A recent Disability Rights Commission survey found that people in Britain have mixed feelings about children with special needs attending mainstream schools.But the children at the Aberdeen Children's Society playgroup are testimony to the fact that it can work for everyone's benefit.
The playgroup has been running for 11 years and has 12 places which are split between eight mainstream children and four children with special needs. Over the years the playgroup has cared for children with a range of special needs including autism, cerebral palsy, speech delay and Down's Syndrome. Two playleaders and a rota of ten volunteers allow the children to have one-on-one contact. The playgroup operates three mornings a week.
Play leader Cecilia Haskell says, 'We find all the playgroup children benefit from the integration, particularly the children with special needs, whose self-confidence receives a great boost.
'It is amazing how much the children with special needs gain from the playgroup. The mainstream children also benefit from our aim of promoting understanding and acceptance from an early age.
'We encourage everyone to be friends with each other and play together. We have never experienced any negative responses about the integration from the parents. They fully support the playgroup's aims and they also mix well among themselves.
'It is a rewarding job and I feel you can't get that from any other place, so it is a very special playgroup and a wonderful chance to enable all the children to develop their potential.'
For more information about the playgroup contact Cathy Maxwell, resource worker for children, on 01224 212021.