The Microsoft Store Sydney has partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to launch a series of free autism friendly Minecraft workshops over November.
The first of the free workshops will take place on Sunday, 17 November, and will “offer an accessible experience for children on the autism spectrum to explore, build, create and foster social skills through the magic of Minecraft,” according to a press release.
“We tried to attend a non-autism inclusive Minecraft workshop in the past, but the loud noises and large groups of people were too distressing and distracting for [my daughter,] Marianne,” mum Meliana said of the initiative. “At the autism friendly workshop, the smaller group, dimmer lights and awareness of some of the issues that the individual kids in the group faced made it easier for Marianne to concentrate and made me feel more relaxed.”
“An estimated 1 in 70 Australians are on the autism spectrum,” Jessica Erhart, Community Development Specialist at the flagship Microsoft Store Sydney, added. “These individuals are a part of our community and we want to provide them with every opportunity that we can.”
The autism friendly workshops will run every fortnight, alternating between Saturday and Sunday, and will take place at the Microsoft Store Sydney, located on the Pitt Street Mall. To register for a workshop, head here.
Minecraft is available on Windows PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, iOS and Android devices.
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