H2O Xtream Aquatic Centre introduces sensory sessions for families with extra needs

Upper Hutt City Council's H₂O Xtream Aquatic Centre is to commence offering sensory sessions for young people with extra and special needs and their families, so they can enjoy and experience water play in a more suitable environment.

The aquatic centre will remain open to members of the public during this time, but customers will be asked to respect the sensory environment in which lights will be dimmed, the waves will be switched off, and noise will be kept to a minimum.

Run in partnership with Āhuru Mōwai Trust, the sensory sessions begin on 6th May and will run every Friday between 7.00pm – 9:00pm for 10 weeks.

Director of Upper Hutt City Council’s Community Services, Mike Ryan advised “we ran a similar session at Maidstone Max before it reopened last year, and it received an overwhelmingly positive response.

“We have a number of young people in our community that will benefit from sessions like these, and we’re thrilled to partner with Āhuru Mōwai Trust to make it happen.”

Āhuru Mōwai trustee, Paul Latham, says it is a fantastic opportunity for families who have never had the confidence to try going to a public swimming pool to give it a go, or for those who have stopped going, to get back into it.

Latham explains "the 10-week trial will give these families an opportunity to make going to the pool part of their routine, while helping them gain confidence in taking their families there more regularly.

“It will be wonderful to see an evening session trialled. Providing a safe and accepting environment for families who have young people with special and extra needs is what Āhuru Mōwai Trust is all about.”

Ryan adds “we are one of a small handful of councils offering these kinds of sessions. The 10-week trial will give us an opportunity to collect feedback from pool users to see how it’s gone, and what worked well.”

Upper Hutt City Council has a specific disability rate for public pool entry and allows a carer in the pool at no extra cost. It also holds a sensory session on Thursdays between 9.00 am – 10.00 am.

Āhuru Mōwai Trust will subsidise the Family Rate, taking the cost from $15 to $10 (rates supplied below) and Upper Hutt City Council will include free slide passes for these sessions.

To find out more, go to h2oxtream.com  

Image courtesy Upper Hutt City Council