Rainbow introduces us to her son Isiao and explains how a loan from our Library has helped to bring him independence but also provides him with invaluable relaxation time.
“Over the last few weeks my son Isiao has been enjoying exploring a sensory box that we borrowed from Cerebra’s Toy Library. The box has lots of different items in it, but Isiao’s favourites are the fibre optics, sensory projector and the aroma diffuser.
Isiao is 9 years old and a real livewire – always moving, always talking, always busy. He loves trains – travelling on them and playing with train sets. He also enjoys visiting sensory play centres. As much as he enjoys these centres they can be a bit overwhelming for him – they are often loud, bright and busy meaning he can get over excited and overstimulated. They can also be a bit frustrating because, for obvious reasons, all of the toys are fixed meaning you have to play with them exactly where they are.
One of the great benefits of the toy loan is that he can enjoy them in his own environment. The toys are portable so Isiao can take them from room to room and enjoy them in different positions. He can choose where he wants to play, which gives him freedom, flexibility and independence.
Because of his autism he tends to become overstimulated – in the evenings he can be buzzing and unable to settle. Communication can sometimes be difficult as I can’t tell what he wants. I find that the toys help him to calm down, relax and settle. His breakdowns are easier to manage as he can just come into the room with the toys and relax.
I’d considered getting Isiao his own sensory toys but didn’t really know which ones would suit him best. By borrowing a selection box from Cerebra I’ve been able to watch him engage with the different types of toys over a longer period of time, to see how he responds to the different items. He can identify and show me what he likes the best. I have a better idea now what he likes and doesn’t like and as a result I know exactly what I need to buy for him.
This was our first loan from the library, and borrowing toys has been really straightforward. The process is quick and easy, explained clearly and communication has been great. Unfortunately, there are long waiting times for some of the more popular items which is a little frustrating but understandable given how much they cost the charity to buy.
Overall Cerebra’s Library is a great resource. It’s given my son calm and flexibility and helped me to understand what he needs. Without the Library we simply wouldn’t have been able to access these benefits at home”.
Find out more about the toys and books you can borrow from our free lending library here.
