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CÉRGE – Story of inclusion (Jackson)

AT AQUAPULSE

December 15, 2023

JACKSON MEETS CéRGE

Life with a toddler is hard, life with a toddler with a disability with limited communication and mobility requires lots of planning and organisation.
Today I introduced my little mate Jackson to Cérge at AquaPulse. Jackson has a genetic disorder called IQSEC2, this means Jackson has intellectual and gross motor delays and associated Epilepsy.
He is currently in a wheelchair, non-verbal and has frequent seizures, including where he will drop all of a sudden and sometimes he will stop breathing for a short period of time. This can be something we are use to and also something that can be terrifying depending on the situation.
The anxiety associated is really hard, we need things to move fast and seamlessly to make things as best as possible for us as a family. We wanted to take Jackson to the Aquatic Centre but as you can imagine going swimming and the risk of a seizure is pretty scary.
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All you ever needed as a parent or caregiver is to see that smile, you know the one where their eyes glisten as their mouth moves as wide as it can. Where you know they are in utter excitement and ecstasy in that very moment.

We used Cérge to let the staff at AquaPulse know we would like to get through as quickly as possible as his seizures can mean our trips are cut short. When the staff saw us in the entry they waved us through as quickly as possible, streamlining the front access, payment and wristbands.
Having never been to AquaPulse before we were unaware of the need to organise lockers at the front desk, when we approached a staff member near the lockers for help she immediately retrieved the wristband we needed with no need to pay (despite them usually incurring a $2 fee!) to ensure quick access for us to get Jackson in the pool. This made a HUGE difference. Sometimes by the time we get in and organised it can be 20mins already gone. Making this process fast for us meant he was able to enjoy some time in the toddler pool, warm pool and had an absolute ball!
All you ever needed any as a parent or caregiver is to see that smile, you know the one where their eyes glisten as their mouth moves as wide as it can. Where you know they are in utter excitement and ecstasy in that very moment. Seeing him made me soooo very happy. Everything in the world stops when your know your kid is happy. Jackson, being a tall 3 year old, is too big for standard baby change tables located in the All Gender Disabled and baby change stalls. The All Gender showers had a long bench down one side that had more than enough room for Jackson to lay down to get changed and plenty of room left in the stall for Jackson and even enough room to turn his wheelchair around.
This trip was an absolute success for us, and we will be back! I can’t believe things can be soooo much easier just by having a staff member a step ahead.
This Story of Inclusion brought to life by WynActive.
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