The Honda Foundation Provides Sensory Gym For Autistic Children

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – Apr 26, 2012: The Honda Foundation has made a $9,300 donation to St Lucy’s School for the purchase of sensory gym equipment to help students with moderate to severe autism.

St Lucy’s is a primary school for children with disabilities, which currently has 167 students. A large number of these students are autistic and many have poorly integrated sensory systems, affecting their ability to focus on learning tasks.

“St Lucy’s is undergoing expansion and were in need of better facilities. The donation from The Honda Foundation has allowed the outdoor gym facility to be constructed, to aid autistic children’s growth and learning,” said Mr. Lindsay Smalley, Chairman of The Honda Foundation. “St Lucy’s offer a rich learning curriculum, and a large number of volunteers make their work possible.”

The outdoor sensory gym will facilitate therapeutic interventions, using weightless movement in different directions to develop neurological responsiveness to their position in space and improve the balance and co-ordination of sensory information.

Two occupational therapists and a team of trained volunteers provide this beneficial intervention to overcome learning difficulties, using swings, hammocks and other suspended equipment.

The Honda Foundation stepped in to help St Lucy’s build their gym, providing funding for the materials and construction of the sensory gym.

Principal, Jo Karaolis, is overjoyed to have this grant from the Honda Foundation. “We haven’t been able to satisfy the demand from staff for sensory activities for their high-needs students. Having an outside support frame from which we can hang different kinds of sensory equipment will provide for a greater number of students and give the benefit of fresh air. It will be fantastic to use it during Recess and Lunch breaks as well. We couldn’t have afforded it without the grant.”

The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.