Euan's Story

This is Jackie Cheeseman’s story. Her son – Euan – has attended the play-scheme every year from 2001 (except for 2008).

Euan was diagnosed with severe autism and learning difficulties in 1995, aged two and half, and in the years that followed Jackie read every book, researched every approach, tried a lot of them, spent a lot of money, then finally resigned herself to the fact that: “Euan is what he is, and that instead of trying to change him, we needed to support him, give him opportunities and make a life for him and ourselves.”

She talks about discovering interAKtive (or GASP as it was known at the time) – and then the play-scheme – and recalls the valuable role it has played in the life of the whole family every summer.

Finding interAKtive

Despite interAKtive being based in Surrey (while we lived in Lambeth), such was the dearth of support in 1996 that I took up membership. The magazine produced was a source of comfort as well as excellent ideas, and one June (2001, I think) it arrived and, with it, an application form for a three day summer play-scheme. It was a new development. We were desperate for some safe activities for Euan, but the closing date was the day we received the magazine. Citing that we had been discriminated against, due to our not being Surrey parents, I furiously faxed a response and an application. In return I received a calm, measured reply which stated “This sounds like a mother that needs a place at the play-scheme”. The rest is history.

The “right” play-scheme

I remember the trepidation of going to Linden Bridge School, with a son in tow, who we would be leaving with strangers! How would they and he cope? I remember meeting Maggi Golding* who reassured us as I reeled off the list of Euan’s more challenging behaviours, and then our return (when we arrived far too early) on that first Monday, to find that Euan had had a wonderful day. From that day on, he could never get there quickly enough. We had found something right for him at last.

July and August of each year revolved around the play-scheme; we never had anything else arranged. Despite our best efforts always to try and be a “normal” family, our world got smaller as Euan’s intolerance of so much overwhelmed us, sapping our confidence and our strength. Yet at the play-scheme he participated. We treasured the reports: that Euan had made a pizza at Pizza Express; that he had played Pooh sticks; gone swimming; that he had had a go at athletics. In all the years of the play-scheme, he missed only one, having caught chicken pox two days before it started. All the decorating that we ever managed to complete in the house was courtesy of interAKtive - we could paint furiously knowing our son was safe, stimulated and happy.

As Euan’s 16th birthday grew closer we would ruminate on what he would do once he was too big for the play-scheme. We hoped that interAKtive, being a resourceful lot, would come up with something. But fate intervened. In December 2007, Euan entered five day a week residential school: but it had an extended school term, reaching beyond late July and early August - the usual period of the play-scheme. So, this was it -no summer play-scheme** for Euan. We dared not tell him, we just hoped he will have fun at his school.

*Maggi Golding was the headteacher at Linden Bridge School when the play-scheme was first set up, and had “hands-on” involvement with the project for a number of years.
** However, Euan WAS able to attend the 2009 Easter play-scheme.

Always greeted like an old friend

We reflect on that one little boy who, all those years ago self-injured, had very little communication and the strangest of interests, who could, for three days every summer, be like every other child. The days always seemed to be basked in sunshine and we would see our happy, smiling boy, full of fun, in the right place with the right people. In his lifetime, Euan has been rejected from so many places, schools and activities, as his needs were deemed “too severe”. At the interAKtive play-scheme, we were made to feel welcome and every year Euan was greeted like an old friend. A year would have passed, but Euan always knew exactly where to go, rushing in as if it had only been a day since his last visit. His enthusiasm for the play-scheme never wavered or diminished.

So we want to thank all the helpers and all the parents who have made it happen and who could teach a lot of people about “Inclusion”. Each June we have waited to see if Euan had a place - and then be relieved and delighted when the confirmation came. We can never thank interAKtive enough for including us in something so very, very special.