Cérge

I generally only go places that I have been or the person who I am going with has been. That way someone is familiar with the surroundings and layout. Having Cerge meant that I could get an idea of the layout and my anxiety was under control because I knew where exits were and what to expect. The Visual Story and Virtual tour were definitely two tools that I would use on a daily basis if Cerge was everywhere. I have an invisible disability so people don’t understand the lack of eye contact or when I become flustered or forget my manners. Sometimes I say things that aren’t quiet socially acceptable but it’s because unknown place and people make me feel quite nervous. I was able to use the app today and let the staff know at the Kingston Butter Factory these key points about me and that made me feel so much comfortable before arrival because I knew the assumptions and judgements were taken out of the equation. Today at Kingston Butter Factory it was a really quiet day we were some of the few people visiting. We had a great opportunity to look at the art works and explore the space. Staff member Dan showed us around all of the spaces to make me feel more comfortable. He explained what happened in each of the rooms and the other people I might see upstairs and who they were and their roles within the organisation. He had a very calm demeanour and was very helpful. After we left I felt very happy. Not exhausted like I normally do after leaving somewhere. This is probably due to less anxiety and the fact that is was quiet and we were able to look around at our own pace. Outings usually deplete me greatly so I can tend to avoid them, where as today I left feeling more energy! Bonus! Having an invisible disability makes it hard for people to understand why I can’t cope with noises and movement. Also knowing that I wouldn’t have an access issue with my NCAA (non canine assistance animal) made it so much easier. Confrontation can bring on a panic attack and knowing that they were accepting was awesome. So many families with children need this app even if it’s just for the Visual Stories to help them know what to expect. The difference for families would be incredible. I would love to see Cérge at more CAFE’s, museums and art galleries in Brisbane City and near me. I’d probably be able to enjoy a full day out if it was like this!

My Mr 11 Autistic and ADHD and runs off a lot. It is extremely 
scary because I never know when or where he is going to go. He 
will see something he wants to go and just run.
It’s terrifying.
One thing I try to do is show him places before we arrive to set his 
expectations, we can map out where to go and what is there and I 
can explain he will get to see everything he wants to see.
The problem is, not much information is provided online that I 
need. 
I don’t even want to tell you about the level of disappointment if 
that information is outdated and when we arrive things are 
different.
It puts 1000 spanners in the works.
I’m tired.
This is why when we saw Maleny Botanical Garden and Bird World 
on the Cérge website we were so excited. Cooper is bird mad! He LOVES them.
I knew at this level of excitement we would have to really layer the 
experience so I could prepare him.
Cérge has everything.
I showed him the Visual Story so we could walk through the 
photos of the entrance (some birds around), the pathways, to the 
bird world and inside and around the gardens and exhibits. It’s a 
big space and a bit daunting when I have a runner. Yet this 
information was our toolkit for survival and a fun day!
The Virtual Tour on the Cérge app had us able to see the whole 
place so that really helped prepare also. Cooper was SO excited!
We paid our entry and grabbed our maps and met the first birds! 
The pathways and exhibits are great! Some parts are steep so if 
you use a wheelchair you would want to check Cérge tools online 
to make sure it’s accessible for you. There are golf buggies to use 
and that’s a lot of fun!
The views are incredible! Wow! Heavens!
I was worried Cooper would be having TOO MUCH fun! Haha what 
a problem to have hey, but in all honesty I was worried he 
wouldn’t want to leave but he listened to instructions and it was a 
truly excellent day.
The staff are friendly and informative they checked who wanted 
birds on them and who didn’t which was great! The staff 
communicated fantastically and used multiple methods. They 
spoke clear and concise and used their hand movements also. This 
was really effective for us.
The whole vibe is just excellent!
Cooper got to interact with all types of birds, galahs, macaws, 
pigeons, cockatoos and more. He was in his element that’s for 
sure! I loved seeing my boy having so much fun, in his zone, brave 
and engaged! What a truly incredible experience for him!
We will be back!

You know those times when you think you have it all under control as a mum and then your kids yell “plot twist!"
That’s exactly what happened for me on Sunday when visiting Nambour Aquatic Centre.
I was prepared, I have two ASD kids so we have used the Cérge app before and it’s fantastic. I have one child who has big emotions and doesn’t like too much stimulation and one who runs
off….. a lot.
Going out gives me anxiety. Huge anxiety. Because not only do I have to manage the “mum load” of making sure they are fed and watered and happy. I also have to account for any change, any situation and pre empt as much as I humanly can.
It’s hard. Very hard.
I showed both children the Visual Story, Photos and Sensory Guide, so we were all prepared with how everything looks and feels. I notified through the Cérge app and let the staff know when we would be arriving and that I have a child that runs and a child that may need space.
We were rocking.
Swimmers, towels, snacks and Cérge and we are set! I actually felt ahead of the game for once.  We arrive at the pool and check in seamlessly, the staff are amazing, helpful, inclusive and friendly. We are excited!  We head for our swim. Well, whatever could go wrong for me did.
One child ran, the other was over stimulated and the emotions were at an all time high. I want eyes on my son near a pool at all moments and I couldn’t find him. Panic mode.
Now, I’m not going to lie and say this never happens. It does. A large part of my life is trying to be the best mum I can possibly be and meet my children’s needs. But sometimes that can’t be met by one person.
We have left places feeling humiliated, shamed, unwelcome and upset and none of these feelings are any I want my children to feel. Today was different though, the staff knew who I was and our needs through Cérge they were able to assist calmly, navigate what we needed quickly and quietly and lead with pure
professionalism. What I noticed was because the staff were exceptional and inclusive the patrons followed suit.
Never, ever, have I experienced this before. They offered a quiet room for my daughter and the facility has a latched gate at the entrance which has supervision also so I knew my son was safer. They loved the slides and my son probably went down a thousand times! Lucky they don’t charge per ride! Wow.
In the past we would leave with hysterical kids and I would cry in the car wondering if I will ever leave the house again. Not today though, today I had a team, today I was part of a village. I was a person trying to get through something hard with extra help and support. Today I didn’t feel like a loser being judged as a failure. That’s a first.  Nambour Aquatic Centre, you are amazing. Thank you.
……..And of course thank you Cérge.
Life changing! Literally

Sequels are rarely as good as the originals, but that was not true today...

