PLANTASIA TROPICAL ZOO X THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY – OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY

Powerful training delivered by The National Autistic Society 

This month, as part of our regular scheduled staff training, we were very kindly joined by Paul Griffiths and Gemma Watkins from the National Autistic Society. They delivered a powerful presentation in understanding the world through a lens of neurodivergence and individuals with any challenges that require thoughtful accommodations. 

We have worked closely with NAS for many years. One of the ways we work together is by organising regular alternative sessions and group bookings for its members and their families. They have also been incredibly helpful on an ongoing basis by offering us invaluable ideas and strategies that have helped us with our visitor experience, workshops and accessibility.

Training with The National Autistic Society Plantasia Tropical Zoo

A safe space for all

Our Tropical Zoo in Swansea is widely thought of as a hub of wellbeing and inclusion. We welcome schools, young families and community groups passing through our doors every week so we meet a broad spectrum of people from different backgrounds and with different challenges, even within our own team and their families. 

We are considered a ‘safe space’ for so many people and this is a responsibility we take very seriously. So, it’s important to us that we are constantly monitoring, learning and improving our own understanding, internal processes and, in turn, the visitor experience.  We have found that, often, the smallest accommodation, or shift in understanding, can have an enormous positive impact on people who need it. 

Paul Griffiths and Gemma Watkins from Swansea NAS Present ‘Understanding Autism’

As a team, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes and have recently enlisted a separate external company for an accessibility audit to help us with our premises and processes. On their recommendations, as well as input from NAS, we’ll be introducing sensory packs for visitors that can help them regulate and navigate their way around the zoo. Alongside this, we’re continually revisiting the visitor experience, considering things like lighting, sounds and higher traffic areas, to find ways to avoid sensory overload. 

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