Autism Services and Activities in Liverpool
Campaigners in Liverpool are on a mission to push forward a National Campaign to make the UK more autism friendly. Their aim is for Liverpool to be titled one of the UK’s first autism-friendly cities.
The City has many ‘Liverpool Autism Champions’ already, all coming from different business backgrounds. Everton Football Club, Merseytravel, Liverpool One and Signature Living are just a handful of the champions that offer autism friendly services.
Liverpool also offers a variety of autism friendly activities and services. These vary from autism-friendly cinema screenings to airports that provide autism-friendly travelling guides.
Mattel Play!
Mattel Play is a popular children’s interactive play area based at the Albert Dock. They have introduced a special autism friendly session on the last Wednesday of every month, from 5pm to 9pm. The capacity at these sessions is limited to ensure a calm and relaxed experience for everyone. Certain aspects of the attraction, such as character appearances and loud music, can be customised to ensure that everyone has a comfortable time.
Click here for more information on Mattel Play.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Travelling through an airport can be a difficult and overwhelming experience for someone with autism.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport offers a guide of what to expect when visiting the airport. Printing off this guide and talking about what you might experience at the airport could help you prepare for the journey.
They also offer a service called Autism Awareness Vouchers. This service will offer support through airport security, either independently or with one of their Special Assistant service providers. The aim of this is to assist you through the process as smoothly as possible.
For more information on Autism Awareness at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, please click here.
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport also recognises that people with autism who travel through their airport may find it a stressful experience.
They have put together an interactive guide for each of their terminals explaining what people should expect during their time in Manchester Airport. It includes information on how you might travel to the airport, the check-in process, going through and the trip that your luggage will go on.
Click here to download your own guide of travel advice for Manchester Airport Terminals.
Liverpool Museums
Liverpool’s Museums have been working with Autism Together to make their venues more autism-friendly for children and adults. Each of the museums and galleries offer services to help people with autism enjoy their experience while visiting them.
The city’s museums and galleries offer Quiet Mornings’, which are a series of mornings that aim to support people with autism. They are scheduled for when the venues are open as usual but at quieter times. During Quiet Mornings, the venues may run workshops and activities.
Click here to find out more about ‘Quiet Mornings’ and their future workshops and activities.
Malmaison Hotel Liverpool
Staff members at the Malmaison in Liverpool have received their Autism Awareness Training from Autism Together and are now Liverpool Autism Champions. The Malmaison offers a quiet area in their hotel restaurant, where people with autism are able to enjoy their visit in a calm and relaxed environment.
Click here to read more on the Malmaison and their autism awareness training.
FACT Cinema
FACT in Liverpool have realised that it’s not always easy for people with autism to find activities to do. This is why they have set up their own autism-friendly cinema screenings. These screenings offer the latest block buster films but have been adjusted to make it more comfortable for people with autism to watch with reduced volume and increased lighting. FACT welcome family, friends and carers with tickets priced at £3.
Click here to find out when the next autism friendly-screenings are.
Clarks Shoes, New Mersey Retail Park
Clarks Shoes offer out of hours appointments on a Sunday for autism-friendly shoe fittings. The store usually opens at 10:30am; however appointments can be made between 10:00am and 10:30am to ensure a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. During these sessions the shop lights will be dimmed and music is turned down.
To book an appointment, call Clarks Shoes on 0151 427 6951.
Click here to find out more about the fantastic Liverpool Autism Champions scheme.
