Our Innovation Centre designs and builds innovative, bespoke products to help disabled children discover and engage with the world around them. We love families getting in touch with an idea for something that will help their child.
Arthur’s grandad, Sean, is a keen aquarist and noticed how Arthur was fascinated with watching the fish. He got in touch with our Innovation Centre to see if they could help build a tank that would be suitable for Arthur’s needs.
He explained: “My grandson is autistic and spends literally hours just staring into my aquarium and talking to the fish. This seems to soothe him and prevents meltdowns. Unfortunately, he does sometimes gently bang the glass which isn’t fair on the fish and is a worry regarding breakage. When I saw your aquarium, it seemed perfect! I’m a keen aquarist and have everything else required to set up a tank for him to enjoy at his home. I just don’t have a tough enough tank that I could in all conscience leave there knowing it was safe”.
Our team set to work to build a fish tank for Arthur to enjoy – and one that would keep him, and the fish, safe. Gerallt, one of our talented CIC designers explains that the Cerebra Fish Tank is “designed to bring calming sensory stimulation into the home. Our aquarium features protective plywood casing and polycarbonate windows to keep fish safe from curious hands. This enclosure allows children to enjoy the therapeutic experience of watching fish swim, while preventing damage to the tank and equipment”.
The fish tank has been a huge success. Arthur’s mum, Jess, got in touch to say:
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the wonderful fish tank you’ve made for Arthur. Arthur has been absolutely obsessed with it since it arrived and it has really helped to calm him, and keep him still, which rarely happens! He has also been saying ‘fish’ and wanting me to watch them with him. He doesn’t often communicate so this is very special. I can see this being a wonderful thing for him. I can’t thank you enough for your generosity, it really does mean a lot”.
It got the seal of approval from grandad Sean too: “It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time. He just loves fish so this will be his pride and joy”.
