthew was the cox......

The final afternoon was team challenge where we and another family had to work together to solve challenges (or in our cases work together to cheat to solve challenges!)

Jack said his favourite challenge was doing roly-polys down a 100 yard netting hammock - he was meant to be walking along the rope - the netting being a safety net for anyone falling. Having done the course both ways I think his way was more fun!

Matthew was given the opportunity to take part in this, by being pulled around the course on a large plastic sheet, but we decided sometimes inclusion is just for inclusions sake and as he had just had a liquid lunch he seemed happy enough to stay and look after the coats!

Whilst we all (hopefully) had fun I'm not sure what Matthew made of being hauled 20 foot up a tree and swung around before coming back down again or the how wise it was to give a severely autistic and very mobile child a powerful bow and arrow but you have to admire the centre's attitude of total inclusivity (I think!)

And yes I do realise I am contradicting myself nicely!!