I hadn’t been in a pool in over 40 years and now I’ve been twice in two weeks. This is nothing short of a miracle. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enjoy swimming. Ever.

I have an extreme fear of water, epilepsy, a heart condition and a lung condition. Being near water terrifies me not only from a fear perspective but from a “what if I had a seizure in the water or my lungs played up”…… that could be really bad.

It’s been easier to avoid water for 4 decades than even attempt to try anything in water, except shower.

Trying Cérge the first time was amazing and gave me so much confidence in having support that I went to the pool again today.

We ventured down to Bribie Aquatic which was a completely new location. Usually I would be nervous but having used Cérge the other week I trusted the staff at the pool would look after me. It felt good, kinda like the smart heart tick, that makes you know something is a better choice at the shops. I knew because they have Cérge, that they care. It’s a good feeling.

I was excited today, I spoke to my Support Worker about wanting to learn to swim. These are big words…. I’ll remind you… 40years! I was a grasshopper last time I was in a pool.

When we arrived Lisa was fantastic she showed us the pools and the areas and was so friendly, she made me feel right at home straight away. I was ready to get in and get going and it felt good to be excited and not nervous for once. What a difference that makes.

I swam quite a few lengths of the pool with a pool noodle, this is huge for me because being in the middle of the pool is the scariest bit. But I did it and gee I’m proud of myself!

Lisa checked on us whilst I was swimming and made sure I was having fun, and I really was!

I noticed they have a whirlpool, I want to try that next!

It’s like my youth is ignited, I can feel my fear displacing and my adrenaline junkie side coming out. Hehe.

I got to talking to someone at the pool today too, I was so excited that it helped my confidence and I started chatting.

Its amazing how I can now imagine going to the pool regularly, learning to swim, meeting friends.

I never knew this could be MY life!

A whole new part of my life has opened up and I’m truly so happy!

Thank you so much Cérge for doing what you do, you are giving me the extra in the ordinary!

Thank you Bribie Aquatic, see you next week in the whirlpool! Yeeharrr!!! <<Read what happens next moving from Isolation to Independence>><<Read the original Story of Inclusion from two weeks earlier here>> 

Today I took my friends son, Jacob, who has Autism and ADHD to Yawa Aquatic Centre.
  
I knew Cérge had recently launched there and I had used Cérge before so felt very safe to use it again at Yawa.
  
Taking Jacob was exciting, daunting and also something I really wanted to do for him. He can get very overwhelmed in areas of high stimulation and lots of people and if he doesn’t have something to focus on.
  
This can result in it being hard to get through to him when we need him to follow directions to complete tasks before our fun activities, whatever they may be that day.
  
We used the Cérge Visual Story and Access Guide to show Jacob the place and he was able to see pictures of where we were going and what he may feel, hear and see. Sooooooo helpful!
  
Arriving at Yawa we were greeted by happy and amazing staff. I’d sent the notification through the Cérge app and let them know when we were arriving and that we needed to get through the reception area and into the pool as quickly as possible for the kids.
  
The staff didn’t treat the kids any different, which was fantastic, we felt welcomed and were gotten through the payment process quickly and got into the change rooms and pool before we knew it!
  
We had a fantastic time and it was so good seeing Jacob smile and enjoy himself! I took my daughter too and she also had a ball.
  
It was really amazing.
  
On the way out, someone had accidentally hit my car. This was a bit of bad luck and it sucked. I was feeling stressed as I had to manage two kids, get the details of the driver, insurance ahhhhhhhh!!!
  
The benefit was though that the staff knew we had to get organised and details etc quickly due to the kids. So the amazing service extended out to even help me with this. They truly helped me!
  
They went above and beyond and I was so pleased!!
  
I felt no shame or worry that they were going to judge the kids, it was so freeing!!!
  
Thank you! Jacob will be back!!

Both my father and my husband have disabilities so I wanted to check out Mackay Aquatic Recreation Complex with the Cérge app to see if it could help us and make things easier. Before I visited the pool, I felt very curious about how the visit would go, as a person without a disability personally there is lots that we do not consider. With both my father and my husband having disabilities, and to put myself in their shoes was eye opening.? We used the Cérge app to let the staff know we were coming and required a tour of the facilities to see what would be suitable. After looking around the grounds, we felt comfortable and well accounted for. Staff were helpful and trained in the equipment that is offered for people with a range of disabilities.? Before I went to the location, I was optimistic. As one of the newer facilities within our community, I feel that they will be the most helpful and new facilities to cover a range of disabilities. The staff were so kind and ready to roll. They answered all questions confidently and with great understanding.? We had a wonderful experience and will definitely use Cérge in many more businesses to let them know our needs. I’m off to let dad know about Cérge and to give it a go! He will require more needs than me and I feel confident they will have him sorted!?