Calm Space created at Questacon for neurodivergent children to find their centre among the noise

For parents with neurodivergent children, the thought of leaving the house and taking them to a local attraction can sometimes seem too daunting to consider.

Now one Canberra institution has created a place to make that possible, all with the help of a staff member who has neurodivergent children of her own.

Questacon project manager Claire Dyer has three children – Bailey, 10, Jasmine, 8, and Alex, 6. While she’s worked at Questacon for almost two years, her children have only been able to visit sparingly due to their neurological needs.

Bailey has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) while Alex has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This means that the bright lights and loud sounds of Questacon’s galleries didn’t elicit the same excitement seen in other children.

“Going through the galleries, it’s quite loud, and so the kids would get overstimulated and overwhelmed,” Claire said.

“We have the same issue when we go to the zoo. We have the same issue when we go to the cinema – it’s too loud, it’s too dark, it’s just ‘too’.

“Bailey, in particular, will get to a point where he will shut down, and he’ll need to recharge somehow. For him, recharging is being alone in quiet, tight spaces, preferably in his bed, so basically, that would be the end of the trip.”

Claire was instrumental in creating Questacon’s Calm Space, located within the Mini Q facility on the ground floor.

It’s been designed with neurodivergent children in mind, following recommendations from an independent evaluation by Community Early Learning Australia in 2021.

“We saw the opportunity to do something big within the space to try and increase neurodiversity accessibility,” Claire said.

The Calm Space is inspired by nature and built off research into the needs of a variety of neurodiverse conditions.

Features include silk scarves, textured rugs and etchings in the wall to trace little fingers through, along with a tree to burrow inside and feel centred.

“Some neurodiverse children, particularly on the autism spectrum, they’ll feel things and that allows their mind to focus on that and slowly brings it back down again,” Claire said.

“Research shows neurodiverse children in particular like to be in enclosed spaces because it’s an area that they can control, so the cubby and the little entrance [accommodate that], plus the ‘catches’ above the bench allows the children to use the scarves to build their own forts.”

There are also picture books to read, a beanbag to snuggle into, and stuffed animals and puppets for the children to pet and interact with.

“A lot of children with ASD use the puppets to talk and communicate,” Claire said.

“The idea is that they can recharge here, then go back out and keep going through Questacon.”

While Bailey brings his own puppets on outings, he loves having the option of new friends to speak through and help him reset when he’s feeling overwhelmed.

“I don’t really have a favourite part. I know [puppets] Ducky and Katie like the tree, and Snowy likes the little cubby cave,” he said.

Alex was easier to please: “I like all of it.”

Jasmine hasn’t been diagnosed with a neurodiverse disorder, but Claire said she had displayed similar traits.

The eight-year-old especially loves the soft toys and puppets and the quiet refuge among the bright colours and noise.

“It’s a space where we can be calm and together as a family,” Jasmine said.

Claire hoped the space would be a “security blanket” for parents wanting to give their children the same experience of Questacon as non-neurodiverse children.

“The original purpose for the space was for when a parent is having these issues and their children are melting down or feeling overwhelmed, they can come in here and recharge because this will provide them with the quiet they need,” she said.

“In the past five years, the acceptance [towards neurodiverse people] has changed, but it’s really isolating, especially when you have a child who is having a complete meltdown.

“It’s really isolating. You spend a lot of time at home, so I’m glad I’ve been able to give a voice to those people.”

The Calm Space was made possible by Federal funding Questacon in the May 2023 Budget and is the first step in redeveloping Mini Q, which will take place in 2024.

While Mini Q is available for children aged 0 to 6 years, neurodiverse children of any age can access the Calm Space.

Questacon has several quiet spaces throughout its galleries, and noise-cancelling headphones are available at the Information Desk and each gallery, along with wristbands that can have contact details written on the outside.

Questacon is located at King Edward Terrace, Parkes, and is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm.