Autism Awareness Day at Sovereign Hill

Autism Awareness Day at Sovereign Hill

In support of Autism Awareness Day, Sovereign Hill will turn its iconic outdoor museum into a special sensory experience, hosting a range of activities that are specifically designed for people with autism and their families.

Special sensory friendly activities have been planned to enable people on the Autism Spectrum enjoy their day with families, including shortened mine tours that will minimise loud noises and time spent in the dark, and the chance to meet costumed staff and learn about 1850s costumes before seeing them in the street later in the day.

People with Autism Spectrum Disorders interpret things literally and often find daily life confusing and exhausting. Imagine then the stress that someone with Autism would experience upon entering Sovereign Hill, a replica of an 1850's Victorian town, where nothing is like the world they live in. It could be a stressful experience

'Typically people on the Autism Spectrum can be stressed by noises, new environments, and smells, all of which are experienced at Sovereign Hill, from the hustle and bustle of the horses, to the shouting of our Red Coat soldiers. We wanted to create some experiences that would allow them to experience what Sovereign Hill has to offer, without some of those stressful triggers," says Janelle Spierings, Education Officer at Sovereign Hill.

To alleviate some of these stresses Sovereign Hill will allow early entry for those who pre-book to avoid the crowds, and there will also be places to go for a quiet break.

Sovereign Hill Education has also written a series of -Social Stories' that have been developed to assist visitors on the Autism Spectrum to become more familiar and comfortable with Sovereign Hill before they visit. For more information visit http://education.sovereignhill.com.au/excursion-planning/social-stories/

Autism Awareness Day at Sovereign Hill

Saturday, April 5^th 2014 hours

3 Bradshaw Street, Ballarat

(03) 5337 1100