Playgroup helps city tots with disabilities develop through fun

PARENTS in Exeter are spoilt for choice when it comes to groups to take their children to. You can fill your week with activities ranging from swimming and music classes, through to nursery rhyme sessions and playgroups.

But if you are a parent of a disabled child, there is hardly anything out there, and certainly not specifically geared towards children with special needs.

Helping to change that is mother-of-three Erzsebet Gordon.

With the help of the Adventist Church in King William Street, she has set up a playgroup called Playright, open to under-fives with any kind of disability.

Its aim is to provide parents of children with special needs with a choice of where to go and create somewhere they can get together and talk about their experiences, problems and how their children are developing. The first session was in October and since then the group has been meeting at the church every Tuesday, from 10am.

It is already having a positive impact on the children who go, including three-year-old Amielia Kwiecinska. She has a condition called spinal muscular atrophy which affects the nerves in an area of the spinal cord. It means she cannot walk and needs an electric wheelchair to get around.

Amielia's mum, Dorata, 30, from the city centre, said: "Since Amielia turned one she became a very shy child, whereas before she has always been very happy and was always smiling.

"I think it's because she knew there was something different about her.

"She has only ever had normal children around her so I think she thought she was the only one with problems. As soon as I started taking her to this group she changed. She is much more smiley and I think it's because now she understands she's not alone."

Amielia has been to other playgroups, but this is the first one Anna Wilson has been able to take her 21-month-old twins Harriet and Grace to.

The trio love it, especially Harriet, who has cerebral palsy and is visually impaired.

Anna, 24, from St James, Exeter, said: "I have not taken the twins to a group before because of Harriet's needs. She requires so much extra help that it has put me off going. She needs to be held all the time and be helped with her sitting.

"When I heard about the group, I was really happy to think there was somewhere like this to go. What's nice is I can take them both and they really enjoy it. While I'm there they look after Grace and help me with Harriet so that I get to speak to other parents in the same situation as myself, which I haven't done up until now, and it has helped."

Play leader Erzsebet is delighted with its success so far and is lucky enough to have a team of volunteers happy to give up their time to help run it and care for the children.

Erzsebet, a teacher specialising in neuro-rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy, said: "When I took my youngest child to several playgroups, I could see a lot of mums there, but none who had children with special needs.

"I wondered if they had a playgroup for themselves. But when I talked to mums, they said there was only one in the whole of Exeter."

Sessions include songs, movement, arts and crafts, storytelling, activities to improve manipulation skills and snack time.

Erzsebet said: "We focus on every child, their needs, what they can do and what we want them to achieve." Sessions costs £1. Siblings are welcome. Details: 07785 272143.